Canards - West Monroe ,LA

 

This past weekend we were in West Monroe visiting my parents and they offered to take us out for Ann's birthday Saturday night. This was a welcome change since I am usually the cook for our Saturday night meals. I am sure my dad was pleased as well since I notoriously take my time and he likes to eat before 8:30 -9 o'clock.

We decided on Canard's which is a upscale fine dining restaurant located in a fairly new office tower in the heart of West Monroe. My adopted hometown is not usually known for fine cuisine(although recently I have noticed a lot more "gourmet type" stores popping up around the city)but Canard's is a change and a welcome one at that. We have eaten there once before and the food was very good. The really cool thing about this restaurant is that they have a baby sitter and a separate room with DVDs and games for the children ( I think I need to mention this to Matthew Linn).

When we made the reservation I was sure to ask if the chef would mind if I could take pictures of our meal for my little foodie blog. The hostess came back and said not at all and could he have the name of the site so he could check it out.

We started out with an amuse bouche of a pate a choux of smoked salmon and reduced aged balsamic vinegar topped with micro radish greens. As stated here before I do not eat fish and unfortunately had to pass this one up. The next amuse was a beef tenderloin tartare with the same reduced balsamic I believe. There was no way I was going to pass on this. This was just incredibly good and the first time I have ever tried tartare.                                                                                                                                                

You will have to excuse the quality of the pictures. The dining room was dimly lit and I could not find the right balance to light the pictures and I am sure the other diners would not be too happy with the constant flashes of light.

The waiter then brought us a Sweet Potato bread that was very warm and perfect for the cold night.

Before I go on about the entrees and the next appetizer, I wanted to include a little history of the restaurant. You can go here for an article on the building and the plans for the restaurant.

I do not know much about the chef, Cory Bahr, and I am unable to find anything on google that I do not already know. The reviews of the restaurant and Cory's food I have found online have all been positive. I really do like his style of cooking and he was very generous to allow me to take photos of his food. I know that not all chefs are as accommodating. He came out to the table and introduced himself at the end of our meal and offered to send me something that will be a real treat for this site if it happens.

                   

I would have to say that the food is very unique and I believe they have accomplished their goal. I would be interested to see what kind of tasting menu Chef Cory would put together. He is a very talented chef and I look for some interesting things to come from him. I also noticed a "chef's table" right off the kitchen when I walked in.

               

Grabbed the above picture off their site (credit to Patty Stewart).

Back to the food. My mother had an oyster appetizer which that was topped with sweet potato "hay". I might have to try and cook something like this with shrimp or chicken breasts.

                  

    Oysters Canard, fried crisp, homemade tartar sauce, sweet potato hay

Next came our entrees which consisted of Pecan Crusted Gulf Fish, Pepper Crusted Filet Mignon,Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna and Braised Lamb Osso Bucco.

   Pecan Crusted Gulf Fish, crusted with spiced local pecans, sweet corn maque choux,                 Creole meuniere, organic greens

Pepper Crusted Filet Mignon, roasted garlic whipped potatoes, grilled portabella mushroom, sauce marchand de vin (add Sautéed Gulf Shrimp )

                  

Sesame Crusted #1 Ahi Tuna, soy glazed, sesame wilted spinach, soba noodle salad with shiitake mushrooms and spring onions

                   

Braised Lamb Osso Bucco, fork tender, roasted petite vegetables, creamy parmesan polenta, lamb jus

The dessert on the left is what they call Grown Up Smores. It consists of graham crackers, roasted marshmallows, chocolate ganache and melted fudge. This was very good and very rich. The one on the right was a cheesecake. My mother had the cheesecake and I don't know if she finished it or not because I was concentrating on the smores, did I mention how good they were.

Overall the night was very enjoyable and the food was extremely well prepared, although it was Ann's birthday I felt like I had been given a present as well, good food, great restaurant and being around the ones I love.

Comments

[Becca]

My daughter and I have a tradition. Our Birthdays are two days apart in December. We eat at Canard's for lunch, just the two of us. Followed up by a movie or some other fun thing.

I love Canard's, I have never had a bad meal. That bread! I have wanted to recreate it. So far all I know is that it is a sweet potato bread, spiced with ?, topped with orange marmalade. I think there may be a little cardamom somewhere.

[Amanda]

Hi- Loved the blog- Cory is no longer at Canard's... He has opened up his own restaurant on N19th in Monroe. SAGE. Enjoy...