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, Chambord, and Caravelle, La Grenouille survives 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, lilies, tuberose, orchids, roses, and anemones.

 

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.

Comments

[PAULINE MUCCIACCIO]

Hi Martha,
Enjoyed looking at the wonder dishes everyone had for lunch. Have to admit, I probably wouldn't have ordered the frogs legs or liver.
Best,
Pauline Mucciaccio

[Kyle Doyle]

Looks like a magnificent experience! When I am in NYC I plan on visiting this fine looking establishment.

Kyle, Santa Barbara CA.

[Andrew Ritchie]

Martha,

My partner got me a biography on Julia Child by Noel Riley Fitch for Valentine's Day. It's beautifully written and it has renewed my interest in French cookery.

The souffles look extraordinary - perfectly done!

Merci pour l'information!

-L'Andrew

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, Thanks for the lovely tour of La Grenouille. It certainly is a beautiful restaurant. The food looks scrumptous and I think I would choose the dover sole because it looks so delicious. Thanks again for sharing. Jan

[Kathy]

Martha,
Thanks for the peek at La Grenouille, its flowers such as winter anemones, and the food, too.
A delicious lunch! The frog legs and liver remind me of those dishes my Grandpa and my Mom cooked when I was a child.
Thanks for the memories.
Kathy

[David]

Hi Martha,

Do you have any recommendations for vegetarians who want to experience French cuisine?

[Claudine]

my mouth is watering! I would love to go to that restaurant! Anything French in my book, is a very good thing!

Claudine

[Smellyann]

I second David's concerns about being a vegetarian trying to enjoy French cuisine. Everything looks beautiful, but what would *we* eat? I'm going to France in the summer and would like to know what to order.

[Kelly]

Yum, the dover sole looks delicious! Thanks for the pics, it looks like you guys had a great time!!

[Linda Gail]

Martha:)
Boy, what a beautiful place. The flowers, the decor, and the food. I would really have a hard time ordering except for one thing. The liver has got to GO! I have never been able to touch that stuff. My Mom would make it and I would eat the rest of the dinner, but that stuff stayed way over on the side of my plate. I couldn't even get the dog to eat it.
The frogs legs looked really good and I have not had dover sole in quite a while.
Again thanks for sharing this beautiful place with us.
Linda Gail

[Sherey]

Beautiful flowers and food! Who could ask for more? The crew look very happy...nice that they could enjoy such a sumptuous dinner!

[Laura C]

I took my mom to La Grenouille for her birthday years ago (maybe 15 or 16) She had the biggest plate of sauteed frogs legs. It was a very special and spectacular experience. We sat in the downstairs dining room and I remember the exquisite floral arrangements all over the dining room. It was just like going to Paris for lunch. Thanks for the lovely photos and the pleasant reminder.

[Kristan]

Hi Martha,

I was listening to Living Today on Sirius when I heard the host of the show talking about your trip to this magnificant restaurant in NYC, and how it was posted on your blog. I had to come to your blog and check it out. It does seem like an amazing place!

[cdnyc]

I work right near La Grenouille and never get sick of eating there. Oh, but how I miss Lutece! Mais, ne vous oubliez pas Le Perigord on 52nd Street east of First Avenue. A bit more formal but no less delicious! A bientôt...

[charlene gould]

Hi Martha, on Tuesday's show you expressed that you liked the center of brownies, not the edges, have you ever tried using the metal or paper cupcake papers for brownies, you have to adjust the baking time but it does give you precut softer brownies, also easy to take to work.

[Kim Wylie]

Ooh la la! The souffles (especially the chocolate one) look "tres magnifique!" This was a fun entry to read, especially the bit about Antoine St. Exupery, as I JUST finished re-reading the book (dans le francais, of course!). Living in SC, La Grenouille is a bit of a drive for true French cuisine. The closest I can come is the World Showcase in Epcot on my almost yearly visits to Disney World in Orlando. "Les Chefs de France" is pretty good, but not anything like the food you've blogged about. I'm incredibly envious!!

[Carol]

Risking sounding like a clod, but I have never seen such food anywhere. Such elegant preparation of unusual dishes. I have never been to New York City, so that may be where I will have to plan to go sometime to taste anything like you had at this dinner.

[Kathi Skillman]

Hi Martha!

Oh your pictures are wonderful! The food is so artfully prepared and just so lovely..thanks for sharing!

Best,
Kathi Skillman

[jkv]

Wonderful restaurant, I always visit when I'm in NYC. You might be interested in this restaurant blog that I've been enjoying lately: http://eathereornot.blogspot.com

Interesting thoughts on a range of places around the country.

[Bill Gilmore]

I LOVE this restaurant when I am in NYC. I remember my first visit - a reservation for eight people and they sat us right in the middle of the room. All the couples were in the banquets on the right and left. I felt like center stage. The flowers at La Grenouille are the most fabulous you will experience. Super special. I hope I didn't miss this piece on your show? But then again how could I since I tivo it everyday!

[suzanne asselin]

Hello Martha, I would really like to have the cod fish recipe you presented on your February 29th show. I'm sure it's delicious and I'd like to prepare it for my friends...I really enjoyed this segment of you show...adding a burst of flavors with a mixture of fresh ingredients is the whole idea behind making fish taste divine!

[suzanne asselin]

Hello Martha, I would really like to have the cod fish recipe you presented on your February 29th show. I'm sure it's delicious and I'd like to prepare it for my friends...I really enjoyed this segment of you show...adding a burst of flavors with a mixture of fresh ingredients is the whole idea behind making fish taste divine!

[Katherine Khandjian]

I have sweet memories of dinner here! My husband and friends surprised me with a trip to NY and dinner at La Grenouille for my 40th birthday... seven years ago. I was in awe of the beauty of the whole experience. It was an extraordinary evening and a memory I will always cherish.

[Diane Taylor]

Hi Martha,
Thanks for these great pictures and I love your comments too!! The flowers and food look absolutely wonderful!
Regards,
Diane Taylor

[r. rafael]

La Grenouille survives because (I would guess) the Masson family owns the real estate by now. The French take the long view in business.