L'Agassin and the Duck of Blood

                  

Istanbul was amazing, we're still basking in the wonderful memories and there are many pictures yet that needs to be downloaded. (For readers who can access the personal Vox blog, do click over and have a look at the video).

In the meantime here are some images from the weekend when C was in town. To start, we spent a marvellous Saturday at the Foire Nationale à la brocante et Aux Jambons at île de Chatou which is a short drive away from Paris. Digging around for that special fleamarket find and indulging in porky products, got to give it to the French for dreaming of it in the first place. There was a stand selling cooked ham-on-the bone and it was yummy. We tried the ham with vegetable plate which piled boiled ham, roasted ham, a bit of the skin (that husband had to especially ask for), grilled vegetables, fried potatoes etc together, all of which were good especially when paired with fresh apple juice. Non-edible purchases included some silverware, a serving dish and a pink velvet-upholstered banquette complete with gilded acorns and tasselled fringes which is sitting prettily in our hallway. The fair has just ended but there's always the next one to look forward to.

                  

For dinner we didn't want to go too far. In my list of to-do restaurants I found L'Agassin in the 7th, a leisurely 15 minute stroll away on 8 rue Malar. T: 01 47 05 18 18. Contemporary decor, a bit noisy. Service was well-intentioned but slightly flustered but the food was generally good. The menu starts from 29/34 euros for 2/3 courses respectively, with quite a few supplements for more expensive dishes. C's chicken in aspic was terrific, I haven't enjoyed cold chicken in such a long time. Other dishes were competent if a bit dull, like a  hearty lamb shank stew and steaks.

As for me, I went out on a limb to order the day's special which was Canard de Sang, or bloody duck (add 15 euros supplement). The dish is better known at the famous La Tour d'Argent, where they have a machine for pressing the duck and each duck comes with its own serial number. I haven't tried the real thing, but the chef at L'Agassin had worked there before, as well as at other luminary restaurants such as Ledoyen etc etc. Since I do not foresee myself shelling out precious euros to eat at the silver tower, this would have to do, and by Jeeves it did so magnificiently. The duck was served in two courses, after the others have had their appetisers. The first course was of the duck fillets, grilled pink yet still a little rare and with a thin slightly crackling skin and its rim of duck fat served on a generous pool of intense blood sauce. Every bite was heaven, and there was a gratifying amount of meat, plenty enough to share with husband and C.

                  

The second part of the dish was of a confit version, fried beautifully and coated with a warm and slightly ascerbic mustard crust, absolutely delicious. This bloody duck now tops my list of the best duck dishes in the city.

My meal ended well with a country-style apple tart that was unassuming in looks yet yummy to eat. I liked C's soupy clementine too but cannot remember what husband had.  All in, it is a good place to go to for a reliably good meal in the neighbourhood.

Comments

[Sui Mai]

This is SOOOO weird....

I just booked this restaurant for Drew and I next Friday.... just about the same time I was emailing you about the Rech... I was about to suggest you come with us!

great minds and all that...

[umami]

Sui Mai: hope you enjoy yourselves!