Early Birthday Lunch

Toby very sweetly took me out for an early birthday lunch on Tuesday at my favourite restaurant in Chamonix - Le Bistrot - since the girls are off school on my actual birth day. It was unbelievably wonderful food (not surprisingly, I discovered yesterday that the chef is Michelin-starred). I know I've complained about some of the disappointing meals I've had in France since living here for the year, but, let me tell you, this wasn't one of them. Ah, Le Bistrot, I hardly knew you, but I'll miss you...

My birthday apéritif - champagne, cognac, fresh strawberries

Toby, getting ready to dig in

Our amuse-bouches: a mushroom mousse with hazelnuts, a piece of light-as-air goat's cheese with pistachios, and a biscuit with a smear of blueberry preserve and 'lard'.

 The complementary starter - a red pepper, pear and fish mousse. Amazing.

Excited about the main - lamb (cooked rosé) and an incredibly creamy polenta

My cheese plate for dessert. Toby also had the cheese plate, and gave the poor waiter a panic attack by pointing to the cheese trolley of about 30 different kinds of cheese and saying, 'A little piece of everything please'. I had to quickly interject, 'He's joking! British humour! Ha ha ha!' before the poor guy passed out from anxiety. I'm not sure the French ever joke about their cheese.