Chez Daniel - Your Holiday Hideaway

Here at Chez Daniel, we understand that the holidays can get stressful. With plenty of options to either fuel up or mellow out after a long day of shopping, make Chez Daniel your holiday hideaway.

To fuel you up for a long day of shopping, baking, or even just for the workday ahead, look no further than our own in-house coffee shop, City Blend. Proudly brewing Starbucks® coffee, specialty espresso drinks, Tazo Tea® and serving up breakfast pastries along with sandwiches and salads, City Blend will happily get you your morning mocha, afternoon tea, or anything in between.

However, if the last thing you want is to keep going and you're just looking forward to unwinding, we can help with that as well. With plenty of options to warm you inside and out for lunch and dinner, take the opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine as the day's stresses melt away over a delectable, authentic French experience.

Being in close proximity to some of the best shopping in the Twin Cities, without being directly in the chaos sets Chez Daniel apart. Enjoy plenty of free parking directly in our adjoining lot as well. Why worry about a meter or parking blocks away, when you can park close and unwind as you dine to the backdrop of our garden atrium.

This holiday season, don't worry about rushing around. Enjoy yourself and be our guest as we treat you to either a pick-me-up or take-me-away escape.

Happy Holidays!

Bastille Day - July 14, 2013

This coming Sunday, 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 13, from 4 to midnight at the Hotel Sofitel right here in Bloomington. For more information and a complete schedule of events, feel free to visit their Bastille Day page.

Barbette will also be hosting their annual Bastille Day Block Party this weekend, beginning at 3pm on Sunday, July 14. (Great 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.

However, the best celebration of all will be going down right here, as Mpls. St Paul Magazine's Restaurant Week returns to Chez Daniel on Bastille Day, Sunday, July 14. Celebrate La Fête Nationale in style as you enjoy a three-course dinner at one low price! To view the menus, please CLICK HERE.

Now you're all set to get out and get down in the name of Bastille Day, friends!

Viva La Revolution and Happy Bastille Day!

Restaurant Week - Summer Menu

As we mentioned last week, Mpls. St Paul Magazine's Restaurant Week will be returning to Chez Daniel Sunday, July 14 through Friday, July 19. We could not be more excited, especially now that we've finalized the menu of two-course lunches and three-course dinners for our guests to enjoy!

Lunch — $10 

(Choose either an Entrée and Soup OR an Entrée and Dessert)

Soup (Choose one):

Cream of Mushroom Soup

French Onion Soup

Entrée (Choose one):

• Pot Roast Sandwich - Bacon, Swiss cheese, fried onions, lettuce, tomatoes, French fries
• Chicken Pesto Sandwich - Chicken breast, brie cheese, basil-pesto, roasted tomatoes, French baguette, French fries
• Patty Melt - Sourdough bread, hamburger, tomatoes, fried onions, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, ranch dressing, coleslaw
• Roasted Salmon - Pan seared, risotto, arugula, lemon-garlic vinaigrette
• Chicken Fettuccini - Chicken, broccoli, red peppers, wild mushrooms, alfredo sauce
• Caprese Sandwich - Tandoori bread, turkey, basil, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, aged balsamic with garden salad
• Strawberry Salad - Mixed greens, strawberries, red onions, dried cherries, chicken breast, feta cheese, balsamic vinaigrette

Dessert (Choose one):

Crème Brûlée

Raspberry Cheese Cake

Apricot-Coconut Bread Pudding

Chocolate Sea Salt-Caramel Mousse

Dinner — $30

Appetizer (Choose one):

• Smoked Salmon Carpaccio - Orange segments, red radicchios, passion fruit vinaigrette, frissee
• Escargot - Wild burgundy snails baked in garlic butter
• Shrimp Boat - Shrimp, chipotle mayo, onions, spices, cucumber
• Strawberry Salad - Mixed greens, gorgonzola, candied pecans, sliced onions, cranberry vinaigrette
• Goat Cheese Salad - Grilled portabella mushroom, potato chips, micro greens, aged balsamic, basil oil
• Scallop Salad - Scallops, potato, sliced truffle, arugula, parmesan, lemon vinaigrette

Entrée (Choose one):

