Carafe: This weeks’ bistro menu

It seems that we have finally fixed our email system problems and are able to resume sending you our weekly “Bistro Classics Series” menus.

For this week, some very exciting preparations are in the works.  One of the most popular appetizers in a French Bistro would have to be a salad with warm fresh goat cheese, greens dressed with lemon and a good extra virgin olive oil, as well as a kind of nut. We will spread some of Juniper Grove’s “Fromage Blanc” on lightly grilled baguette, toast it until just warm and serve it with a mix of Belgian endive, Arugula and Frisée. A sprinkle of salted hazelnuts will complete this great salad.

A Pork Terrine with Pistachios will be offered as well, accompanied by a compote of onions and cassis, a little Dijon and of course, a few cornichons!

We will have my favorite sausage of them all: “Andouillette”, a tripe sausage that has a cult status in my book. Every time I return to Paris, I have to do a pilgrimage to “Le Pied de Cochon” a great brasserie in the “Les Halles” neighborhood, where the huge original food market used to stand. We will prepare the Andouillette roasted with Dijon Mustard, shallots and white wine and I can assure you this is a Chef’s Favorite… No molecular gastronomy here, just plain goodness!

Alternately, you may choose a “Bavette aux Echalottes” a wonderful grilled marinated flank steak smothered with caramelized shallots. We will serve it with “Pommes Dauphines” a light puffy fried potato dumpling.

For a fish option, “Codfish à la Marseillaise” – a specialty of Sous-Chef Jason Byl – sees the Codfish simmered in a saffron broth with potatoes, roasted peppers, fennel,  olive oil garlic and Piment d’Espelette grown by our friends at Viridian Farms…

And for dessert, a legendary Chocolate Mousse with Sablé Cookies will send you home satiated and dreamy. So come on in and once inside just pretend you’re in Paris, on a sunny day, with the “peniches” passing by on the Seine river!

This Wednesday is the first night of a 5 week “Wicked” run at the Keller Auditorium. If you are going to see the show, make your reservations early. If not, you might want to join us after 7:30pm when the mood is more relaxed and only your date is “The Show”.

This weeks’ menu:

$25.00 – 3 courses

Salade de Chevre Chaud

Or

Pàté Maison aux Pistaches

Codfish à la Marseillaise

Or

Bavette aux Échalottes

Or

Andouillette Moutarde, Pomme Purée

Mousse au Chocolat with Sablé Cookies

Pascal Sauton & Julie Hunter

Proprietors

Carafe

200 SW Market

Portland, OR  97201

503-248-0004

www.carafebistro.com