Once I arrived in Fairfax on a current Friday, the city was abuzz like a resort city. There have been so many individuals strolling across the small downtown space. It was alive and vibrant, as was lunch at Amélie Cafe, whose parklet was virtually full after we had been proven to our desk.
The workforce of three Frenchmen behind Amélie — Germain Michel, Samie Didda and Romain Martinez — have been busy. Apart from Fairfax, they’ve areas in San Francisco and New York Metropolis.
We had been too late within the day to style the housemade breakfast pastries and croissants. We consoled ourselves with Quiche Lorraine ($8.50), a beautiful ham-studded custard with a crisp however flaky crust, and later, the Tarte au Citron ($8), which had a easy mound of Italian meringue with a pâte sablée crust and went properly with a glass of Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 2019 ($13).
Ahh, however I’ve jumped forward. The subsequent desk had one thing we’d not seen on the menu: Baked Camembert ($14), which was topped with gentle, roasted cloves of garlic. It’s warmed in a bit pressed wooden field and served with crostini. The wealthy, creamy cheese on the crunchy toasts paired splendidly with wine.
Michel, a licensed sommelier, has partnered with winemakers in France and Argentina to provide a few wines which are out there at Amélie. The wine record at Amélie displays his enthusiasm for tasty, food-friendly wines. The wine-by-the-glass record is available in three classes: bon, très bon and glorious. We ordered three glasses from the très bon record. They had been $13 every for a nice-sized pour in skinny, massive, stemmed glasses.
The Bordeaux Comtesse de Malet Roquefort 2020, a mix of sauvignon blanc and sémillon, had good minerality and acidity. The 2019 Miraval Studio was a sublime shade of pink, with sound construction and acidity. Its extra superior age didn’t present. The mourvèdre-syrah mix from Domaine du Somail Fabre-Michel “plume” 2020 is a modern-style Minervois with good focus, however not jammy.
We had wished to order the Rooster Mousse with Muscat Gelee and Pickled Greens ($14) but it surely was simply being made and had not arrange but. However what’s a French café with out escargot? So, we went that course. The six escargots arrived in little ceramic cradles ($16), however not as described on the menu. Extra crostini arrived with the escargot but it surely wasn’t potential to dunk them into the little spherical holes.
We requested if we may have some untoasted bread ($6), which isn’t listed on the menu. The torpedo-shaped baguette arrived in an oval black bowl with a beneficiant smear of butter across the aspect slightly below the rim of the bowl. The butter was sprinkled with chives and coarse salt. How enjoyable and engaging it was to tear off a chunk of the bread and swipe in by way of the butter.
A salad of frisée, pears, an assortment of plumped mushrooms and a champagne French dressing ($16) was a salad particular. The frisée is featured within the Salade Lyonnaise ($18) as properly, which is my favourite salad. The frisée is tossed with the nice and cozy mustard French dressing with lardoons and shallots, and topped with a poached egg. This salad with a aspect of the beautiful bread can be a perfect lunch.
The Mussels of the Day ($23) had been plump with a number of white wine, leek broth with a little bit of cream. Once more, that aspect of bread got here in useful. as I didn’t wish to depart one drop of that scrumptious broth. French Fries ($6) arrived with little bowls of aioli and catsup. The aioli lacked any punch of garlic, and the fries simply didn’t have that crispy exterior (hiding a mealy middle). Nonetheless, a lady on the subsequent desk ordered the Amélie Burger with Fries ($19) and liked them each — to every their very own or “à chacun son gout” because the French say.
Our French waiter was straight out of central casting. He was charming, playful and environment friendly, proper right down to flicking a material at an empty desk as he handed by.
The Butternut Tartine ($15), evenly toasted house-made entire grain bread topped with roasted butternut squash, arugula and pinches of sentimental goat cheese, was drizzled with a balsamic discount.
If you wish to give your style buds a deal with and observe your French, this place is for you.
Bon appétit!
Ann Walker is a contract meals author. E-mail her with ideas, feedback and questions at ijfoodwalker@gmail.com.
Amélie Cafe
Tackle: 71 Broadway, Fairfax
Cellphone: 628-253-5161
Web site: ameliefairfax.com
Delicacies: French bistro
Noise degree: Snug
Liquor choice: Wine and beer
Vegan dishes: Sure
Gluten-free alternatives: Sure
Natural choices: Sure
Canine pleasant: Sure
Parking: Avenue
Hours: 5 to eight:30 p.m. Mondays; 7:30 a.m. to eight:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; closed Tuesdays
Costs: $11 to $32
Reservations: Sure
Abstract: A vigorous café providing natural farm-to-table French bistro fare
