Dine Out Vancouver 2007 – Le Gavroche
Le Gavroche is a french restaurant set in the middle of downtown. Tucked amidst tall high-rise apartments and office buildings, Le Gavroche is set on a pretty two-storey Victorian house.
It used to have a sweeping view of the North Shore mountains and habour. There are high-rise now blocking the commanding view. The setting is romantic. However, I find that the tables are placed too close together.
For some reason, I came expecting very formal service. Perhaps it’s because the exterior looked so Victorian. However, the service were quite informal and yet friendly — even loud. They talk to us like we’ve been eating there everyday. I like that.
We started off with a Bloody Caesar — spicy and with vodka. Caesar is a very Canadian cocktail.
The bread was quite OK. The crust was crispy. Nothing particularly exciting to this.
Suanne’s appetizer is the Roasted Tomato Bisque with grilled scallop. There is only 1 piece of scallop in this — don’t you think that one would expect more than 1 piece? I would. The soup was bland with a bit of sourness in it — can’t even get a hint of tomato soup that I am used to. Is that how tomato soup in France tastes like?
Oh, we just love the way they say “bon appetite” … it is so … French.
I am a bit more adventurous. I had the Duck Liver Pate with onion marmalade and toast. I don’t care much for the sour leek. The pickled dill is OK. I am not a particular fan of this but at least Suanne finished it off for me.
The toast was crispy and when stacked with some liver pate and onion marmalade, it give a really nice balance of texture.
I saw the neighboring tables of Asians ordering this too. Seems like many of them left the liver pate untouched. I am OK with this, I think it’s nice but Suanne just thinks that the thought of this is yucky. Made me think that as much as Asians eat just about anything but duck liver pate (or just the way it’s prepared and look) does not appeal to them.
I really did not want to order the Eggplant Lasagna but then the other choice is another plate of fish. I had tried fish the past few days and thought, well, I should try something different instead even though I really prefer fish.
The Eggplant Lasagna is nothing exciting. It’s very … normal. I can’t taste much use of spices in this. Pretty bland in taste. Is this how French dishes are normally made?
Suanne booked the better entree: Roasted Free Range Chicken with capers, garlic, tomatoes and basil. This is served on a hot plate. The chicken is also piping hot — lots of steam once she cuts up the meat. It looks so much more better than my lasagna for sure.
The skin is crispy and thin and the leg and wing is served on mash (again bland) potatoes.
Suanne loves dark chocolate. So, her obvious choice is the Belgian Chocolate Mousse. It’s rich and bitter. Somehow, she felt healthier eating bitter chocolates than sweet chocolates. Anyway, it’s also very thick and sticky … you know, it sticks to your teeth, roof of your mouth and such.
Creme Brulee was what I got. Well, it’s a creme brulee like any other creme brulee, except it’s prettier. It has a half strawberry and the only different is that the sugar topping is thicker.
Total damage came to $93, including taxes and tips. It was an experience for sure. At least we have ate in one of the best french restaurants in Vancouver. I am sure this is great for a lot of people. It’s just that I guess we prefer more spices and flavour — it’s just us. The best part of this meal? It’s the Canadian Caesar … sigh … :-)
I didn’t learn about this until recently, but apparently, wishing someone bon appetit before their meal is considered very vulgar in france. but it’s perfectly ok everywhere else. odd, no?
Never heard of it — you for real? Care to explain why saying “bon appetit” before a meal is considered vulgar?
I never heard bon appetit was rude either.
I looked it up bon appetit
Acording to this board I found it is okay for waiters to say but not if your having friends over but it might be one of those things no one follows. I don’t know. I have never lived in france.
http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=97884
*patpat*
The food didn’t look very exciting. Don’t worry, my friend. You’ll find better French food.
The damage looked painful, though.
iportion, thanks for posting that board! I had read about the bon appetit thing from that NY Times article and then this BBC one: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6205403.stm
ach. so many different table manners to learn. like the korean eating rice with a spoon.
I think I heard something on NPR about bon appetit being vulgar. i think it had something to do with it being like a cliche, or like something americans say thinking the french do but the french really don’t. something like that.
anyway, i really enjoy your blog–especially the frequent updating and asian perspective (I’m Asian American), but it doesn’t seem like a good idea to order veggie lasagna at a French restaurant. It seems like something that would be on their menu just as filler, for folks who don’t want to eat anything they are actually good at.
I’m super amused at your comment about Asians and pate, though! I read it to my husband and he said probably only Vietnamese would eat pate (you know cuz of the French colonization).
Everything looks sooooo good. I want to go to Vancouver.
no postings for feb 2?
Hmm… after reading this post, you remind me a so called ‘the best veggie restaurant in England’ that I’ve been to recently – they are both ‘poncy’! Little food with unreasonable price and not exceptionally nice (maybe except the drink).
Hi All: I learn something new here. I checked with a chinese person who hailed from Mauritius yesterday and he told me the same thing too. He knows because Mauritians are “Frenchy” and speaks French!!
Your pictures always soo beautiful :) Consider yourself tagged :D