I started off this morning thinking that I was going to be having Eggs Benedict with my friend Rich at a french restaurant in Georgetown, but our wires got crossed, so instead
went to a different french restaurant in the area, Cafe Bonaparte, that ended up being the perfect place for a hot spring day.
(A word of warning: Cafe Bonaparte’s website is beautiful, well constructed, and in no way represents the atmosphere at the restaurant itself. The cafe is small, with maybe 12 tables for 2 or more and a small bar. It has large windows in the front that make it ideal for daytime diners who enjoy the natural light, and the staff is attentive, yet very laid back. The menu is simple, yet fantastic. It is not quite as fancy as the website, so don’t be intimidated by it!)
We started off our meal with a bloody mary–wonderfully spicy with lemon and lime slices and three olives. Cool, yet flavorful.
Rich and I both ordered our sandwiches (I got a crepe) and after the waiter took our order he let us know that there was a cold cucumber soup as the “soup du jour”, which sounded too refreshing to pass up. I’m normally not a huge fan of cold soups, other than my Mom’s gazpacho, because they are usually lumpy. This soup, however, was smooth and creamy with fresh cilantro. It was light on the yoghurt, and the dairy base was not overwhelming, even as the temperature climbed to 90 degrees.
Our food arrived in a timely fashion, and my crepes were hot and savory. The ham and mushrooms were encased with perfectly chewy, fresh-from-the-pan crepes, and the dijon creme sauce drizzled over the top was, to my delight, more mustard than cream when it came to the flavor. It was light, and when combined with the other ingredients, created the perfect bite.
The whole meal left me feeling satisfied and refreshed, which was a pleasant surprise considering how much dairy was involved in the meal. More importantly, catching up with my friend Rich was so much fun, and that is one of the things I love most about food. Sharing it with someone can often bring you closer together as friends. We would taste each other’s food, comment on what we liked and thought needed improving, all of which led to other stories. Like I’ve said before, food is about much more than just what you’re putting in your mouth.
