Monday, March 23, 2009

DC's Cafe SAINT-EX still excelling

It's been a while since our last visit to CAFE SAINT-EX(www.saint-ex.com 1847 14th St NW), that funky just north or Dupont, south of U Street, cafe/bar made famous by Chef Barton Seaver (moved on to Hook and....). Now in charge is Chef William Klein and he is doing a smashing job. Add to this that they have a $32 three course prix-fixe (any appetizer,main and dessert) which is available until 7pm and goes up to $36 at 7pm and you have a fine place to dine. We took Samuel and arrived around 6pm and the place was pretty quiet and empty. By 715pm it was full and brimming, but not too noisy.

We ordered Sam the appetizer of POTATO GNOCCHI with Caramelized Onions, Spicy Pecans and Sweet Potato Mousse which was overdose for him. He ate a couple of the superb gnocchi, then decided he did not like it. I think it was the rich mousse underlying which really made the dish overly sweet and not to a child's liking. Will and I finished it off telling Sam that he would have to eat some of our fish, or no dessert.

Will had the ROASTED BEET SALAD with Watercress, Feta and Grapefruit Two Ways (Candied and segmented) which was quite a large salad. I opted for the PEI MUSSELS (having loved them before) with FENNEL, SAFFRON and STAN's ITALIAN SAUSAGE (no idea who Stan is?). This is another winning Mussel dish (very different from the older spicy recipe) with a mash of fennel in the soup that makes it so drinkable as well and four huge slices of toasted bread to dip. Sam did not care for the broth but gobbled up Stan's sausage and some bread. We drank a superb bottle of BERTHET-RAYNE COTES du RHONES BLANC 2006 as Sam gobbled down (we helped too) a paper cone of some of the best FRENCH FRIES in town. These were coarsely salted and needed not a drop of ketchup (even Sam agreed)!

The char-grilled NORTH CAROLINA TUNA came with a SPINACH & GRUEYE RISOTTO and a Roasted Rep Pepper ALmond Puree. The fish was superb as was the suace and risotto, and Samuel helped me eat it as well, earning dessert, but saying he was full!

Will had the COSTA RICAN MAHI-MAHI with Bacon BRUSSELS SPROUTS and Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates. He thought his fish was not too exciting, but I loved it.

I have to mention the downstairs bathroom with corrugated steel walls covered with stickers (Samuel loves stickers) from travel the world over; we even found places we had been although some of the stickers seemed to be at least 1/2 a century old or more!

Will had a superb STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING (only saying the center was not as soft and runny as it could be) with Candied Pecans and Vanilla Ice Cream and I opted for the excellent and refreshing TANGERINE CREME BRULEE with Cardamom Shortbread Cookies (Sam helped eat these). Sadly a glass of EDMEADES 2004 Late Harvest ZInfandel had little sweetness and indeed seemed NOT to be late harvest...but we shared it and headed home from a yummy neighborhood meal.