Bastille Day at Mirazur

Jill: We decided to celebrate Bastille Day and our 13th anniversary with lunch at Mirazur restaurant. If you don't know the story here, let me try to give an abbreviated version (although as you know by now, I'm not so often short on words).

When we inquired about this apartment I spoke with the owner and she mentioned a restaurant which had recently been written up in the New York Times and was the new hot ticket in town. So Todd did some research and discovered the one-star Michelin rated Mirazur restaurant. The reviews were outstanding, the pictures of the food even better. So over the months leading up to our trip Todd and I pined away for Mirazur and wondered how we could make it happen with our kids in tow. Through his online research Todd discovered that chef Mauro Colagreco had a relationship with Manresa's David Kinch. (Manresa is the Michelin rated French restaurant in Los Gatos). Todd then sent a bold and inspired email to the "contact us" button for Manresa stating that a Los Gatos family would be visiting Menton this summer and would very much like to try Mirazur but were not sure about the etiquette of bringing children to such an establishment. He asked whether there might be a bottle of wine, gift, message or token that we could bring, either on our own or behalf of chef Kinch, that would help ingratiate us with Mirazur. He received a prompt response suggesting that we bring a bottle of California wine and three recommendations were included. So... we bought a bottle of wine and carried it, fingers crossed, across the Atlantic, through Spain and Vienna, and finally to Menton, France. Then we made the reservation and took our bottle there today (with as much relief to not have to fly anywhere else with it as to actually make it to the restaurant itself!). There, long story short; or short story long.

Thankfully Mirazur did not disappoint. We were one of three tables at that time for lunch. And either our weeks of begging, bribing and threatening worked or we have the most wonderful children in the world. Emmy and Davis could not have been more well behaved. Napkins in laps, hushed voices, "please"s and "thank you"s where needed, elbows off the table, AND they ate the food. (We had promised to take them anywhere they wanted after if they didn't make faces or say they didn't like something, but no need!).




Lunch at Mirazur



The view from our table


The nondescript front entry

We started with a trio of tapas: some mushroom thing I cannot begin to describe, a black rice cake filled with the tiniest chopped vegetable salad I have ever seen, and a deep fried something (fish I think) with a drizzle of lemon sauce. Then a poached egg (served in a little nest) with cauliflower foam and I think eel (they began presenting the food in English right about this time, so some of the details I wasn't quite sure). Then a wonderful green been salad with many different kinds and colors of beans in a delicious, complex vinaigrette. There was bread served with ginger lemon olive oil. Two of us had fish and two of us had meat, which was lamb. The fish was a bonito, prepared sous vide (sealed in plastic bag and cooked in a water bath) deliciously raw with a side of many kinds of zucchini and other spring vegetables along with a peach puree. The lamb shoulder had a delicious glaze on top and so tender, served with a medley of carrots and carrot puree. The dessert was orange flour brioche with sorbet, purees and whipped somethings. Let me just say OMG! Everything was just amazing! We were so glad we did it and it couldn't have turned out better. We even got to meet chef Mauro. The view was spectacular as well! (I'm sure Todd will have more to add as well!)

We walked back to the apartment trying to remember everything we had eaten and then headed to the beach til the sun began to set.



Getting ready for the beach

And if that weren't enough, we began to hear some firecrackers as we got ready for bed and noticed people beginning to gather on the beach. Then at about 10:00 a Bastille Day fireworks show began. We had the best seats in the house hanging out our apartment window. It was beautiful and so festive. When it was over everyone cheered and horns were honking. It was such a treat!




Just one more day in Menton!


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Location:Menton