Brasserie Riviere Amuri Courts 293 Durham Street Phone 54-654 B.Y.0.

Press, 29 July 1987, Page 35

Brasserie Riviere Amuri Courts 293 Durham Street Phone 54-654 B.Y.0.

By

MARGARET BAKER

The Brasserie Riviere is green and black, clean cut, fresh and stylish. If you have not been there yet, go soon, before the rest of Christchurch finds out and you cannot get in. We were welcomed by a friendly, competent waitress and given our pick of tables. We handed over our wine and were left to study the menu — the specials were written on a blackboard which was brought over for our perusal. The choice was extensive and interesting, including such categories as “offals” — brains and liver done in ways that actually sounded appetising. Other dishes ranged from a variety of quiches, salads, pastas, seafood, meat, vegetables and soups. The same menu is used for lunches, with vegetables added at night to complete the meal. The only confusion was over which dishes could be requested as entrees, but this was easily explained by the waitress who said it was no problem at all to ask for entree size portions of any dish. The Brasserie is also open for breakfast. Prices for the mains, ranged mostly from $7.50

to $l2, with some, including the specials, set at $15.50.

I started with the apple and kumara soup, while Steve chose the broccoli and cauliflower soup, both priced at $4.50. The hot garlic bread arrived first, followed by the soups, piping hot and beautifully decorated with twirls of cream, Steve’s in the shape of a flower. Both were deliciously smooth and full of flavour, mine quite sweet but not at all cloying, Steve’s an interesting mix of cauliflower - then - broccoli tastes. I also liked the choice

of the large “old fashioned” soup-bowl shape, although the china was not at all old — very white and crisp and in keeping with the decor. (Mirrors cover most walls, and the floor is black and white parquet). For entrees, we requested small portions of bacon and cream Carbonara, and chicken satay with peanut sauce. The original price of the dishes — $9 and $8.50 — was halved for entree portions, to $4.50 and $4.25.

The pasta was the best I have ever tasted. Incredibly light and fresh, it was complemented by small pieces of bacon in a light creamy sauce. It slid down incredibly easily and did not leave me with that weighty feeling which you often get after a helping of pasta. My obvious enjoyment was noted by Steve, who was also enjoying his satay — but not to the extent of great sighs after each mouthful. His three

small kebabs of goodsized chicken chunks, were lightly covered in peanut sauce, and arranged on a small bed of rice. The presentation of the food was imaginative — using simple designs to very nice effect Such it was that my eyes nearly came out on stalks when the Panfried Baby Salmon I had ordered arrived at the table — a whole baby salmon curved on the plate. The real thing. It was quite a surprise really. — and it looked marvellous. Steve had ordered beef medallions done in a red wine and honey glaze (both costing $15.50), and our vegetable dish for two contained beautifully cooked carrots, red cabbage, broccoli, yams and diced potatoes. The vegetables cost $2 each when ordered with the main.

The salmon was as good as it looked — flaking easily off the bone, pink and just moist. Steve’s medallions were equally tender and tasteful — the

honey glaze was delicious. The vegetables were hot and cooked just enough, and plenty for both of us. Other interesting mains included a special of Trellis of Bream, a variety of oyster and mussel dishes, and vegetarian offerings. At this stage, it is not uncommon to feel that you have already eaten far too much, but the portions (which I thought very ample) or the ingredients themselves must have been put together in such a way as to leave you feeling you had eaten just the right amount. Steve, however, had been eyeing the desserts blackboard all evening, so after a pause, we easily succumbed. It was an awesome list: devil’s chocolate cake, fresh fruit salad, Galliano, avocado and lemon cheesecake, petit choux swans with almond cream filling ... I chose the cheesecake, and once again it was the best I have tasted — truly mouthwatering (a man at

the next table was going into raptures over it and I could see why). A light tang on a thin crust More audible sighs. Steve’s swan was the highlight in presentation — a choux pastry cut and baked in such a way as to resemble a swan, and full of a delicious almond cream; Both were priced at $5.50. A bottomless cup of coffee ended a very memorable meal — we will definitely be back. Many things impressed me about the Brasserie Riviere — the prompt pleasant and intelligent service from waitresses, good background music, touches such as chilled glasses for the beer at the next table. The prices of the mains are extremely reasonable, considering the food is more the standard of a first-class restaurant than a lunchtime cafe. The Brasserie would be hard to beat, and it is a welcome addition to Christ.church dining.