The Lake House 勻淨湖

Last weekend after our lunch at Chateau in the air, we visited the lake house. We enjoyed a coffee and tea outside a restaurant beside the lake which was located on the edge of a Mingde Reservoir in the hidden valley. This is by far the most amazing restaurant with the view in Miaoli County.

The Lake House is a French restaurant and B&B guest house. The decor inside the house is contemporary. Behind the glass windows allows the customer to dine comfortably and yet be close to nature. The outdoor garden is definitely the place to sit for afternoon tea. We were given the menu and we was surprised to see that only one afternoon set meal for NT$450. So we almost have the same order. However the les desserts theme already include a small portion of snack. If you are coming here for lunch and  dinner there are some several  dishes to choose from.

 We were stuffed when an assortment of desserts arrived at our table was a mousse cake, pates de fruits, madeleine cake, fruit cake and chocolate. They were absolutely looks delicious!

The next plate arrives was a 3 hors d’oeuvres with chicken salad served in tiny glass.

Our drinks finally arrive, I'm opted for the hot cafe au lait lately, the robust flavors being brewed it's very fine and divine.

For my daughter was a refreshing fruits tea.

The other drinks it seems to enjoy my boys was a iced cafe au lait as it’s rich and creamy! Overall, we like this place it’s always nice to discover new places and as it has what we need to take a break and be close in nature. If you want charm, atmosphere, amazing service and above all is the food. I recommended this place in Miaoli and is best tackled by car. Definitely we will back again for lunch meal after I recover in something that I might not able to spent time eating outside for a months.

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 The Lake House 勻淨湖
No 112 Shipin Li, Joulan Town Miaoli County
苗栗縣卓蘭鎮西坪里112號
Tel No: 04-25899900
Website:
http://www.lakehouse.tw/

L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon Taipei

The L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon Taipei branch is located at Bellavita is world-class in terms of quality with 3 star Michelin restaurants. We came to L'Atelier last sunday to celebrate my daughter 15th birthday. She was really excited that she was able to experience this restaurant. On arrival we were warmly greeted, and taken to our table close to the bar.

The decor of the restaurant is a very modern red and black, quite chic and sophisticated with a large counter surrounding an open air kitchen shared between each room.

We were then served their bread basket. A complimentary bread was beautiful assortment of miniature french bread. The baguette and boule was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Other type of the of bread was just like a croissant and buns was cold but nonetheless it was perfect. I think it was the novelty of miniature french bread loaves!

We each got a amuse bouche for our starter was a  foie gras and parmesan cheese foaming served in a small shot glass and eaten with a spoon. It was good and very pleasant taste if you are massive foie gras lover.

Our appetizers arrived soon after amuse bouche. The le petit calamar was a baby squid stuffed with brandade in sweet pepper and chorizo sauce for my son.

L’oeuf de poule, was a poached egg and spring salad Russian style topped with a crisp sesame tuile. It was very elegant!

And I have the 'La châtaigne' a chestnut soup in celery broth and chicken wing was delicious but not salty enough on my liking.

Le potiron was a pumpkin soup with country bread crouton and olive oil with the vibrant orange-yellow of the soup.

For the main dishes accompanied by mashed potato (no photo): Le boeuf for the birthday celebrant was a red wine braised beef cheek was very tender and matched perfectly with the creamy polenta.

La cote de porc, was a Milanese style pork chop with grated parmesan cheese, cherry salad and balsamic vinegar. My husband ordered this but he didn’t like it. It was slightly tough and dry, he actually disappointed! I made this kind of dish a couple of times at home and I'm confident that my cordon blue and schnitzel was slightly juicy and soft in the inside!

And I choose the le vivaneau was a steamed red snapper in broth slightly with (no photo) tomato served with garlic crouton and rouille sauce. Wonderful red snapper that was fresh and  perfectly cooked with a lovely bite from the tomatoes and other vegetables but once again it slightly less in salt on my linking.

Le napoleon was a pan-seared fish with lemongrass foam and stewed baby leeks. My son feeling disappointed, he thought that the fish it was a very small dish and still feeling hungry!!!!! So we better run to Starbucks and Ireland potato afterwards.

Up next the desserts! The la poire was a soft pear comfit cooked in red wine on a light vanilla panna cotta and cassis sorbet for my daughter. As a young girl it felt whimsical a delightful and delicious dessert.

Le muscavado was a crepe suzette flambé topped with rum. My husband really enjoying this sweet delish!

I  order the le souffle was a grand marnier souffle with orange ice cream and chocolate sauce. While the souffle was rapidly melting away and the mildly tangy orange ice cream provided the richness of the souffle and were surprisingly good!

