Scrumptious, Surprising “Spring”- Tuesday, 7 October

Strong reviews and fervent local and frequent-traveler patrons make reservations at “Spring” hard to come by sometimes. It’s one of my favorite little restos in Paris – see my prior reports
http://mariellen-musing.blogspot.com/2013/10/fall-into-spring-thursday-24-october.html
http://mariellen-musing.blogspot.com/2010/11/spring-in-fall-wednesday-3-november.html 

This time my Spring experience came with a wonderful extra surprise. More about that later, but first a photo recap of their prix fixe meal for this evening! When you settle into your seat the waiter asks if you have any allergies or dislikes, and then if you would like to hear about all of the courses for the evening or if you'd like to be surprised and hear about each one when it comes. I usually ask to be surprised, but I seek the sommelier's advice on what would pair well with everything being served that day (assuming that I'll just get one glass of wine after my aperitif). So here we go:

I am SO predictable! But I do love my Kir Royales
(Champagne with Creme de Cassis). Almost all
tables on the ground floor (there's also a basement)
have a great view of the kitchen and chefs working -
you can see a little of that in the back of this photo. 

Three appetizers:
a thin slice of dried "prosciutto style" beef with a fried
quail egg, herb oil and freshly cracked pepper;
a chestnut foam with chestnut pieces and scallions;
pickled mushrooms with horseradish;
all served with terrific bread and salted butter

First course: poached oysters in a vegetable-
seaweed broth with fennel, turnips and
tapioca pearls

Second course: perfectly cooked crispy-
skinned seabass with shaved daikon radish in
a slightly astringent ginger creme fraiche sauce

Third course: grilled partridge breast with black
trumpet mushrooms and a chunk of pumpkin
enrobed in pork belly 

The roasted thigh and leg of the partridge with
black grapes, toast "buttered" with a thick layer
of liver puree, and watercress 

Goat, cow and sheep milk cheeses

Four desserts:
an individual tarte tatin with creme fraiche
chocolate and coffee ice creams with a chocolate tuille
praline cream with a slice of fresh pear and hazlenuts
fresh figs with an herb syrup

After my Kir Royale I had a glass of a red Burgundy from the Marsannay commune of the Côte de Nuits. It was delicious and just flinty enough to pair well with seafood, fowl and dessert!

6, rue Bailleul  http://www.springparis.fr/en/

So the other surprise with my dinner was encountering some Minnesotans right across the aisle from me!  I knew that my former boss, Deb Welf’s son Joel and his bride Brandi had been honeymooning in Europe, with their last stop Paris. I normally try to avoid listening in on others’ conversations, but when I heard the young woman across the aisle tell the people sitting to her left that she worked for Target and her husband worked in technology, I just had to get up and go over to them and ask if by any chance they were Brandi and Joel.  And ya sure y’betcha, they were! And sitting next to them? The owners of The Convention Grill in Edina. It’s a small small small small world.  Brandi and Joel were half-way through their dinner when I arrived, so when they were done they suggested that we meet for a drink somewhere close when I was done with my meal. They headed down to a corner café on rue Saint-Honoré and I joined them for coffee when I was done with my dessert. They’re a really fun couple, and we had a great time sharing stories and tips of Europe and my favorite haunt, Paris! What a wonderful extra treat! Unfortunately, I didn't think to snap a "selfie" of us.