EUROPEA

By special invitation, my friend was invited to a Taste of France evening. I have been walking by Europea for years, exiting the Lucien-Lallier commuter train station on Montagne, and drooling. She had a crazy dinner with her husband on their anniversary this year and sent me pictures. So when she forwarded the very reasonably priced menu, I said yes and booked immediately! It was a feast! And so beautiful! Here are the courses we were served.

Mini clothes line with a teriyaki sweet venison jerky, perfect warm cheese gougeres, mini cheese quiches and a delicate buttery cold cut.

Amuse bouche #1 - Black squid ink with a ball of creamy goat cheese inverted savoury pop set on a dry leaf boat

Bread #1 Olive bread, one of three choices (parmesan and simple the other options) with creamy butter 3 ways

Smoke box

Delightful Amuse Bouche #2 pastry cup with raw tuna, a drop of lemon curd, topped with ... in a well of  ...

Perfectly poached eggs in a wine reduction sauce topped with a dried red onion. Reason for bread number 2!

Showstopper dish - fleur de sel to the left, caramelized apple with spears of caramel on a bed of sweet crumble, drops of caramel, and the highlight  - perfect foie gras topped with an aspic of Sauternes (a sweet French dessert wine

A perfect bite of above on more bread (simple the best!)

Quenelle of the lake! Pike and crayfish topped with pea shoots and encircled by  pepper

A beef bourgogne with better wine than I've ever used! Burgundy no doubt. A little tending to barbecue sauce with crunchy carrots and pearl onions that explode on impact. Meat was chewier than I expected but, to testify to the greatness of the dish, this was when the fire alarm went off, and none of us were budging until we felt the heat, the need to finish the delicious dish being to great! Served with below

A perfect Gratin Dauphinoise

Cheese plate with a superb camembert, cheese cracker and ?apricot fruit jelly. I could get used to pre-dessert!

Elaborate dessert number 2! We managed only the cotton candy, arranged as a Dr Seuss forest of pink trees! I was expecting a more special flavour, but it was the usual pink cotton candy. Strawberry? Hanging in cellophane bags were fruit bellies, chocolate balls, hand dipped marshmallows and meringues. The base had macarons, marshmallows and jam filled cookies. We were groaning, ours eyes being too big for our stomachs! I'm glad I brought my loose pants!

Madeleines to take home with our poor family who were not there to enjoy!

Instructions where to break through the amazing caramel cookie covering the offset bowl.

Rich chocolate mousse with red fruit ice cream ?strawberry again with a tiny crunchy cookie bar in side

Meringue to go. Thanks Jerome, for a terrific experience!