So, one night, while in Nice, France, Glenn got out our French guide book, looked up restaurants (our book highlighted maybe 5 out of 500-there are so many cafes in Nice-it’s a little overwhelming!) and found what we thought would be a great place for dinner-if we could find it.  Why we didn’t go the easy route and ask the concierge? I do not know.  But we took a look at the address (didn’t write it down??) and set out by foot to find “La Petite Maison”.  We wove our way through the tiny streets and alleys of “Old Town”-almost to the old forte hike at the end of the “Promenade” and never saw any sign of the target restaurant so eventually, we turned around and headed back towards a Spanish restaurant that we’d noticed as we looked for “La Petite Maison”.  We took a couple of new side streets as we headed back as one last ditch effort and just as we really, really gave up- there it was!

 So, after working so hard to find this place, though we felt a little under dressed (the restaurant in white tablecloths & candlelight and us in shorts & t-shirts) we felt like we had to see if they would feed us anyway.  It was still pretty early for dinner by French standards-it was about 7pm-and I think this was key for us.  Because when we walked in and asked for a table, the bartender (Jaques, who we’d later learn was more than a bartender), members of the wait staff and restaurant management had a little conference about whether or not they should allow us to have a table.  Their representative returned to us, and in a very French accent, said “You will have to seat (sit) on zzz inteareeeurrr (inside)”.  We said no problem.  And then they said “You wheel (wil) have to seat (sit) by zz (the) door.” We said, again, no problem.  And there we sat-in a seat we decided later was the best in the house!  We sat next to one another with the-wide open- door to our left and Jaques (at the bar) and the wait staff buzzing around right before our eyes. 

As the night progressed, we really enjoyed this seat because we saw countless people come to try to do what we’d done just minutes before-get a table without a reservation.  And most of these people did not succeed.  It wasn’t until our food began to come that we realized just how lucky we were… 

The Food Listed In The Order It Was Received:

• Black Olive/Garlic Tapenade With Toast & Fresh (warm) Bread
• Coarse Black Pepper & Coarse Sea Salt (in tiny square dishes with tiny spoons)
• Roasted-Stuffed Vegetables (sitting in a) Tomato Coulis (my 5:01 version coming soon!)
• Haricot (very skinny green been) Salad With Fois Gras and Arugula (in a sweet balsamic dressing)
• Truffle Risotto
• (In House) Smoked Salmon with Arugula, Red Onion & Cereal Bread
• Mashed Potatoes
• Crème Caramel
• Vanilla Ice Cream

 I could speak volumes about all of this food because the meal itself was one of the best I have ever had.  And the “meal” that I speak of is not just about the amazing food but the experience as a whole.  Today I am going to focus on one (in terms of recipes) component of the meal (I will revisit the others later) after I fully describe the experience itself.

As each part of our meal was delivered, I am sure that our admiration of the food was evident to Jaques.  We are, after all, very into food and there was no reason to hide our excitement over each 1^st taste.  He was standing right in front of us so I guess he might have enjoyed watching us get “WOW’d” with every bite. 

Though we were pretty stuffed when they delivered the dessert menus, we hated to not, at least, taste one of the traditional French desserts.  We ordered one crème caramel to split and the waiter said “just one”?  We said yes-just ONE.  I am thinking that Jaques (who was responsible for serving up dessert bar side) chuckled when we did this as he decided to play with these already content Americans- Because when they brought our crème caramel to the table, I gasped in shock (no kidding-gasped) as I laid eyes on this 12” round, 1.5” high crème caramel that was, easily, big enough to serve 8 people.  Jaques laughed as he watched our faces and said…”You have to fineeesh (finish) it!”  Yea-right!  We did our best but c’mon!!!  And THEN-Jaques grinned one more playful grin our way as her sent over 2 little tastes of what was the BEST vanilla ice cream I have ever had.  Great night, amazing meal complimented by laid back-playful French people.  I will never forget “La Petite Maison” and I so hope to get to return to the interior table by the door someday!  If you go to Nice, you should not miss the place- www.lapetitemaison-nice.com   Don’t rely on luck like us though-make a reservation!

One of this week’s 5:01 recipes is inspired by “La Petite Maison” as I offer up my version of the “Stuffed Vegetables In Tomato Coulis “-an easy and impressive appetizer, side or even a main course for a vegetarian.  The second featured recipe this week is a tribute to two of my favorite things-our garden and Thanksgiving!  I had to come up with a way to use the “pole beans” in my garden.  So let me take your mind and your stomach to the warmth of Thanksgiving as I give you my take on “green bean casserole”-a Southern Holiday classic that I now think you will want to serve all year round!