I returned to Felicity Lemon (a half block down from the Belleville Metro) with Colette, our two ex-downstairs' neighbors and my oldest French friend, furiously tugging my forelock and pre-apologizing for what I thought might be the culinary equivalent of the "Sophomore slump" - that is, a disasterous second meal after an astonishing first a few weeks ago. Not to worry.
First, the mistress of the salle came out and asked if we were aware of their new policy of small plates, then chef Sylvia François thanked me for writing her and it up so well a bit back and while nothing was comp'd or putting-on-the-dog stuff, we once again had a wonderfully creative meal. We just ordered away and among the five of us had almost everything offered.
From top to bottom, each more interesting than the previous:
Carottes rapees and Burrata
White asparagus with a pear and lemon-horse-raddish sauce - whoa!
Tuna in a boullion with ginger and yuzu
Arancini (Sicilian squid ink rice balls) and salad
Calamari with red peppers
Thai pork salad
Scallops with passion fruit, sliced ginger and passion fruit
Duck breast with an apricot sauce.
As we were dithering over the desserts I said - "one of each" and so it was - a grenache of chocolate, apple tart and cocoa a lemon cakey thing. As Liberace would say - "Wunnerful, wunnerful!"