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theoldwolfFor Christmas this year, ToniAnne found a certificate in her stocking good for dinner at La Caille, Salt Lake's premier French restaurant.
La Caille in the Summertime.
The first time we tried going, we drove off into the teeth of one of our biggest blizzards of the year. After taking an hour to get from Payson to Orem (usually about a 30 minute drive), we ended up eating at an Italian joint and driving the icy roads back home.
Last night we had more success. Grateful for finding a CNA who would sit with Mum, we spent the afternoon in Salt Lake, took in an early showing of "Tangled" (which just charmed me to tears) and then headed for the restaurant.
You know, it's good to treat yourself to something obscenely luxurious every now and then. Our last escapade was back in July when I took my best girl to the Joshua Wilton House in Harrisonburg to celebrate her birthday.
The quality of tonight's dinner was every bit as good, equally expensive (but we won't talk about that), and monstrously satisfying.
The foyer of the restaurant greets the diner with a roaring gas fire, over which hands "Monsieur le Fang":
"Monsieur le Fang" came to LaCaille from an antique outlent in Paris in 1973. He originally decorated the wall of a royal hunting lodge north of Tigne, about 1860. Years later he adorned the waiting room of a dentist in Paris. It is rumored that touching his ivory tusks lightly brings good health and great wealth! I rubbed his teeth vigorously - hey, you can't have too much of a good thing!
After being ushered upstairs, we ordered the obligatory hors d'œuvres. Before these arrived, however, they gave us a charming little "amuse-bouche", some pickled cucumber wrapped in a slice of duck, just to start things off right.
Escargots
...and don't skimp on the pâté!
Following the openers, they brought us a tiny dish of sorbet with a lone raspberry to cleanse the palate, and then our salads arrived...
Butter lettuce salad with lingonberries and walnuts
Crab, grapefruit and avocado salad - powerfully savory!
By this time, I was already starting to feel full - don't forget the ample quantities of French bread that was available - but this notwithstanding, they assailed us with the entrées:
The Venison
The Lamb
I had the presence of mind to have the lion's share of my dinner boxed up to take home, because I wanted to leave room for dessert - and I'm glad I did...
Les "Bananas Foster" - these were served en flambé, but the camera didn't catch the flaming pour.
The "crêpe maison", stuffed with Haäguøën Dasßzs, or however they spell that, and served with Irish chocolate and berries
If that weren't enough, instead of a peppermint with your bill, you get les strawberries dipped in les two kinds of chocolats:
After paying l'addition, we hired a couple of wheelbarrows to roll us outside, and toddled home.
The thing about these restaurants - when they're good - is that yeah, you're paying 4 prices for the food, but they prepare things that you'd never find anywhere else, unless you're a gourmet chef and can prepare them at home. Most of us don't have a rat to sit in our toque and show us the ropes...
The slow savoring of these taste symphonies, in an atmosphere of warmth and elegance, and in the company of a loved one, is an experience that's hard to beat.
I love La Caille...
La Caille in the Summertime.
The first time we tried going, we drove off into the teeth of one of our biggest blizzards of the year. After taking an hour to get from Payson to Orem (usually about a 30 minute drive), we ended up eating at an Italian joint and driving the icy roads back home.
Last night we had more success. Grateful for finding a CNA who would sit with Mum, we spent the afternoon in Salt Lake, took in an early showing of "Tangled" (which just charmed me to tears) and then headed for the restaurant.
You know, it's good to treat yourself to something obscenely luxurious every now and then. Our last escapade was back in July when I took my best girl to the Joshua Wilton House in Harrisonburg to celebrate her birthday.
The quality of tonight's dinner was every bit as good, equally expensive (but we won't talk about that), and monstrously satisfying.
The foyer of the restaurant greets the diner with a roaring gas fire, over which hands "Monsieur le Fang":
"Monsieur le Fang" came to LaCaille from an antique outlent in Paris in 1973. He originally decorated the wall of a royal hunting lodge north of Tigne, about 1860. Years later he adorned the waiting room of a dentist in Paris. It is rumored that touching his ivory tusks lightly brings good health and great wealth! I rubbed his teeth vigorously - hey, you can't have too much of a good thing!
After being ushered upstairs, we ordered the obligatory hors d'œuvres. Before these arrived, however, they gave us a charming little "amuse-bouche", some pickled cucumber wrapped in a slice of duck, just to start things off right.
Escargots
...and don't skimp on the pâté!
Following the openers, they brought us a tiny dish of sorbet with a lone raspberry to cleanse the palate, and then our salads arrived...
Butter lettuce salad with lingonberries and walnuts
Crab, grapefruit and avocado salad - powerfully savory!
By this time, I was already starting to feel full - don't forget the ample quantities of French bread that was available - but this notwithstanding, they assailed us with the entrées:
The Venison
The Lamb
I had the presence of mind to have the lion's share of my dinner boxed up to take home, because I wanted to leave room for dessert - and I'm glad I did...
Les "Bananas Foster" - these were served en flambé, but the camera didn't catch the flaming pour.
The "crêpe maison", stuffed with Haäguøën Dasßzs, or however they spell that, and served with Irish chocolate and berries
If that weren't enough, instead of a peppermint with your bill, you get les strawberries dipped in les two kinds of chocolats:
After paying l'addition, we hired a couple of wheelbarrows to roll us outside, and toddled home.
The thing about these restaurants - when they're good - is that yeah, you're paying 4 prices for the food, but they prepare things that you'd never find anywhere else, unless you're a gourmet chef and can prepare them at home. Most of us don't have a rat to sit in our toque and show us the ropes...
The slow savoring of these taste symphonies, in an atmosphere of warmth and elegance, and in the company of a loved one, is an experience that's hard to beat.
I love La Caille...
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no subject
Date: 2011-02-02 02:16 am (UTC)And to think I had tomato soup and tuna melts for supper tonight.
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Date: 2011-02-02 11:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-02 09:40 am (UTC)an experience damn near IMPOSSIBLE to beat.
Glad you had a good time, me, I made a stoo....
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Date: 2011-02-02 10:49 am (UTC)I hate to think how much the bill was
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Date: 2011-02-02 11:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-02 04:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-06 05:57 pm (UTC)