Cognac - In Review

As a self-respecting French restaurant, we have our share of cognacs. Outside from what you hear about cognac through pop culture references, how much do you really know about this French liquor?

Well, we've compiled our own little Top 5 list of things that you need to (or at least should) know about cognac.

1. Cognac is actually a variety of brandy.
2. Cognac gets its name from the town in France. (And, it's actually produced in the wine-growing region around the town).  
3. The French are very serious about their cognac. For a brandy to be labeled as cognac, rigorous standards apply, such as the type of grapes, the aging process and length, and more!
4. Depending on the age and blend, cognacs have several official grades which relate to the quality of the cognac. V.S. (Very Special), V.S.O.P (Very Superior Old Pale), and XO (Extra Old) are the main quality grades. 
5. Some of the best cognacs will cost you a pretty penny. Many top rated cognacs sell for upwards of $5,000 per bottle, and the exclusive Remy Martin Louis XIII Black Pearl Limited Edition (released in 2008) dropped on the market with a price tag of $34,000 for 750 ml.

Now that you know a little more about cognac, stop in and try it for yourself. While we don't have the Remy Martin Louis XIII Black Pearl Limited Edition, we do have a nice variety depending on your tastes (and wallet).

Courvoisier - V.S. and Napoleon

Hennessey - V.S., V.S.O.P, X.O., and Paradis

Martell - V.S., V.S.O.P, and X.O

Marte - Cordon Bleu

Remy Martin - V.S., V.S.O.P, X.O

Delamain - Pale & Dry

Á votre santé!

Restaurant Week was a Hit!

Restaurant Week was a hit, and we just can't wait to do it again. We had so much fun and it was so nice to see all the new faces, and based on the reviews we've been reading, it appears that you all had a blast as well!

We were so humbled and gratified while reading the reviews, we just had to share them. Believe me when I say that you made us giddy, friends, giddy. In no particular order, here are some of our favorites:

Chez Daniel has been my favorite restaurant for YEARS!! I take special people there to have a "SPECIAL" dining experience and we DO!! 

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We were very surprised. We generally do not go to Hotels for dinner. Restaurant Week is a wonderful time to experiment with the 'unknown'. We did, and we came away very satisfied with Chez Daniel. Everything was very tasty and our service was wonderful. I really don't like to eat with the hotel background, but this was okay and not bad. We'd go again, and surely recommend to others.

Special Features: 

fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem

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The food was amazing, portion sizes were just right, and we were served by the friendliest of people. All around, a very positive experience at Chez Daniel! 

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It was a very nice dinner, with attentive service.

Special Features: 

fit for foodies, great for brunch, romantic, special occasion

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The sea bass was, quite possibly, the best fish I've eaten. Appetizer selection was great...varied and we had scallops, shrimp, and Brie which were all fantastic! Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. Other staff was attentive to our needs including refilling drinks, taking plates away, etc. Restaurant is inside a hotel so it's a bit of a casual scene for such a pricey place but I enjoyed not having to get dressed up. Jeans are completely appropriate here.

Special Features: 

fit for foodies, good for groups, kid-friendly, special occasion

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I was very impressed with the whole overall experience of this restaurant. From the greeting to the food to the wait staff, all was fabulous!

Special Features: 

fit for foodies, special occasion, great for lunch

Thanks to your kind reviews, we're the #2 restaurant in ALL of Bloomington on Trip Advisor! 

We tried this place because we saw it on the restaurant week list and are very glad that we did.

I saw some reviews that were talking about poor service but fortunately we did not experience that, we made a reservation for 6pm and beat most of the rush. By the time we were leaving the place was very packed but it seemed like the wait staff was still managing well. 

The food was fantastic! We tried: escargot, shrimp, scallops and brie appetizers, lamb and filet mignon for entree and the creme brulee and cream puffs for dessert. Every bit of food we had was great and I would recommend all of it. That being said the restaurant week price was a VERY good deal and we got four courses for less than the typical entree price, if we had been paying normal prices we would not have been able to try all of those items. 

So, if you visited us during Restaurant Week, thanks so much for giving us a try. And, if you shared your experience, so that others know about Chez Daniel, many thanks again. We really appreciate it! 

Until next Restaurant Week, Au Revoir!

Restaurant Week - July 8 - 13, 2012

We're so excited about this week, because it's not just any week, it's Mpls St Paul Magazine's Restaurant Week, and we're participating for the first time EVER! Beginning Sunday, July 8 and running through Friday, July 13, we'll be offering several three-course lunch and dinner options at some great price points. 

We hope you'll join us for lunch, dinner, or maybe both, since the combinations are endless!

Lunch — $20

Appetizer (Choose one):

Cream of Mushroom Soup

French Onion Soup

Entrée (Choose one):

Cranberry Chicken Salad - Mixed greens, dried cranberries, red onion, strawberries, gorgonzola cheese, cranberry-port vinaigrette, grilled chicken, and toasted walnuts

Coconut Shrimp Salad - Spinach, red onion, mango, pears, strawberries, pineapple, balsamic- blackberry vinaigrette, candied pecans, and coconut shrimp

Philly Steak Sandwich - Beef tips, sautéed mushrooms, onions, green peppers, Swiss cheese, and mayo on a toasted baguette with au jus

Avocado Chicken Melt - Grilled chicken, avocado, pepper jack cheese and roasted red pepper aioli served on sourdough bread

Walleye Sandwich - Canadian walleye beer-battered and fried, served on a toasted bun with creamy tartar sauce

Cranberry Turkey - Sliced turkey and gouda cheese with arugula and cranberry cream cheese on wild rice bread

Chez Daniel Sandwich - Parmesan-crusted sourdough, grilled chicken, mozzarella , prosciutto, tomato, greens, and balsamic vinaigrette

