disneyrella
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2002
- Messages
- 31
Chefs de France was my first choice for CP, and on the first morning reservations were open in June I snagged a 5pm ADR for the 8:15 show. I was so excited and pored over the menu for months -- really funny because most days I don't know what I'm eating the next day, but I knew exactly what I was having for dinner in November!
As our trip got closer and I read more recent reviews, I started to get a little scared. Some diners reported a certain "snootiness" and others were less than satisfied with their meals. I began to wonder if I made the wrong choice. In the past we'd done Le Cellier twice (back when it was still offered as a CP package), Akershus, and Restaurant Marrakesh and never had a bad meal. Would this be a first? Based on the previous night's Ohana experience, should we expect that all table service restaurants had experienced a decline in service???
All I can say is, not at all! Chefs de France -- c'est magnifique!
Truthfully, I was a little worried at check in. The lady at the front podium asked me twice if I was MAKING a reservation at 5. Twice, I said, no, I HAVE a reservation at 5. She scanned her sheets. Twice. Then finally, "Voila! You have the Candlelight package." Yes! "Please have a seat." We sat on the benches on the sides of the entrance, peeking occasionally at the street performers outside. At least one family without ADRs were told they would be "put on the list", which I suspected wasn't a list at all.
At about 5, we got led in and were seated at a window corner table! Our location good karma continued! Right away, Jean-Phillippe ("everyone calls me JP") from Cannes wished me a Happy Birthday, and Dad and I spoke some basic French with him. I could tell it was going to be a good experience. He explained that with the CP package we could choose anything on the menu and advised us with a wink to choose the good (read: expensive) things. We got juices (orange, cranberry, and pineapple) along with water to drink and a warm baguette in a white bag. For appetizers, Dad got the lobster bisque, I got the pate, and Mom the crab and shrimp platter. When JP saw me spreading the pate on the baguette, without prompting, he quietly slipped a fresh from the oven hot loaf in front of me -- with a wink.
Side note: Reaching back to high school French, I was able to remember most of the words for the major items I ordered but didn't know how to say cranberry. Curious, I asked JP. He thought about it for a second and said he'd come back with the answer as he didn't know himself! (It's canneberge.)
Then came another highlight -- Remy and his handler Armand came by! A lady at the next table wanted a picture and made the unfortunate mistake of asking Armand if she could take a picture of "it". Armand was not happy about that and made quite a scene! The poor lady was so embarrassed as Armand continued to berate the lady about not referring to Remy by name and not wanting a picture of him (Armand)!
After the Remy spectacle, our mains arrived. Exquisite would not be enough of a description. Both Mom and Dad ordered the duck, and I got the filet. I swapped a piece of my filet with Mom for some duck. My filet was really flavorful, and it came with potatoes au gratin and haricot verts. I think the duck was the winner, though, as it came with this demi-glace that was so rich and deep in flavor. It had cherries that were poached in a liqueur (cherry brandy maybe?), and squash and sweet potato puree for sides.
I would have been happy to end the meal there, but there was still dessert! Stuffed to the gills, I got the sorbet, thinking it would be a good palate cleanser to end the meal. It had berries and 3 flavors - coconut, raspberry, and lemon. My mom got the chocolate mousse, and Dad got the profiteroles with ice cream. JP said rather loudly that it was the best dessert in the world, prompting the next table to ask what it was. After we made a valiant, semi-successful effort to finish dessert, JP asked if we wanted anything else. In my best high school French, I answered, "Je n'ai pas faim." (I am not hungry.). To which he corrected -- with a wink, of course -- "Je n'ai PLUS faim." (I am not hungry ANYMORE.)
I would have been happy to end the meal THERE, but, no, there was more! We had gotten the bill and were settling the check when a crowd of 5 waiters, led by JP -- say it along with me, with a wink! -- paraded over with a candle and some fresh berries, singing happy birthday to me. In French. I asked my mom if she requested it, and she said, no. I didn't requested it on the reservation, either. Did I mention, best birthday ever?? I love France!!!
As our trip got closer and I read more recent reviews, I started to get a little scared. Some diners reported a certain "snootiness" and others were less than satisfied with their meals. I began to wonder if I made the wrong choice. In the past we'd done Le Cellier twice (back when it was still offered as a CP package), Akershus, and Restaurant Marrakesh and never had a bad meal. Would this be a first? Based on the previous night's Ohana experience, should we expect that all table service restaurants had experienced a decline in service???
All I can say is, not at all! Chefs de France -- c'est magnifique!
Truthfully, I was a little worried at check in. The lady at the front podium asked me twice if I was MAKING a reservation at 5. Twice, I said, no, I HAVE a reservation at 5. She scanned her sheets. Twice. Then finally, "Voila! You have the Candlelight package." Yes! "Please have a seat." We sat on the benches on the sides of the entrance, peeking occasionally at the street performers outside. At least one family without ADRs were told they would be "put on the list", which I suspected wasn't a list at all.
At about 5, we got led in and were seated at a window corner table! Our location good karma continued! Right away, Jean-Phillippe ("everyone calls me JP") from Cannes wished me a Happy Birthday, and Dad and I spoke some basic French with him. I could tell it was going to be a good experience. He explained that with the CP package we could choose anything on the menu and advised us with a wink to choose the good (read: expensive) things. We got juices (orange, cranberry, and pineapple) along with water to drink and a warm baguette in a white bag. For appetizers, Dad got the lobster bisque, I got the pate, and Mom the crab and shrimp platter. When JP saw me spreading the pate on the baguette, without prompting, he quietly slipped a fresh from the oven hot loaf in front of me -- with a wink.
Side note: Reaching back to high school French, I was able to remember most of the words for the major items I ordered but didn't know how to say cranberry. Curious, I asked JP. He thought about it for a second and said he'd come back with the answer as he didn't know himself! (It's canneberge.)
Then came another highlight -- Remy and his handler Armand came by! A lady at the next table wanted a picture and made the unfortunate mistake of asking Armand if she could take a picture of "it". Armand was not happy about that and made quite a scene! The poor lady was so embarrassed as Armand continued to berate the lady about not referring to Remy by name and not wanting a picture of him (Armand)!
After the Remy spectacle, our mains arrived. Exquisite would not be enough of a description. Both Mom and Dad ordered the duck, and I got the filet. I swapped a piece of my filet with Mom for some duck. My filet was really flavorful, and it came with potatoes au gratin and haricot verts. I think the duck was the winner, though, as it came with this demi-glace that was so rich and deep in flavor. It had cherries that were poached in a liqueur (cherry brandy maybe?), and squash and sweet potato puree for sides.
I would have been happy to end the meal there, but there was still dessert! Stuffed to the gills, I got the sorbet, thinking it would be a good palate cleanser to end the meal. It had berries and 3 flavors - coconut, raspberry, and lemon. My mom got the chocolate mousse, and Dad got the profiteroles with ice cream. JP said rather loudly that it was the best dessert in the world, prompting the next table to ask what it was. After we made a valiant, semi-successful effort to finish dessert, JP asked if we wanted anything else. In my best high school French, I answered, "Je n'ai pas faim." (I am not hungry.). To which he corrected -- with a wink, of course -- "Je n'ai PLUS faim." (I am not hungry ANYMORE.)
I would have been happy to end the meal THERE, but, no, there was more! We had gotten the bill and were settling the check when a crowd of 5 waiters, led by JP -- say it along with me, with a wink! -- paraded over with a candle and some fresh berries, singing happy birthday to me. In French. I asked my mom if she requested it, and she said, no. I didn't requested it on the reservation, either. Did I mention, best birthday ever?? I love France!!!