Le mascarpone a tiramisu style with espresso sorbet is one of my son favorite dessert.

The waitress brought us a small pre-dessert came along with a complimentary raspberry mousse cake with happy birthday. We told to the staff it was my daughter birthday! So they prepared a small cake for her with a candle and  we appreciate that very much for making her day so special!

Once again, we each got and served a fruit sorbet!

And a perfect latte and cappuccinos and petite canelé's to end the meal.

Overall the staff were very attentive, the service is impeccable, professional and nice. They explained every detail of each dish patiently. What was interesting was that all the dishes I felt were the strongest to please the wide array is the amuse bouche and the desserts maybe because we amazed on their presentations. The main course fell slightly average you wouldn't say very delicious and no wow factor! I think Chez Janou in Paris and Jamie Oliver fifteen restaurant in London beat their main courses basis on my experienced and opinion. Therefore we simply couldn't compare Jamie's  Italian dishes to French creativity on the menu. However, it was still a great experience to be able to dine such a renowned and well known restaurant. The question is, if we will return,  probably we will try their Salon de Joël Robuchon for afternoon tea.

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L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon

Bellavita 5F., No.28, Song-ren Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City

台北市信義區松仁路28號Bella Vita 5樓

Tel No: 02-8729 2628

Website:

http://www.robuchon.com.tw/

Jean-Paul Hèvin Taipei 101

Located at 4-5 floor of Taipei 101 Mall, Jean Paul Hèvin Chocolatier is a French manufacturer of high-end chocolate in Paris. The small restaurant and shop is decorated with a modern blend of dark wood tables, cabinetry and leathers sofas. An open area ideal for those who want to see and be seen sorrounded by expensive premium luxury brand.

Arranged in an elegant tiered tray, the special set for 2 person include tea of your choice.

Top tier: We were served a 2 chocolate cake, 2 macarons, 2 fruit salads that is refreshing & looks beautiful in a mini glass.

The middle layer of sweets was a millefeuille, mont blanc, 2 canele and another piece of cake and it was almost too nice to eat.

The last level of the three-tiered was a egg, chicken and cucumber sandwiches with a touch of mustard, soft creamy cheese and fresh thinly sliced tomatoes.

The black tea it was incredibly fragrant and simultaneously soothing for a sensation.

They give us a free sample with this piece of chocolate.

My husband favorite part is the chocolate macaron with chocolate ganache inside was just magnificent. Over all, the experience at Jean-Paul Hèvin is quite good, but a little bit expensive being told that their macarons in store are imported from Paris.

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Jean Paul Hèvin Chocolatier

Taipei 101 Mall, 4-5 floor Xinyi District Taipei.
CLOSED

Chez Janou Paris France

The reason why we know about this place, because I have saw and it was featured on Samantha Brown Paris weekend or passport to Europe episode on her travel channel TLC t.v program.

We were seated beside the large window, which was cool. When we came in the restaurant it was empty. Then suddenly people starts coming in and it was packed instantly. Inside this beautiful and sophisticated restaurant offers a sweet mix of provencal atmosphere and that of a typical Parisian bistro

The warm colorful very unique interior decor, red leather seats, wood tables and chairs, with lots of old movie posters not forgetting the chalk board and the mirrors in which the dining room is endlessly reflected.

We started with this garlic pitted olives on the table to snack on, and the waitress brought us a basket of french bagutte.

We ordered 2 appetizer and it came in good sized portion that 2 people can share. These mixed vegetables with melon and prosciutto mozzarella (salade de mâche, melon, jambon cru et mozzarella.) The salty prosciutto was a great match for the sweet melon and vegetables. The fresh mozzarella balls were great texture. The dish was dressed by a thick and sweet balsamic vinegar. It was simple, fresh, delicious and perfect appetizer in a pleasant summer lunch.

The toasted bread smeared with melted brie cheese with green salad coated in citrus dressing (toastades de St Nectaire) it was good! The fresh bagutte was quite interesting topped with melted cheese and served on a bed of fresh salad mixture with citrus dressing completed the dish. It had a wonderful, salty-with-sweet and sour flavor to it.

Next; Our entrees arrived in due time, beautifully presented in generous portions. We had the seared sea scallops on a bed of risotto (risotto d'epeautre et ses Saint-jacques) for my daughter. The rice was cooked in a well flavoured stock to the correct degree of creamy sloppiness. The grilled scallops in a word, huge, rich med-rare were juicy to the bite and excellent. This was superb and magical french meal!