Lobster Ravioli - Wild mushrooms, artichokes, lobster tarragon sauce

Chicken Penne - Toulouse sausage, chicken, tomato cream, mozzarella, balsamic-fennel marinated red peppers, and onions

Chicken Chandelaise - Pan-seared chicken breast, wild mushrooms, prosciutto, none wine cream, mashed potato

Quiche du Jour - Served with straw potatoes, vegetables, and house salad

Dessert (Choose one):

Crème Brulee - Homemade brandied vanilla custard

Profiteroles - Cream puffs filled with vanilla ice cream, topped with hot fudge and raspberry coulis

Chocolate Mousse

Dinner — $30

Appetizer (Choose one):

Escargots - Wild burgundy snails baked in garlic butter

Scallops - Seared sea scallops on potato pancakes with crab, hollandaise sauce and truffles

Pistachio Crusted Brie - Panko and pistachio-crusted French brie with honeycomb, lingonberry sauce, and crostinis

Shrimp Chandelaise - Shrimp sautéed with a wild mushroom and prosciutto in a none wine cream sauce

First Course:

House Salad - Mixed greens with walnuts, pickled red cabbage, carrots, and tomato in a tarragon vinaigrette

Entrée (Choose one):

Lobster Ravioli - Lobster ravioli with wild mushrooms, roasted artichokes, and lobster tarragon sauce

Seafood Linguine - Shrimp, salmon, scallops, mussels, clams, and fennel tossed in a spiced tomato-caper sauce

Filet Mignon - Pan-seared filet mignon with béarnaise sauce & house potato

Lamb Chops - Pan-seared, provencal-herb crusted lamb chops with demi-glace and house potato

Filet of Sea Bass - Sea bass with leeks, morel mushrooms, and none wine cream sauce with pancetta risotto

Scottish Salmon - Salmon with stone ground mustard cream sauce and tomato coulis with golden jewel grain blend

Roasted Duck - Roasted duck with golden jewel blend, blackberry-pear sauce, and port wine reduction

Dessert (Choose one):

Crème Brulee - Homemade brandied vanilla custard

Profiteroles - Cream puffs filled with vanilla ice cream, topped with hot fudge and raspberry coulis

Chocolate Mousse

We hope you're just as excited as we are! Join us all this week for Restaurant Week by making your reservations at 952.888.4447 or online at Open Table. 

Bastille Day 2012

Next Saturday, July 14, marks the annual French celebration, La Fête Nationale (The National Celebration), otherwise known as Bastille Day. Commemorating the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, Bastille Day mainly celebrates the French Revolution and subsequent establishment of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

While Bastille Day in France is quite the event, with parades, fireworks, and more, Minnesota Francophliles can also join in the fun.

The Alliance Français, a Twin Cities French cultural center, will be hosting a Bastille Day celebration this Saturday, July 14, from 4 to 10pm at the Sofitel Hotel right here in Bloomington. For more information and a complete schedule of events, feel free to visit their Bastille Day page.

Barbette will also host their annual Bastille Day Block Party next weekend, on Sunday, July 15. Good news, if you wanted to spend all weekend celebrating! Rain or shine, the event will be held on Irving and Lagoon in Uptown and will feature performances, music, and more! A portion of the proceeds from the event will even be donated to local charity, People Serving People.

So, if you want to get out and get down all in the name of Bastille Day, you've got some options. Of course, a tasty meal at Chez Daniel would suffice just fine as well!

Viva La Revolution and Happy Bastille Day, all!

Staying Safe During Picnic Season

During the summer months, we midwesterners love to take our dining into the great outdoors. From picnics and parties to barbecues and cook-outs, we enjoy spending much of the warmer months out-of-doors, eating!

However, as the weather heats up and the meals head out, we must also be conscious of staying safe, as food-borne illnesses can really ramp up in the summer months.

Below we've compiled some tips for staying safe while still enjoying those outdoor dining events!

1. Wash your hands! You've heard this many, many times, but you must wash your hands both before preparing or touching any food and before eating. Tip: Bring hand sanitizer to the event and thoroughly sanitize before handling any food (and when switching between different food items during preparation). 
2. Keep perishables cool. Make sure that there is adequate space in the cooler(s) to keep any perishable  items, like meat, salads, etc. at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Transport coolers in the car as opposed to the hot trunk, and bring enough ice, so that ice may be replenished as it melts. Pack the cooler full, as it will stay cold longer. If the ice has melted, discard any perishable food left in the cooler.
3. Do not mix raw and prepared foods. Keep raw foods away from prepared items, so that you do not run the risk of cross contamination. Do not use the same utensils or serving trays among raw and prepared foods. Brink extra utensils and trays for this purpose.
4. Use a different cooler for drinks and food items. This way, the food cooler will not be continually opened and have hands digging through it. 
5. Cook any grilled items to appropriate done-ness. (This generally means cooking items to 165 degrees Fahrenheit). 
6. Don't leave food out. Perishable food items cannot be left out for any longer than two hours. Once you've eaten, store food items back in the cooler; otherwise, discard any perishable items that have been left out longer. 
7. If you get take-out for a picnic, make sure you consume your meal within an hour of pick-up. 
8. Cover up food items to avoid contamination by bugs. 
9. Evaluate your water options. Is the water at your picnic site safe to drink/use for cooking? 
10. Be creative! Whenever possible look to cook/bring items that are far-less likely to be a food-borne illness risk. Nut butter sandwiches, crackers, dried fruit, nuts, un-peeled fruit, cookies, baguette, etc. (Hint: What are items that you are able to keep safely in your pantry?)

Wishing you a safe and happy summer outdoor eating season!