(Left-Click on any of the single graphics to see full screen. Be sure to go full screen on the slide show) There comes a time in every year that is so very important to the worldwide wine industry. In the US, that is usually the Thursday before Thanksgiving. The arrival of the Beaujolais Nouveau – the arrival of the wine from Beaujolais and is supposed to reflect what the wines of France will be like in the release year. This year we were lucky enough to reserve a seating at the Le Cafe de Paris. What an awesome release party this was. The wines were a Georges Debouet Beaujolais Nouveau ’09. Young, fruity, flirty, dry, no wood and fun. The other was a 2009 Pierre Ferraud Beaujolais Villages. Light, fruit forward with strawberry and raspberry on the palate. Easy to drink. Good personality and character. A touch of oak. (Our favorite). We bought a bottle of the 2007 Pierre Ferraud Cote-de-Brouilly that went extremely well with the main course of the evening, a Beef Bourguignon with Chantrelle Mushrooms and Cippolini Onions.

All in all, this was a fantastic evening! I will have to upgrade the Cafe de Paris rating. I had Andrae’s rated at a 5-Star, but they moved to Walla Walla, WA. So far, until tonight, I have not found a replacement at that level of quality. Now I have!!! This was a superb meal – delicate, tasteful, delicious.

The Fois Gras Torchon with Warm Gingerbread and Port Poached Pears was superb – rich, creamy and delicious! Even the Escargot with Parsnip Puree, Puff Pastry and Beurre Rouge were not overly garliced nor “rubbery”. The Truffled White Bean Soup was creamy and smooth, not whole beans. Little trails of truffle oil and shaved white truffles on the top. The Beef Bourguignon was superb. And the Apricot Glazed Baba with Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream and White Chocolate Sauce was unforgetable! (All of these dishes are in the slide show) Definitely a 5-Star rating – they earned it! Chef/Owner Mathieu Choux is to be commended along with his staff! Congratulations!