Peachy Picks Bistro Chat Noir!

We first presented Bistro Chat Noir to you in Tasty Tidbits:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/07/tasty-tidbits-bistro-chat-noir.html

Today we are pleased to announce it has graduated to Peachy's Picks!  Among the youngest restaurants we have reviewed, Bistro Chat Noir is the perfect oasis to Manhattan's Madison Avenue Shopping and has an American/European cuisine that will absolutely delight you and leave you coming back the next day for more.  In the good weather, there a few coveted tables outside that are a wonderful al fresco experience, particularly because Bistro Chat Noir is at a downstairs garden level, offering privacy and intimacy that is hard to find in Manhattan.  Inside, you will find a deep dining room that is not at all stuffy, yet not too informally causal either.  It is just right, and the ideal mix of class and panache, led by owner Suzanne Latapie who brings her southern charm and manners to your experience. 


The menu boasts everything from innovative truffle french fries which will be visions in your dreams for nights to come after you eat them, which we started with, to classics such as Cobb Salad, all expertly executed by Executive Chef Gustavo Aguiar who has been at Bistro Chat Noir since December 2008.    From those truffle french fries that no one can stop talking about today that we began with to the finishing touch: Muscat de Beaume de Venise, Bistro Chat Noir absolutely excelled.  At the end of our meal Aguiar graciously chatted with our panel, and we were thoroughly impressed with his culinary expertise.  Hailing from Brazil ten years ago, Aguiar trained at L'Etoile in Martha's Vineyard as a Prep Cook and rose to Sous Chef.  Even if the ambiance wasn't excellent, we would recommend Bistro Chat Noir for his talents alone, but you should know that the ambiance IS EXCELLENT and has the Madison Avenue class down to a T.  As the courses went by the lighting changed appropriately, and we could see that even on a Monday night, this is a popular place in the best part of town, the Upper East side.


With a French name you may imagine the food is French, but we found it had strong Italian influences.  The Whom You Know Panel is predisposed to Champagne in no small way, and in fact three out of the four panelists were at the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, and we began with that.  All evening Hank did a lovely job as waiter.  One of the hottest drinks of the summer at Bistro Chat Noir is the Acai flavored Veev Mojito, and although Peachy is not a fan of these realm of cocktails usually, she found this was quite excellent!  Suggested by Suzanne, the Bistro Chat Noir Veev Mojito is low in sugar content, and they have been serving it for a year.  So, we believe they are the true trendsetters in this regard with their low calorie margaritas and the like...

Shown above, Peachy Deegan began with the Grilled Shrimp Cobb Salad.  When we review restaurants we often like to pick standards to give us an idea of who is setting them.  Peachy has not had a better Grilled Shrimp Cobb Salad, and it was the best one she's had this summer in Manhattan.  The shrimp was bursting with flavor, the colors of all of the vegetables were bold, the taste of everything was fresh, and the avocado was exactly the perfect ripeness. 

She continued with the seafood theme to the main course of Seafood Parpadelle with lobster to die for, succulent shrimp, miraculous mussels, super scallops, and rainbow carrots and peas, shown above.  This to Peachy is the star item of the menu, and she highly recommends it!!!  It is quite creative in addition to being amazingly succulent.  Nothing from the menu disappointed us and we found it to be accurate and inviting.  Peachy Deegan brought the distinguished Peachy's Picks Panel with her, and they comment:


Tucked away on a quiet block in Manhattan's Upper East Side, Bistro Chat Noir proved to be a lovely way to escape the daily grind and enjoy a delicious meal, lovely ambiance, and lively conversation.  From the moment we set foot in the cozy, elegant restaurant, we were made to feel like family.  Owner Suzanne Latapie welcomed us and put us at ease immediately, and our waiter, Hank, was pleasant, knowledgeable, and attentive from the get-go.  While we were perusing the menus, we were brought warm, crusty bread, and our drinks were delivered promptly (I had a glass of the '07 Fournier Sauvignon Blanc - delicious, crisp, and refreshing!).  

There were many tempting items on the menu, but I ultimately decided on the Roasted Red Beets for to start, shown above, and the Roasted Chicken Breast for my main course, shown below. After our orders were placed, Suzanne sent us an order of Truffle French Fries for the table.  Made with white truffle oil and Parmesan cheese, these fries were simply outstanding.  Just crispy enough on the outside, warm and soft on the inside...and the TASTE!  Oh, my.  I'm afraid I've been spoiled now - I'm not sure I can ever go back to regular french fries without thinking wistfully of that light, earthy, white truffle flavor, along with the slightly tangy Parmesan flavor that made these fries so delectable!

Luckily, before I could eat too many fries, our first courses arrived.  My red beets, which were combined with blue cheese, avocado, and red apples, were so pretty, I almost hated to tuck into them.  Almost.  But hunger won out in the end, and I'm sure glad it did!  The combination of flavors and textures was perfect.  The subtle flavors of beet, avocado, and apple were a perfect match for each other, and there was just enough blue cheese to cut through the other ingredients and add some extra depth of flavor.  Additionally, there was a great combination of textures - from the crispy apples to the creamy texture of the avocados and blue cheese, all of the textures played well off of each other and made this quite an interesting dish. 

