TheHannarchistCookbook
+4
L'Escargot Bleu November 2015
Dining Out in Paris in Edinburgh
The pre-theatre menu at L’Escargot Bleu is two courses from £12.90 and worth more. I’ll admit that this played into our decision to finally coming here. It’s November and coming up to Christmas, the pockets aren’t quite as deep. As such I expect £12.90 service. Pleasant and most of all efficient. We’re the warm up to the main eventers later on this evening, I expect to be fed and get out. Imagine my surprise when after choosing our dishes I am presented with an amuse-bouche, trout tartare with capers and shallot. I don’t think they got the memo, they’ve gone all out! I regret not putting on perfume.
Been meaning to come here for a good while and was nudged along. Excellent service, casual atmosphere and delicious food. The set menu is a bargain and worth the visit - as are the snails!
WE DROVE PAST L’Escargot Bleu a couple of weeks ago, with Sarah stating that “We should go back there soon, it was amazing last time”. A discreet smile briefly adorned my face, as I had booked a table for her forthcoming birthday just the day before. Chef/owner Fred Berkmiller is a hugely popular figure on the Edinburgh food scene, and is normally based at Bleu’s sister restaurant, L’Escargot Blanc, with partner Betty looking after proceedings at this end. Often out spreading the word of the Slow Food movement, Fred resonates passion for the finest seasonal produce and shows an unyielding commitment to the training of young chefs, both here and in his native France with his Budding Chefs initiative (www.buddingchefs.net). Sarah and I last visited L’Escargot Bleu – which holds one AA Rosette – a year or two ago and can still remember a slightly nervous waiter knocking up a knockout steak tartare. I would have happily ordered any of the starters, but couldn’t resist revisiting what I regard as one of the best I’ve had in Edinburgh; but would it come through this time? Well, the answer is, yes, of course it did. The added theatre of assembling the dish at the table drew glances from other diners and only adds to this special French classic (priced at £8.90). The quality of the shorthorn beef is unquestionable and all the flavours of shallots, capers, Dijon mustard, egg yolk, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs really tantalise the palette. If you are afraid of eating raw meat then 1) Get a grip and 2) Visit L’Escargot Bleu and have this dish. The birthday girl opened with another classic in the form of moules mariniere, with the bi-valve molluscs coming from the Isle of Lewis. Provenance is blatantly important to this restaurant and a proud intertwining of French classics with the finest Scottish produce is a clear theme in the menu throughout. I always love getting a whiff of this dish before it’s plumped down at your table. It’s like catching the invigorating
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