La Marmite
46 Stauton Street, Soho, Central, Hong Kong
+852 2803 7808
lamarmite@aqua.com.hk
LA MARMITE. Facebook
Having a casual walk in Soho area, there is always a line of pink green sharpening my eyes when they are used to the slightly dark color tone of Soho's restaurants. La Marmite, is a casual and light French (Paris) style bistro with a selection of French dishes and a blackboard of dining wines. The recently-promoted 3-course dinner, refreshes the 'expensive' definition of French dining in my mind. It is where you can have a relax French dinner with a middle-level price, while still you can stay and enjoy your dinner as long as 3 (even 4) hours.
Warm Baguette with Sea Salt and Butter & Aioli Mayonnaise
I'm not used to the soft, slightly fluffy and warm baguette since I come back from my Europe trip, but I have to admit, it is good with the tasty Aioli to soften your tongue and warm up your stomach. Aioli, is a mixed special sauce featured in anchovies and mayonnaise, plus different seasonings. The taste is quite strong and very similar to garlic, but actually it is chives; as a paste to bread, it just makes your hand keep on moving towards bread platter.
White Crab Meat with Bloody Mary Sorbet and Coriander
All my favorite raw ingredients are included in this cold starter, which is excluded to the named 3-course. I like the pink sorbet very much for its 'freezing' and fresh sweet taste, which at the same time, make a balance to the smashed crab. Overall is like fruity sweet crossover seafood sweet.
French Snails Sauteed in Garlic Butter with Parsley Puree
Tuna Nicoise Salad with Soft Boiled Quail Egg and Anchovy Cream
One soup and those two starters can satisfy any client's need for liquid, for salad, or for French signature. The lovely green-color sauce in the plate of French Snails, is quite well-done. It is lightly made and keep a thin liquid texture, tasty but not too strong as a starter.
The salad is a plate of colors, which feed my eyes well first. I love the thick-cut Tuna covered by the thin smoked skin, but I will appreciate a heavier smoked taste. I know the Quail Egg contains too much Cholesterol, while it gives such a farm-taste, which is fresh, nature and with a perfect semi-liquid texture.
Pan Roasted Lamb Rack with Cumin Ratatouille and Dauphinois Gratin
Classic Mussels Mariniere with French Fries
There are four main courses provided, from risotto/pasta to seafood or roasted. The most economical one must be the lamb, which contains two pieces in one plate and made perfectly to be juicy and soft. I won't criticize the lamb's original quality, coz it is impossible to be served by a superior piece of raw material in such a price. It has fat, and maybe a lot, but you can give up those parts. Plus, I do love Cumin Ratatouille (those cute vegetable cubes) which follows French traditional family/farm-style, and Dauphinois Gratin, especially the multi-layer one.
Mussels with fries, it is an interesting combination with light (seafood) and heavy (fries). Big size mussels covered with light cream sauce, and the fresh and slightly salty sea taste is not disturbed.
Vanilla Mousse and Macerated Berries Mille-feuille
Cheese of the Day with Truffle Honey and Candied Grenoble Walnuts
Two typical French desserts as the happy ending, to choose fresh & fruity or cheese-fragrance. I think mille-feuille doesn't make a good balance of berries sour and vanilla mousse sweet, while I do find the later one is perfectly made to be light but good-taste. Compared to that, I'm more in to the cheese. Formage, actually doesn't meet my expectation; it should have liquid core and in such a devil way to float onto the plate. While the truffle with honey is impressive, such an easy mix but a big taste!
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