The thing I like best about birthday celebrations is that it inevitably involve food, specifically the eating bit, that is. So, you can imagine my glee when we were invited to join Pam for her 60th birthday (family members only) dinner at Restaurant Balzac.
John and I arrived five minutes before the appointed time of seven and surprise, surprise found ourselves a parking spot right across the restaurant which is housed in a two-story sandstone building. Things were looking good.
And speaking of looking good, Pam arrived looking resplendent in a red semi-off the shoulder number, accessorized to perfection by a set of gorgeous black pearl earrings & necklace. And of course, she tore through her birthday presents, to hell with decorum. I hope she likes the Longchamp Le Pliage 1623 bag we gave her.
Our waitress Marie was in her element, first arresting our attention and then getting us organized to make our dinner choices amidst our incessant noisy chatter. Everything on the menu looks good and it was real hard to decide but eventually, I opted for the duck salad as entree and assiette (plate to you anglo-speaking-only folks) of lamb as main. And boy, did I do the right thing or what.
The warm duck salad arrived as seen in the picture. So pretty lor, I didn't quite know where to start not wanting to destroy the pretty presentation. The foie gras parfait has just the right consistency and practically melts in my mouth, simply parfait! The duck bits were tender and succulent and contrasted very well with the argula leaves. I have to say I was a bit hesitant when I first ordered this salad for I am not a big fan of beet, baby or not. Glad to say, the baby beet were presented in the form of a coulis and therefore not as offending as feared. At $26, its a deal, go for it.
I was a bit surprised when the lamb dish appeared; it has a bit of this and a bit of that but Marie did warned me there would be quite a bit of meat so I cannot say I haven't been warned. Yes, as I've since find out, many bits do add up to a lot. I have to say, I didn't care much for the bed of beans but I tres, tres love the lamb shin, which must have been slow-cooking for like forever because it was very tender and tasty. A bargain at $38 for the whole assiette.
If it seems like as though I am the only one eating, it is only because everyone else were eating away quietly so I have no idea how they have enjoyed their food. But if the clean plates being cleared away by Marie and her team is anything to go by, I suspect Matthew Kemp's culinary creations have been a hit at our table.
John and I shared a chocolate themed petit fours to finish off the meal, washed down with a most delightful flat-white. And we sang Happy Birthday to Pam when Marie brought her a small plate of chocolate brownie (all of two pieces, ha ha) with a candle on top. A perfect touch to a most perfect evening of birthday joy.
Happy Birthday, Pam.
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