We had a great meal back in the spring at ZEPHIRINE here in Bordeaux and decided it had to be at the top of our places to return to for a more refined meal while in town for this week. The menu offers a multi-course tasting for 89Euros(all three starters, all three mains and all three desserts!), but you can eat just as heartily for the 69 Euro menu which includes 3 starters for the entire table plus your choice of main and dessert.
The place is small with just over 15 tables or so and has an outdoor area for summer, now occupied by a large Xmas tree. The decor is simple and rustic with white 3-D veggie sculptures on the walls and mirrors (I love the backlit artichoke the most). The wooden tables and chairs could use a cushion, but other than that Bertrand and the whole team in the open kitchen are so welcoming.
We ordered a bottle of 2020 Savigny-les-Beaunes 1er Cru "Clos de Guettes" from Jadot which we loved but came out so cold it needed 20 minutes to get to room temp! Once it got there it was super with all the fab food we had as Will was doing fish, and I was on the veal side.
We started with the terrine of pork and poultry with Port, herbs and pickles which was so good, we bought a container to take home after dinner! The other two starters came together: POTIMARRON ENCORNET was pumpkin & squid but the former was sliced thin and served firm and not mushy making it a completely different dish than what we are used to in the states. It was served with Black Citron(lemon) and a Marigold Ravigote sauce, parmesan sable, nuts and red curry veloute that was out of this world. Second was the Farm egg barely cooked with mushrooms, Basque ham & buckwheat mousse in a garlic butter sauce.
Will chose the Maigre de Ligne or local Drumfish from the nearby Bay of Arcachon grilled a la plancha with a fish sauce, lemon and capers while I adored what was called "faux filet" de Veau or fake filet as it was not the entrecote, but another lesser cut still delicious and served roasted with a magnificent sauce au poivre and roasted chicory, veggies, garlic and caramelized onions and potatoes!!
Will chose the Zephirin a la Clementine Corse (Corsican mandarins) which was like a giant baked donut holes and I chose the Mousse au Chocolat with Salted Caramel Tuille, Egg white Neige (think floating islands) and chocolate crunch.
We left full loving Zephirine even more!
