My trip to the French restaurant La Grenouille
La Grenouille is the last remaining classic French restaurant in New York City -- once one of a group including Cote Basque, Le Pavillon, Lutece,
because of its intense owner Charles Masson, its beauty, its attention
to detail, and its delicious food.
Charles is intelligent, dapper and extremely talented
In French, La Grenouille means frog - there are many incarnations of frogs in the restaurant
Here I am in the upstairs dining room, once an atelier for artists and writers, including the French author
of the perennial favorite "The Little Prince," Antoine St.Exupery.
Charles's father, the founder of the restaurant, loved winter anemones --
they were often depicted in his paintings and used in arrangements for
the restaurant.
One of Charles Masson's extraordinary bouquets: flowering branches of quince, chartreuse viburnum, nerines,
The bar: classic, French, and adorned always with massive flower arrangements.
My TV field producer Kim Miller got dolled up for her lunch stint at this wonderful restaurant.
Lisa Wagner, editorial director of television, also sat in as a guest
at lunch while we taped our piece on the history of the restaurant.
Lisa ordered the calves' liver.
Kim ordered the quenelles de brochet -- delicate poached fish dumplings.
Gary Nardilla is our director and cameraman for field pieces; he should always win an Emmy for his artistic pieces.
These are the very best frogs' legs you will ever taste -- Provencal style.
An absolutely delicious salad of endive, walnuts, and Roquefort.
Homemade saucisson chaud served with French green lentils.
Kevin Sharkey had blanquette de veau, a traditional French veal stew.
I had my favorite: grilled dover sole with an extraordinary mustard sauce and haricots verts -- there is none better in New York City.
The dollop of mustard sauce is essential.
Desserts: classic, include grand marnier souffle.
Chocolate souffle.
Petits fours.
Ile flottant or, more correctly, oeufs a la neige with spun sugar.
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