Next up: the main course.  My roasted chicken breast arrived on a bed of Israeli cous cous saffron, with almonds, cherry tomato, and Canadian cranberries - a beautiful, colorful presentation.  The yellow of the saffron cous cous, punctuated with the red of the cherry tomatoes and the deeper crimson of the cranberries was beautiful to look at, and nestled on top was the rosemary-honey-citrus-crusted chicken breast.  It was love at first bite for me with this dish - the flavors were vibrant and interesting, without being overbearing.  The couscous was cooked perfectly, and the combination of flavors in it, along with the added crunch from the almonds was just right.  The chicken itself was also cooked beautifully.  The crust had just the right amount of crispiness, and the flavor was divine.  Warm and comforting, the chicken was tender enough that it could be cut with just a fork.  The flavors of the chicken and the cous cous complemented each other beautifully, and I found it a tremendously satisfying entree.

Following the main course, we ordered a fruit and cheese plate as a palate cleanser.  The cheeses that were served were goat cheese, blue cheese, and Parmesan cheese, each of which was delicious - it was evident that great care had been taken in selecting these cheeses - and the fruit was fresh and delicious.  For me, one of the stars of the evening was the chocolate souffle, which we all shared.  Served with Creme Anglaise, the souffle was everything that I'd hoped for - warm, fluffy, and very chocolatey.  It was absolutely delicious, especially when combined with an espresso! 

After we were finished, we had the pleasure of speaking for a few minutes with the chef, Gustavo Auiar, who had prepared nearly all of our dishes that evening.  Mr. Aguilar, a native of Brazil, clearly loves his job, and simply lit up when discussing the menu and some of his favorite dishes to prepare.  Throughout the course of the evening, I enjoyed watching the staff interact with other tables, as well as our own.  It became evident to me, as I saw the warmth and familiarity with which Suzanne greeted many of the guests that Bistro Chat Noir is an extremely popular dining spot for those who live in the neighborhood - and, after dining there myself, I can understand why!  The food is excellent, the staff is warm, welcoming, and attentive, and the restaurant itself is a lovely place to spend an evening - it's pretty and elegant without being stuffy or uptight.  All in all, it was a terrific (and filling!) way to spend an evening - I can't wait to go back to try some of the other items on the menu...and to have another helping of those Truffle French Fries!

Bistro Chat Noir exudes an intimate and warm atmosphere.  Owner, Suzanne Latapie graciously welcomed us as if to her own home.  This Upper East Side gem is considered a local dining spot among New Yorkers, but that does not mean it lacks in elegance.  Warm candle light, red banquettes and beautiful art work created a romantic glow as I perused the carefully crafted menu.  As an appetizer, I tried the Ravioli du Royan.  Tender little morsels of ricotta filled pasta were enveloped in a luscious Comte and Gruyere sauce.  Truly, a decadent and delightful way to start, I paired my first course with a crisp glass of champagne.  For my entree, the Halibut certainly caught my eye, and it is shown above.  When my entree arrived, it was beautifully presented. This sweet and buttery fish was lightly seared and served on a bed of sautéed spinach, finished off with a delicate Romesco sauce and accompanied by a few steamed mussels.  I paired my entree with the Sauvignon Blanc, Loire Valley, Fournier, '07.  This delightful wine was fragrant, with hints of apple and pear and complimented the sweet and savory flavors of the dish. The briny texture of the mussels worked perfectly with the halibut and the Romesco sauce teased my palate with hints of almond and sweet red pepper.  As no French dining experience is complete without dessert, I indulged in the Chocolate Soufflé and the Muscat de Beaumes de Venise. This sweet fortified wine from the Rhone Valley was light and sweet with a soft rose fragrance and finished off on my palate with delicate notes of fruit and honey.  A perfect summer dessert wine!  Bistro Chat Noir is a lovely venue for intimate evenings with friends and loved ones!

Tucked away on E. 66th, just off the Park, is Bistro Le Chat Noir. Down one step, and you are surrounded by an ambiance of subdued elegance that is also comfortable, serene, and very well attended.  Dinner can be simple, or layered with many flavors, executed by a chef who enjoys creating an intriguing menu.  The service, for those of us who care passionately about such things, was perfection the night I was there.  Greeted by our hostess, the owner, and coddled by our waiter, each step in making the table hospitable was choreographed in free flow.  From the lemons for my water, to the warm bread (apparently baked on the premises), to the appropriately chilled champagne, small things matter.  To begin with a simple course is my wont: the Salade Chat Noir, a bed of greens, flavored with piquant parmesan and dotted with grilled artichoke hearts was my choice. Chosen for it's lightness of heart (pardon the pun), it opened the palate for the entree.  A perfect summer selection of seafood was narrowed down to the trout: local, meuniere, and topped with a serving of al dente stringbeans.  Really, divine.  The trout arrived split, lightly seasoned, meaty, yet tender.  The almonds added just the right nuance of crunch, and the string beans to this vegetable lover could have followed me home.  This course was accompanied by a chilled sauvignon blanc, chosen by the owner, and again, the perfect temperature.  Cheese, (a selection of 3: parmesan, creamy goat cheese from Coach Farm, and a bleu) fruits and a bit of toasted bread broke up the meal and prepared us for the chocolate souffle.  When you don't want to feel a bit guilty about eating a chocolate dessert, this is what you order.  Share it, though,because it's plenty for the table, and with it's balance of dark, sweet and light, it's heaven.  We were served a digestif that may very well become my summer favorite: Muscat de Beaume de Venise, just edgy enough to top off the expresso, and send me home a happy camper.  Definitely my new destination when I'm at the Metropolitan Museum,or shopping on Mad Ave. if only for lunch.  Thank you, Bistro le Chat Noir for a wonderful meal.


Whom You Know Highly Recommends Bistro Chat Noir!
22 East 66 Street
212.794.2428
http://bistrochatnoir.com/