Dinner at the The French Gourmet Restaurant was so enjoyable, that we went back to the bistro for lunch a few days later prior to leaving San Diego, CA. The French Gourmet Restaurant is a French Bistro and Bakery located at 960 Turquoise Street • San Diego, CA 92109 in the section of the city known as Pacific Beach.
The French Gourmet Restaurant in San Diego, CA (Pacific Beach)
Before we even drove to the restaurant, I knew that I was going to order from the lunch menu. When we gone to the restaurant earlier in the week and prior to selecting the Foie de Veau (Sauteed Calf’s Liver with Onions and Demi-Glace), I was leaning towards the appetizer Pate Maison Sampler. However, in deference to my arteries, I considered the calf liver to be a sufficient amount of organ meat that evening. Therefore, when we went to the restaurant for lunch, I knew that I was going to order the lunch offering of the pate: Pate Sampler (Chicken, Duck and country pate, served with onion chutney, cornichons, and Greek-style Petrou olives). For starters, I ordered a bowl of the Soup de Poisson (Fish Soup) served with rouille, Parmesan and croutons. It was only while I was writing this review did I realize that the rouille, Parmesan and croutons were not served with the soup. No matter the soup was excellent.
The Soup de Poisson was phenomenal. The broth was a tomato and seafood stock, perfectly salted with generous junks of salmon, shrimp and mussels. I am going to have to try and replicate this soup at home. The pate sampler plate was just as good. I admit, I have no idea which of the three samples of pate were Duck, Chicken or Country style, but they were all very good and if not made on premise, then were made with as much attention to detail, flavor and texture as one should expect from artisan level crafted pate. The accompanying cornichons, onion pate and olives with sliced French bread were a perfect dish for lunch.
Whereas when we went for dinner we did not order dessert, this time we could not resist the temptation of the French Pastries displayed in the pastry display case. I selected the Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Cake (Chocolate Mousse and puree of raspberry between chocolate sponge cake dabbed with Grand Marnier liqueur, covered with dark chocolate ganache). Decadence would be an over simplification of this selection. The Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Cake was rich, intense, perfectly portioned and covered with the dark chocolate ganache that could satiate any chocoholics addiction.
Once again and amazing meal and with much regret the knowledge that The French Gourmet is located in San Diego, CA and not Houston, TX.