Bangkok, February 2012
A 3-minute read

It’s more than 40 years ago; I’m driving an old friend back to London from his usual spring holiday in Cannes in his Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. It’s a heavy car and it’s a long drive on Route Nationale 7. I was tired and looking forward to a big scotch and a decent dinner.

Gil suggested we pull into the next town. Hardly a village, it consisted of a railroad station and a teeny inn across the street. He looked at me and said, “Never mind, they have a couple of clean bedrooms and a pleasant dining room.”

We checked in at a diminutive desk overshadowed by a huge, grinning man wearing a chef’s toque. He winked and said he’d seen us coming through town and was sure we were heading for his place. “There aren’t that many Rolls Royces around here.”

Showered and changed, I met Gil at the top of the stairs…couldn’t wait for that scotch. The check-in desk was now the bar; I asked for a double Dewars on-the-rocks.

The man’s grin vanished, “Not if you’re dining here tonight, but you can have a dry sherry.”

Gil kicked me on the shin before I could say anything, and introduced me to Jean somethingorother (I didn’t get his last name).

We dined in a plain white room with sparkling crystal, shining silver, and stiff linens. Dinner was sublime but at less than ten dollars a head including wine, I wondered how they could ever have a future.

Strolling in the summer air after dinner, I picked out the sign on the train station...Roanne.

I’d just dined at Troisgros!

From Wikipedia: Since 1957, Jean and Pierre Troisgros have played a significant role in the history of French cuisine. Pierre's son, Michel Troisgros, has played a major role since 1983. Michel Troisgros is the owner of the restaurant now called "La Maison Troisgros", in Roanne. The restaurant has been awarded Three Michelin stars since 1968 and was named the "best French restaurant in the world" by Gault Millau.

And now...

César Troisgros, son of Michel, is staging his culinary debut at Le Normandie, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, from Monday 6– Saturday, 11 February, 2012 inclusive (lunch and dinner)!

Prices for this exclusive culinary promotion at Le Normandie are: Baht 5,065.- net for 5-course lunch (US$170+-); Baht 9,420.- net for 7-course dinner (US$315+-); and Baht 12,830.- net (US$430+-) for a special Wine Dinner with Domaine Ponsot from Morey Saint Denis in Burgundy on Saturday 11, February 2012.

For more information and reservations, please contact 02 659 9000 ext. Le Normandie. Early table reservations are highly recommended.

Here follow the menus. Have fun!

All the best,

Uncle Ted

Lunch Menu

Couteaux en gelée de pomme et basilic
Razor clams, apple jelly and basil

Bain-marie de foie gras à la clémentine
Foie gras custard with clementine

Rouget laqué à la truffe, persillé
Red Mullet with truffle and parsley

Carré d’agneau brûlé aux épices
Spicy rack of lamb

Tarte sublime au chocolat et à la pistache
Sublime chocolate tart with pistachio

Dinner Menu

Maquereau en gelée, tout rose
Mackerel, pink jelly

Bain-marie de foie gras à la clémentine
Foie gras custard with clementine

Fleur d’endive au caviar
Endive flower with caviar

Sole à la ciboulette
Sole with chives

Canette de Challans aux épices
Spiced and caramelised Challans duck

Plateau de fromages frais et affinés de France
Selection of fresh and matured French Farmhouse cheese

Panna cotta de basilic à la fraise
Basil panna cotta and strawberry

Wine Dinner Menu

Maquereau en gelée, tout rose
Mackerel, pink jelly
Morey St Denis 1er cru blanc Clos des Monts Luisants 2007

Fleur d’endive au caviar
Endive flower with caviar
Morey St Denis Cuvée des Grives 2003

Bain-marie de foie gras à la clémentine
Foie gras custard with clementine
Griotte Chambertin 2003

Rouget laqué à la truffe, persillé
Red Mullet with truffle and parsley
Chapelle Chambertin 2003

Côte de bœuf « Black Angus », au vin de Morey St Denis
« Black Angus » prime rib, Morey St Denis wine sauce
Clos de la Roche Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 1999

Plateau de fromages frais et affinés de France
Selection of fresh and matured French Farmhouse cheese
Clos de Vougeot Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 2003

Dim sum au chocolat et à la pistache
Chocolate dim sum with pistachio

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