My place is very small, I'm the only kitchen staff, I serve fresh, locally sourced fare and oftentimes, during the tourist season, feel hounded trying to keep up with the prep and mise. My menu isn't exactly huge, with 2-4 starters, 7-9 mains and a couple of desserts plus sweet and savoury crêpes, completely tailored to what I can achieve in my kitchen.
Yet I keep reading about (and have experienced) those small family-operated bistros in France that serve one starter, three mains and one dessert from a menu sometimes carved in stone since WW I, with perhaps a daily special. Some of the busier, more "modern" bistros may change their menus on a daily or weekly basis.
Such restaurants seem to be extremely popular throughout the country, and it's very much a "like it or f*** off" affair.
Wouldn't you just love to run a place like this: Frantic lunch and evening hours ("sorry, booked out, but would you mind sharing a table?"), big salad or soup starter for everyone, daube of beef/pasta/pan-fried dish as mains choices, and one or two desserts? Cheap and cheerful local wines (two: red and white!!!)), great coffee. C'est tout.
Am I alone in this? Is this a romantic notion, or do places like these actually exist outside France?
Cheers,
Recky
Yet I keep reading about (and have experienced) those small family-operated bistros in France that serve one starter, three mains and one dessert from a menu sometimes carved in stone since WW I, with perhaps a daily special. Some of the busier, more "modern" bistros may change their menus on a daily or weekly basis.
Such restaurants seem to be extremely popular throughout the country, and it's very much a "like it or f*** off" affair.
Wouldn't you just love to run a place like this: Frantic lunch and evening hours ("sorry, booked out, but would you mind sharing a table?"), big salad or soup starter for everyone, daube of beef/pasta/pan-fried dish as mains choices, and one or two desserts? Cheap and cheerful local wines (two: red and white!!!)), great coffee. C'est tout.
Am I alone in this? Is this a romantic notion, or do places like these actually exist outside France?
Cheers,
Recky