I stumbled across this French bakery, café while walking the streets of Santa Monica. The window display of crusty breads drew me inside. The dessert case with giant meringues and tiny blueberry cream tarts sealed the deal – I was staying! Behind the restaurant kitchen, the walls are distressed brick with unfinished wooden tables. One giant 15-foot wooden communal table sat down the centre of the long restaurant – how delightfully inviting. The place was classic California clean, posh and decadent.
The restaurant is owned by chef Alain Coumont who now has 13 other locations throughout Los Angeles. His signature dish is his open face sandwiches called Tartines. While this traditional Belgium dish is eaten without cutting it, chef Alain decided to cut the tartins into triangle slices so it would be easier for his customers to eat it. Hense the name of his restaurant.
I ordered the Tuscan White Bean and Prosciutto Salad with arugula, shaved Parmesan and basil croutons ($12) with the wheatgrass lemonade ($4). The beans were tossed with diced tomatoes, tiny slivers of spring onions and spicy olive oil. The arugula was tossed with a basil vinaigrette and the leaves were so fresh, I swear they were picked just for my lunch.
I ordered an almond meringue ($3) for dessert and it exploded all over the table that now served as the eating board. It explosive meringue was crunchy on the outside and as you worked your way in, there was a small core of soft gooey centre. It was a light and not too sweet end to the perfect lunch.
Click here for pictures that will whet your appetite.