I’ve been looking forward to Houston Restaurant Week for months. For a food blog junkie like me, the week represented the perfect chance to try out those nicer venues promoted by my faaaaavoritest blogger EVER, anonymouseater. I don’t think I’ve ever disagreed with any of his restaurant reviews, nor have I ever been disappointed when trying out one of his recommended dishes – he has impeccable taste. But enough about him – let’s talk food.
Thanks to his many posts touting Le Mistral, I have been dying to try out the place. Houston Restaurant Week afforded me the perfect occasion. So on Tuesday night, my mother and I drove out to the west side of town for some fine French dining.
The dining area was lovely; soft lighting created an intimate atmosphere. Decor was simple but classy, and MIKASA stamps glowed on the flatware. Service was a bit slow but always accommodating.
I selected for my appetizer the Wild Mushroom Soup with Garlic Whipped Cream. It was good, but I rather wished that they had been a bit more generous with the cream… the garlicky flavor was delicious but only drizzled lightly over the top. It was quite the tongue-teaser. My mother had the Salade Le Mistral. The blueberry dressing was sour-sweet but light, and it paired beautifully with the roasted pinenuts.
For the main course, my mother picked the pork chop, and I had the salmon steak. It was probably one of the most delicious seafood dishes I have had all year, or maybe all my life. The Chablis chive sauce was divine, and I don’t use that word lightly. Together with the fresh spinach pasta and tiny clams, the entire plate was a wonderful mixture of flavors. I have never had a dish like this one – I wanted to lick the plate clean. My mother’s pork chop was good as well, but it really paled in comparison to the delicious salmon.
For dessert, we both selected the chocolate fondant with Marie Brizard Cafe-infused vanilla shake. Had I not been so extremely full by this point, I probably would have eaten the souffle whole. My mother certainly polished hers off. See a picture of this beautiful dessert here at anonymouseater’s blog.
If you ever have the chance, please go visit this wonderful restaurant [this is NOT a paid advertisement!]. Had it not been Houston Restaurant Week, my 3-course meal would have been worth about $45. Perhaps that isn’t a tab you can swing every week, but I would wholeheartedly recommend it for your next special occasion… your loved ones will bless you for it!