Reduce to a simmer

Been off the blogging boil for a while recently, I guess llife gets in the way sometimes.

In the interveening period, Ive been keeping the culinary fires burning with reading up on recipes, food writing, observer food monthly articles and a few trips to some Bristol restaurants. One of the reastaurants of note, was Bistro La Barrique on Gloucester Road. Historically this has been my favourte city restaurant although I havent visited for nearly two years (shame on me!). Famed for its 'Petits plats' or tapas style french/mediterranean dishes, this place never dissapoints. The head chef, Michel Lemoine, has an uncanny ability to create small dishes which, for me anyway, encapsulate everything that is wonderful about french cuisine. So,as a birthday treat, both me and my better half sauntered our way into the restaurant.

I must admit I felt a little axiuous about the prospect of eating in a restaurant that I have been waxing lyrical about for so long and not actually visited for nearly two years - I didnt need to be so concerned. The restaurant itself is still nicely laid out, well lit (often not the case in many a eatery) and above all the service is impecable. Met by a familular face of the head waitress, we were shown to our table. She instantly noticed a minute smear on my wine glass and subtly replaced the glass without fuss (its things like that which make a difference in my world) and commnced to take our drinks order - a bottle of french cabernet from the tourraine. My girlfriend commented that it was the best wine she had tasted and immediately took a photo of the bottle for reference as I  tried to look as if i had chosen it knowingly  ( I hadn't!).

After much deliberation we ordered six 'petits plats'; Red onion and Goats cheese tartin; Sardine ceviche, Pork terrine, Boeuf bourguignon , a selection of olives and last but by no means least - a 'healthy' portion of Fois gras! Now im in danger of offending the yogurt weaving, dandelion chewing section of society - but i cant get enough of this french delicacy . Maybe it is cruel, maybe we shouldn't encourage the farmers to force feed our feathered friends, but if its that bad why does it taste so good?! My girlfriend, who had never tried it before, smothered a little morsel on some crusty bread and exclaimed...'OMG its like meaty butter!!' and immediately lathered even more on to the remaining  piece of bread.

While I waited for my try on the fois gras, I grazed my way through the ceviche and pork terrine - both deep in flavour and beautifully presented. The tartin was equally as flavoursome although I wasn't so enthusiastic about the bourguignon, which is probably our fault for not matching dishes appropriately. So once I had my foodie curiosity fulfilled, I made my way through the remaining fois gras. There are things in life which will always remain the same and never cease to bring a smile to my face -  being with friends and family, England winning at rugby and cricket, holidays, live music....and fois gras!

So feeling a little quesy after a filling of 'meaty butter', what best to round off a meal than a lovely dessert of apricot charfloutis, which thankfully we decided to share. My sweet tooth was sated approriatley, wine polished off and the bill requested. The total cost of the meal was approximately £70 which i thought was very reasonable.

We waddled back home, anticpating the inevitable fois gras side effects of an uncomfortable nights sleep - well worth it though!