Steak Tartar

Last night Jill and I went to Le Petite Tour for dinner.  On Friday night we stopped there to make reservations and have a drink at the bar.  It was pretty hectic, but Gary (the owner in case you have forgotten) took good care of us.  I had a cognac and Jill had a glass of Sancerre (one of our favorite white wines).  Before the night was over we were treated to a bellini (my spelling probably wrong, but its made with strawberry sorbet mixed really well with champagne), the remainder of a bottle of wine that someone else didn't finish and I don't remember what else...  When we went to leave Gary claimed it was his treat.  So we spent a couple of hours in good company and had free drinks!  Doesn't get better then that, unless you go back the next day for dinner.

On Saturday we went back.  When we were seated Gary brought us complimentary glasses of champagne.  During our previous visits we talked with him about trying steak tartar.  Both Jill and I were not certain we would be able to do it, but we went for it.  Gary made a special appetizer sized dish for each of us.  It came out mixed with onion, scallions, worchester sauce, Tabasco and garlic.  Gary serves his with a raw egg yolk on top (which you have to mix into the dish) and a delicious pesto sauce decorating the plate.  Jill called it yummo and I must agree with her.

The rest of the meal was just as good.  I had one of the best fish dishes and Jill did her normal salmon dish.  We had a bottle of the wine we sampled the night before.  When that was gone Gary brought us a half bottle of a Chablis that he had opened for someone else.  

The fun started when we finished our main dish.  Seated next to us was a couple from Australia.  We heard them speak English and they were trying to figure out the menu.  Jill leaned over and started a conversation that kept us there until almost midnight.

This morning we met them at church and due to some confusion mass was delayed so we went for a coffee together.   Just goes to show, if you're open to meeting new folks the world is full of nice people.