For my main course was a roasted duck breast seasoned in rosemary (magret de canard au romarin) garnished with mushroom, potato medallions and caramelized sweet sauce. My generous size duck breast, the skin was crispy cooked perfectly, the meat was tender and quite juicy. This is devine and I liked it the way it cook.

And my son selected the grilled fish fillet in pesto (bar grille au pistou) garnished with beautiful sauteed vegetables medley and lemon. The delicate white flesh under a crisply roasted skin allowed the full flavour to shine.

Since my husband wanted to eat beef steak (entrecote bistrot) our waitress highly recommended one of the specials, which was their special bistro steak loaded with baked potato and tartar sauce. The bake potato it was very creamy texture were extremely good, and the steak was unusually tender and juicy. We enjoy when your server is honest and makes good recommendation.

For dessert, is the famous and massive mousse au chocolat or chocolate mousse. It was perfect and this is undoubtedly the best chocolate mousse we have ever eaten.

They bring you this huge bowl or gallon size and you can spoon as much as you want on your plate for just 7euro.

To finished off with a tangy-creamy cafe creme. Overall the food was enormous proportion, but simple very delicious and worth to visit, the service was pretty constant. Ambience was great although it can get pretty noisy due to its popularity. We though it was so hard to find a delicious-satisfying french meal in Paris. In behalf of Samantha Brown we strongly recommended Chez Janou if your are planning to visit Paris.

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Chez Janou Restaurant
2 Rue Roger Verlomme 75003 Paris France
Website:
http://www.chezjanou.com/

Chez Jenny Paris France

It was a long journey from London to Paris after we check in on our hotel. We went on this beautiful decorative french restaurant and recommend by the staff at the Hotel De Paris. This place sits on the middle of Paris it is in Rebublique section.

A pleasant room with a decorated in lovely marquetry and panelling, light bright windows, scarlet banquettes and antique details. Tables are pre-laid with cutlery, napkins, glasses etc, and the fresh seafood on display. The indoor/outdoor restaurant and it looks very nice and romantic inside. Ops!... Don't be excited were not talking about their foods yet!

Upon entering we was greeted by the staff as we're led to our seats. Given us the english menu and they knew were tourist. The food was a surprise as it seemed more German than French. It was really hard to choose what to eat, so we go for the set meal course for my kids and ala carte for me and my husband. Right after ordering we were brought a basket of french bread. We start the evening with terrine de foie gras de canard served with toasted baguette, carmelized onion and pickle relish, the terrine foei de gras pate generally seemed like something that came out a can, it wasn't fresh!

Here is the second of the two appetizer. The cherry tomatoes halves mozzarella and herbs sauce. Inspired by the Italian classic caprese salad it was delicious, refreshing and true to its simple nature.

Me and my husband we ordered French onion soup for our first course. At first glance the broth looked rich in flavor had several croutons and was topped with melted gruyere. My husband warned me it was too salty, then I try the spoonful of the broth and my first word 'holly cow' it's very salty it just lines the back of your throat. We did not touch it after a spoon of it, our server pete wondering why we didn't like the soup? The portion was great but sadly it was really too salty and not pleasant can cause raised blood pressure.

Our main course arrived! The roast duck breast, carrots with cummins, honey and a juniper berry sauce. The meat was chewy and which were golden and crispy outside and coated in lovely sauce.

The roast cod with grilled aubergine it was cooked fine and tasted normal but really was not special.

The roast chicken bread it was a little overcooked and dry on the inside and flavorless. Perhaps as a result of its long acquaintance with a heat. But the mashed potato was good and served warm.

My order came last, and I had high expectations for my grilled trout and I miss eating fish so much and most of the time we ate meat on our travels in UK,  and my fish  it was a bit disappoint but acceptable. The latter was full of bones to the point of being quite a hindrance to actually enjoying my food. The grilled trout served with a aubergines, tomatoes, bell pepper, olives and etc. along with a sauce of some sort that I cannot quite identify was very good thou.

After our main course our server pete brought us the menu. Despite of being disappointed on other dishes. We decided were not going for a fancy sweet desserts. We ordered a simple one, it ended up being the perfect suggestion because kids loved the creme brulee. It was creamy with a nice sweet flavor.

The strawberries with ice cream and whipped cream on top, it taste normal nothing fancy and special about it. Ambience was lovely and beautiful inside the restaurant, the service was ok; our waiter he was very helpful and spoke in english well much better than I do. But the food was disappointed. I think most of the customer there were tourists.

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Chez Jenny
39 Boulevard Du Temple 75003 Paris France.
Website:
http://www.chez-jenny.com/