• Artichoke Chicken - Artichokes, sundried tomatoes, shallots, spinach, pine nuts, lemon-oregano sauce
• Salmon-Shrimp Pasta - Shrimp, salmon, roasted red pepper-pesto, oven roasted tomatoes, bowtie pasta, olive oil
• Lamb Chop - Pan-seared, provencal herb-crusted lamb chops, with demi-glaze & house potatoes
• Beef Peppercorn - Sliced N.Y. strip loin, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, brandy peppercorn sauce
• Sea Bass - Pan seared, lemon risotto, oyster-pecan butter
• Salmon - Pan seared, five bean puree, shaved fennel, red radicchios, peppadew peppers, wild citron vinaigrette

Dessert (Choose one):

Crème Brûlée

Raspberry Cheese Cake

Apricot-Coconut Bread Pudding

Chocolate Sea Salt-Caramel Mousse

Don't take our word on it, though, trust your fellow diners! As Cheryl L. shared after dining at Chez Daniel for Restaurant Week in February:

"The service was good, the food delicious and filling. The expansive Restaurant Week menu was the reason we chose Chez Daniel and we were not disappointed. We had a party of 5 and tried all of the appetizers, salads and dessert, all were delicious. The entrees chosen were Lamb Chops, Chicken Fettuccini, Beef Short Rib dish. The lamb and duck were cooked to perfection and the fettuccini and short rib dishes were devoured with delight. Great food and great deal($), I highly recommend it!"

To make your reservations for Chez Daniel's Restaurant Week, please call us at 952.888.4447 or book online at OpenTable.

Restaurant Week is Back at Chez Daniel: July 14-19, 2013

It's that time again... Time to get excited about Mpls. St Paul Magazine's Restaurant Week! Chez Daniel will again be participating for both lunch and dinner. Beginning Sunday, July 14 and running through Friday, July 19, we'll be offering several three-course lunch and dinner options at some great price points.

Mpls. St Paul Magazine touts Restaurant Week as a celebration of:
"The best of Twin Cities dining with a weeks worth of great deals in the Twin Cities trendiest and best restaurants from July 14-19.

Participating restaurants will serve two course lunches for $10-$20 and three-course dinners for $15-$30 (beverage, tax and gratuity not included).

Mpls. St Paul Magazine’s Restaurant Week was started in 2007 in an effort to connect Twin Cities food enthusiasts with the best in Twin Cities dining. Since then, Restaurant Week has become a tradition embraced by Minnesotans.

Mpls. St Paul Magazine’s Restaurant Week continues its successful effort to marry local diners with the best dining and best deals in the Twin Cities. More than 300,000 people have indulged in the best of the Twin Cities local dining scene, for lunch and/or dinner, during Mpls. St Paul Magazine's Restaurant Week history."

We're hard at work developing the lunch and dinner courses for diners, and we're sure these two weeks will fly by. In the meantime, read up on all of the participating restaurants, make your reservations on OpenTable, and plan on entering the Diner of the Day Contest for your chance to win a restaurant gift card from Mpls. St Paul Magazine!

We'll post the menu as soon as it's finalized, as we hope you'll join us for lunch, dinner, or maybe both, since the combinations are endless!

Make your reservations for Chez Daniel's Restaurant Week at 952.888.4447 or online at Open Table. 

New Daily Specials

Our specials du jour have changed a bit around here, so we wanted to make sure that you stayed in the loop! These specials are offered during Lunch and Dinner in addition to Chez Daniel’s full menu.

Each day, we feature a different time-honored French special. These specials give our Executive Chef, Pierre Jean, the opportunity to showcase a few of the culinary gems of his native culture throughout the week.

Monday

Confit de Canard, Haricot Blanc

Duck leg with white kidney beans

Tuesday

Jarret d’Agneau Braisé à L’Ancienne

Braised lamb shanks served old fashion with mashed potatoes

Wednesday

Salmon Mutard

Salmon with stone mustard cream sauce, tomato coulis, golden jewel blend 

Thursday

Pot àù Feu

Slow-roasted beef round with, carrots and potatoes 

Friday

Bouillabaisse

Saffron & garlic seafood broth with salmon, shrimp, mussels, clams and crab legs served with crouton rouille  

Saturday
Côte de Boeuf Rotie
Roasted prime rib with au jus served with a baked potato and vegetables

(The main change is that Wednesday's special changed from Choucroute Garnie to Salmon Mutard)

This week, make plans to join us for a traditional French special on the day of your choice. (Then, next week try a different one!)

Bon Appétit!

Restaurant Week - February 24 - March 1, 2013

After such a wonderful time celebrating Valentine's Day, we're now getting excited for the fabulous week-long adventure that comes but once a quarter,  Mpls St Paul Magazine's Restaurant Week! On a hiatus since this past October, we can't wait for all of the fun to begin again.

