Restaurant Emile

27th November 2008

Yesterday we went to Toulouse (a) to make a pre-emptive strike on Christmas shopping and (b) to have lunch with some friends who live in the Lot-et-Garonne.

It was a crisp winter day and we met first for coffee in Le Bibent, a very art déco brasserie on the Place du Capitole.  I'd wondered if the Christmas market might be up and running but we were obviously a bit early.  On the run-up to Christmas each year the Place du Capitole is filled with Nordic-looking chalets offering anything from gastronomic treats to warm you up to a variety of crafts and gifts.

The street decorations are already up - a bit pink (shocking, in fact!) for my taste but I'm sure the Mairie de Toulouse can cope without my input... 

Our friends had reserved a table at a restaurant in the Place St Georges, called Restaurant Emile.  It was quite traditional, they said, but always good.

The menu du jour was 20 euros - so not exactly the cheapest you'd find - and there was no choice.  So,  if any non-fish-lovers had turned up yesterday, they'd have been disappointed.

The starter was tartare du saumon - delicious and beautifully presented.  The main course was bouillabaisse followed by pain perdu (bread soaked in sugar, milk and egg and then fried) served with honey and home-made ice-cream.  Utterly delicious!

Wine is extra and entertainment is provided by the owner, who is a bit of a character...  Thoroughly to be recommended.