French Family Dinner

It’s nice being of Italian ancestry, even if people constantly assume you wear gold jewelry and know where to get hot Samsung plasmas and Louis Vuitton handbags, but we kind of always wished we had a some French family members. By French family we of course mean French family with a pied-à-terre in Paris, winery in Burgundy, chateau in the Alps and beach house in Cap d’Antibes. Of course. In the mean time, we’ll worm our way into Peter Woolsey’s clan. His wife, Peggy, and in-laws are from Dijon, and by reservation only he recreates the traditional French family meals he experienced there at his Queen Village (or is it Bella Vista) boîte, Bistrot La Minette. The pre-fixe dinner is available for 4 to 20 people, reserved at least 24 hours in advance, and includes three different price tiers and menus to choose from (see below). It’s all served on a 17-foot table made from the building’s floor joists salvaged during renovations and designed to evoke Woolsey’s mother-in-law’s dining room table. To see if Woolsey is as good a chef as he is a son-in-law, be sure to check out our review of Bistrot La Minette tomorrow in Philadelphia Weekly.

Menu De Base $45

Apéritifs
Gougères
Burgundy style cheese puffs

Les Entrées
Terrine de Campagne
Rustic pork terrine served with cornichon and Dijon mustard
Carottes Rapées
Grated Carrot Salad in Mustard Vinaigrette
Salade Choux Rouge
Thinly sliced red cabbage salad, with walnuts and walnut oil dressing

Le Plat
Poulet Rôti à la Moutarde
Chicken roasted with mustard and served with its pan gravy
Pommes Purée
Silky smooth mashed potatoes
Haricots Verts
French green beans cooked long and slowly with onion and tomatoes

Le Dessert
Crème Caramel
Vanilla custard baked over caramel and served with berries and berry coulis
Sorbet de Poire Cannelle
Pear cinnamon sorbet

Menu de La Minette $55

Apéritifs
Gougères
Burgundy style cheese puffs
Champignons à la Grecque
White button mushrooms poached in a court bouillon

Les Entrees
Pâté en Croûte
Pate with a pastry crust, served with cornichon and mustard
Salade des Betteraves
Beet salad with an orange tinted dressing
Tarte aux Poireaux
Leek tart with bacon and crème fraiche

Le Plat
Boeuf Bourguignon
Burgandy red wine beef stew with root vegetables
Gratin Dauphinois
Scalloped Potato Gratin

Les Fromages
Delice de Bourgogne, Comté, Salade Verte
Triple cream cheese, hard cow’s milk cheese and green salad

Les Dessert
Tarte Tatin
Warm caramelized apple tart
Glace au Caramel
Caramel Ice Cream

Menu de Prestige $65

Apéritifs
Gougères
Burgundy style cheese puffs
Tartine de Tapenade
Tampanade served on croutons
Tartine de rillettes de saumon
Preserved salmon served on croutons

Les Entrees
Terrine de Foie Gras
Duck liver pate served with toasted brioche
Sardines Grillées
Grilled sardines served with roasted red peppers and lemon vinaigrette
Poireaux à la Vinaigrette
Slow cooked leeks with mustard vinaigrette

Le Plat
Bar à la Bercy
Herb stuffed Striped Bass with sautéed chantrelles and black trumpets
Tagliatelle
House made tagliatelle

Les Fromages
Epoisse, Ossau Iraty, Salade Verte
Soft rind cow’s milk cheese, French Basque sheep’s milk cheese, Green salad

Le Dessert
Mousse au Chocolat
Michel Cluizel premier cru chocolate mousse
Glace à la VanilleTahitian Vanilla Ice Cream

Photo: Jaunted