Starting Sunday, February 24 and running through Friday, March 1, we'll be offering several lunch and dinner options at two great price points.

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

Lunch — $20

Entrée (Choose one):

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

Goat Cheese and Beet Salad - Roasted beets, mixed greens, apple, goat cheese croutons apple cider vinaigrette & toasted walnuts

Reuben or Rachel - Sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, 1000 island and your choice of corned beef or turkey, served on grilled pumpernickel

Prime Rib Melt - Sautéed onions with provolone cheese, toasted baguette with Au jus and horse radish

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, gouda cheese, arugula and cranberry cream cheese, on wild rice bread

Sausage & Broccolini Ravioli - Served with roasted garlic cream sauce

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

Truffle Chicken - Pan-seared chicken breast, truffle mushroom cream, asparagus, risotto

Chicken Penne - Chicken, capicola ham, bell peppers, onions, celery, spiced cream sauce, smoked gouda cheese

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

Hors d'Oeuvres (Choose one):

Escargots - Wild burgundy snails baked in garlic butter

Scallops - Fillo cup, olive tapenade, aged balsamic, olive oil

First Course:

Beet Salad - Fried goat cheese, mixed greens, roasted beets, truffles, Dijon mustard dressing
Pear Salad - Belgian endive, roasted pear, Roquefort cheese, ground mustard vinaigrette red wine reduction, candied pecan

Entrée (Choose one):

Lobster Ravioli - Lobster ravioli with wild mushrooms, roasted artichokes, and lobster tarragon sauce
Lamb Chops - Pan seared, provencal-herb crusted lamb chops with demi-glace & house potato
Chicken Fettuccini - Fettuccini with chicken, wild mushrooms, red peppers, broccoli, roasted garlic cream sauce
Sea, Land, & Air - Beef short rib, lemon-lobster mashed potatoes, demi-glace
Blue-Brie Chicken - Chicken, spinach, artichokes, onions, pine nuts, truffle-cream risotto
Scottish Salmon - Honey-lime marinated salmon wrapped in a fillo pastry, mayor lemon marmalade
Roasted Duck - Rosemary polenta, dried fruit compote
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 throughout the following week for Restaurant Week by making your reservations at 952.888.4447 or online at Open Table.

See you soon!

Ring in 2013 - Chez Daniel Style

In France, New Year's Eve, known as la Saint-Sylvestre, is generally celebrated with a feast. Here at Chez Daniel  we felt that our New Year's Eve celebration should be no different.

Tonight, Monday, December 31st, Chez Daniel will again be offering our famous Prime Rib feast for just $35. We'll also have a King Crab Legs Dinner for $42 as well as a Fresh Lobster Tail Dinner for $45. All of the specials will come with starch and veg du jour along with our house salad and freshly baked bread.

For a broader selection, our full dinner menu will also be available. Accompany your feast with a bottle from our hand-picked selection of choice sparkling and traditional wines, and let Chez Daniel be your New Year's Eve dining destination.

Should you choose to make a night of it, our convenient location within the Embassy Suites Bloomington West hotel means you're in close proximity to one of the best lodging options in the city! Plus, if you stay over, you get to take advantage of the nightly manager's reception, offering free cocktails and snacks to hotel guests as well as our complimentary cooked to order breakfast on New Year's Day!

Dinner service runs from 5:00pm to 10:00pm and dining reservations may be made online at Open Table or by calling Chez Daniel at 952-888-4447.

To make a reservation with the hotel, please CLICK HERE.

Please note, Chez Daniel will be closed on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 to celebrate New Year's Day.

Variety, It's What's for Dinner

Unlike other restaurants, we like to serve up a healthy dose of variety at every meal. (Ever witnessed our Sunday Brunch spread?) While we have our favorite dishes of course and we're sure you do too, we simply like the choice factor that options lends our menu.

Sure, this means that we need to ensure our culinary staff is well-educated on the preparation of each of the items on our menu, but isn't that the point? No matter who you bring to Chez Daniel, we're sure that each of you will find something to enjoy (and hopefully share). If you can't decide, we're always happy to have you back the next night.

From Steaks and Poultry to expertly prepared Seafood and Pasta dishes, our dinner menu offers guests a taste of France that they're not traditionally exposed to this far inland in North America. Add in the additional options for appetizers, our three house-made soups, salads, and Voila! You've got quite the meal to enjoy.

Stop in for dinner one night this week and see (and taste) for yourself what a difference having choices makes.

For reservations, call us at 952-888-4447 or reserve online at Open Table.