Our friends, Bobby and Debbie visited us for two nights and asked to be entertained at two of our favorite places in the Naples area. The first, they insisted, should be Little Bar in Goodland because it’s always fun, the nightly music is always entertaining and the food is consistently good. No problem. Booked.
For their second dinner they were looking for a greater degree of sophistication, a wine list filled with eclectic choices, an ambiance that was a bit romantic, and a certain “je ne sais qua”. You know, said Bob, a nice “Joshie” place.
Alore: the garden at Bleu Provence.
I’ve written up Bleu Provence before, so you know I’m a big fan. I love French food, French wines from lesser known regions, and fine dining service that should seem effortless rather than formal or intrusive.These seem to be the hallmarks of Bleu Provence.
So here’s what we ate:
My appetizer was the Country Pate. It was served beautifully with gerkins, berries, a bit of salad and an artichoke heart. They included some bread similar to the baguette bread they serve to the table.This Porcini and Chestnut Veloute is possibly the creamiest and most delicious soup I have ever eaten. I believe the topping is a perfect splash of truffle oil whichmelds nicely with the soup.Bobby’s Pan Grilled Mussels were done in a skillet rather than cooked in sauce. This is a most interesting technique for preparing mussels and makes them a little smokey. I order them as an entree because I crave an even larger portion.Debbie’s Flash Fried Octopus app was nicely accompanied by chick peas, popcorn, pomegranate seeds in an Almond Romesco sauce. Bobbie’s Red Snapper with cream sauce came with Asparagus and was served over a small amount of risotto. A different angle of the Red Snapper. I did not get a picture of Barb’s Loup de Mer which she gets almost every time we go. It’s always lightly prepared and accompanied by nicely steamed vegetables.Debbie ordered the Steak Tartare with capers, shallots, cornichons (fancy gerkins) and French fries. She liked it, but felt it could have been a bit more savory had it had more capers.My entree was the Moules-Frites. As delicious as Bobbie’s appetizer but more plentiful. The entree is served with French Fries which I ask them to embellish with Truffle oil. I feel that Bleu Provence makes the best fries I’ve had anywhere outside of France.You can see in this closeup that the mussels look different than most. The subtle sauce is wonderful and every mussel is pristine. This white Côtes du Rhône was a magnificent choice picked by Jacques. It’s from a spot right next to Chateauneuf du Pape. Equally delicious and a third the price (about $55).This red from the Languedoc was outasite. It cost $40, an absolute steal! It was a delicious, full-bodied red that we loved so much that Bobbiebought some after dinner at the shop.
For dessert we shared Profiteroles and aTarte Tatin. I neglected to take pictures of these delights. The desserts were a perfect finish to an extraordinary night.
I almost always enjoy a visit to the attached wine shop after each dinner. Jacques has a crazy good selection of wines ranging from reasonably priced value wines to big-time indulgence bottles. I love his philosophy: “If you don’t like this, send it back and we will drink it.” I’ve never had to send one back!
JoshEatsandDrinks 