Bistro Narra
We descended upon Bistro Narra with high hopes; we are repeated visitors to Narra's sibling restaurant, the Apricot Tree, and we were more than happy to patronize the family's newest offerings.
The clincher, however -- if we may proffer a pugilistic metaphor -- was the esepecial crêpe revelrie that is currently ongoing at said Bistro. We consulted with our dining companion, and concluded that if crêpes were on offer, then of crêpes we ought to partake.
Bistro Narra was underattended when we arrived; this state of affairs, we are happy to report, would not last, as several diners appeared whilst we were partaking of Narra's wares. We began with a poached shrimp appetizer. We are partial to crustaceans of all sorts, and although we are not partial to avocado, we enjoyed them with the obviously homemade guacamole tower that accompanied them.
All of the wagers were, of course, off once the main courses arrived. Our own selection was entitled the "Shrimp 'n' Love" crêpe; we are unsure of the moniker's origin, but we hoped that it accurately reflected the care with which the dish was prepared. We were not disappointed; we were, in fact, so enamoured with the brandy-sauce as to demand that our dining companion taste and enjoy it herself immediately upon its arrival, which she did with much approval.
And yet, we were to meet even greater heights before the evening passed. Our dining companion selected the lobster crêpe, and entreated us to taste of it almost immediately. We did so, and were treated to the genius of flavour that are fixtures at the Apricot Tree: herbal essence, present without dominating; sauce, with body and creaminess to befit their medium; main ingredient, allowed to display its sweetness and delicacy without restraint. This was, we aver, an excellent lobster crêpe.
But all was not completed with the lobster crêpe. Our dining companion insisted, we maintain, that the PB&J (which initials, we learned, stand for "peanut butter askance fruit-jelly") crêpe would cap our repast. This was a crêpe enwrapping peanut butter mousse and tidy rectangles of strawberry jelly; it was accompanied by a most agreeable strawberry sorbet, which we discovered to contain a refreshing, fruity flavour, as well as a number of small white chocolate morsels to add texture.
We hope we do not belabour the point to describe the crêpe's peanut-butter cream filling to be perfectly balanced between crushed nut-meat and creamy umami; the strawberry jelly to be perfectly composed in strength of both flavour and texture; and the wholesale effect to be a rarefied balance of salt and sweet; savoury and satisfying; succulent and... we imagine we have illustrated the character of the dish by this point.
In short, Bistro Narra failed in any aspect to dissatisfy. We noted also that they had taken the very best of The Apricot Tree's table-staff to attend to Narra's patrons, which is to be commended; if any criticism is to be levelled at the Apricot experience, we have found, it is typically at the table-staff. But Bistro Narra here surpassed all expectations.
We hereby commend the arrival of Bistro Narra, and wish it well -- with or without the especial crêpe menu. Our hopes are with you.
The clincher, however -- if we may proffer a pugilistic metaphor -- was the esepecial crêpe revelrie that is currently ongoing at said Bistro. We consulted with our dining companion, and concluded that if crêpes were on offer, then of crêpes we ought to partake.
Bistro Narra was underattended when we arrived; this state of affairs, we are happy to report, would not last, as several diners appeared whilst we were partaking of Narra's wares. We began with a poached shrimp appetizer. We are partial to crustaceans of all sorts, and although we are not partial to avocado, we enjoyed them with the obviously homemade guacamole tower that accompanied them.
All of the wagers were, of course, off once the main courses arrived. Our own selection was entitled the "Shrimp 'n' Love" crêpe; we are unsure of the moniker's origin, but we hoped that it accurately reflected the care with which the dish was prepared. We were not disappointed; we were, in fact, so enamoured with the brandy-sauce as to demand that our dining companion taste and enjoy it herself immediately upon its arrival, which she did with much approval.
And yet, we were to meet even greater heights before the evening passed. Our dining companion selected the lobster crêpe, and entreated us to taste of it almost immediately. We did so, and were treated to the genius of flavour that are fixtures at the Apricot Tree: herbal essence, present without dominating; sauce, with body and creaminess to befit their medium; main ingredient, allowed to display its sweetness and delicacy without restraint. This was, we aver, an excellent lobster crêpe.
But all was not completed with the lobster crêpe. Our dining companion insisted, we maintain, that the PB&J (which initials, we learned, stand for "peanut butter askance fruit-jelly") crêpe would cap our repast. This was a crêpe enwrapping peanut butter mousse and tidy rectangles of strawberry jelly; it was accompanied by a most agreeable strawberry sorbet, which we discovered to contain a refreshing, fruity flavour, as well as a number of small white chocolate morsels to add texture.
We hope we do not belabour the point to describe the crêpe's peanut-butter cream filling to be perfectly balanced between crushed nut-meat and creamy umami; the strawberry jelly to be perfectly composed in strength of both flavour and texture; and the wholesale effect to be a rarefied balance of salt and sweet; savoury and satisfying; succulent and... we imagine we have illustrated the character of the dish by this point.
In short, Bistro Narra failed in any aspect to dissatisfy. We noted also that they had taken the very best of The Apricot Tree's table-staff to attend to Narra's patrons, which is to be commended; if any criticism is to be levelled at the Apricot experience, we have found, it is typically at the table-staff. But Bistro Narra here surpassed all expectations.
We hereby commend the arrival of Bistro Narra, and wish it well -- with or without the especial crêpe menu. Our hopes are with you.
posted by the Droll Bastard at 2:22 a.m.
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