6.6 Les Affranchis, 5, rue Henry Monnier in the 9tth, 0145.26.26.30 (Metro: St Georges) closed Mondays, has changed hands (this time to a pair from L'Ambrosie) so many times in the last decade my head is spinning - and I need my Chinese friend from its nabe to explain its feng shui, because each of its incarnations has been good - whas up? It's on that lovely PlaceToudouze with the goofily-named Cafe No Stress and several other places that I suspect the young adults drink outside in nice weather and drive the residents stressful. The 40 E menu looks good, except they no longer had the morels they had yesterday that I craved; oh well.
My friend from the Tour Totem ordered a pea soup with smoked herring and cream that I thought was as good as it gets but he felt was slightly over-salted (not me). After expressing my disappointment about the morels, I pulled myself together and had the mi-cuit mackerel with a topping of vinegared onions and raisins that was astoundingly good, not to say surprisingly innovative. Then both of us had the spring lamb, that while both of prefer lamb raw, was to my taste beautifully cooked, with moelle, peas, carrots and shaved greens. Boy that dish alone I walk a mile for.
At this point, I was willing to quit while ahead but he said "The 40 E menu includes dessert." "OK" So we shared poached pineapple with a basque cake (I think) and a poached pear with creme caramel; both superior.
With a bottle and 2 glasses of wine, no bottled water, good bread and two coffees, our bill was 128 E.
Go back? For sure; whatever the feng shui is, it's working for the moment.
