Saturday, June 13, 2009

Restaurant Christian Etienne - Avignon, France

Our favorite restaurant in all of France - Experience (virtually, at least) an incredible wine-paired lunch at the Michelin-starred Restaurant Christian Etienne


Restauranteur Christian Etienne is a Michelin-starred chef that does amazing things with vegetables. He is famous for a tomato tasting menu which can (and should!) be paired with wine. We were a bit early in the season for tomatoes, so we went for the Spring Vegetable tasting menu that looked so good that we went for the full meal deal, wine included, instead of the less expensive lunch options. 
 
Menu Legumes de Printemps
Menu of Spring Vegetables
Chaud-froid de carottes au cumin
Warm carrots with cumin topped with carrot foam
Des de foie gras de canard en terrine, poudre de cazette, pointes d'asperges vertes du Clos Mejean et son consomme
Cubes of foie gras and green asparagus topped with light broth
Wine: 2006 Domaine le Sang des Cailloux "Cuvee Sang Blanc", Vacqueyras

Effeuillee de cabillaud poche,coeur d'artichaut violet farci de cebette, sucs d'arêtes au poivre vert
Poached cod with artichokes in light cream sauce
Wine: 2008 Domaine Giraud Cuvee Gallimarde, Chateauneuf-du-Papes
Escargots petits gris de Provence a la chlorophylle de persil, legumes printaniers, mousseux a l'ail
Small, grey Provençal snails in spring vegetable soup
Wine: Domaine Coursodon L'Olivaie, St. Joseph (100% Syrah)
Joues de cochon braisées, émulsion Parmigiano Reggiano julienne de pois gourmand et ferme de moutarde
Braised pork cheeks in a parmesean sauce with thinly sliced peas
Wine: 2005 Chateau Romarin Les Baux de Provence
Chèvre frais de Dieulefit au cerfeuil, bâtonnets de radis rose, scones a l'oignon doux de pays
Fresh goat chesse garnished with diced radishes and chives with onion scone

Sorbet petits pois-menthe, faisselle miel citron gingembre
Green pea and mint sorbet with fresh lemon-ginger yogurt and honey


Restaurant Christian Etienne
10 rue de Mons, 84000 Avignon
04 90 86 16 50
reserv@christian-etienne.fr

Bon appétit,
30-something Travel

P.S. It really was worth the 200€ price tag for lunch for two with paired wines.

1 comment:

  1. Just sent some friends from Seattle here and they loved it. In fact, they argued that this may have been the best meal they had in France, even after other Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris.

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