Pasadena’s Bistro 45 Waved the Flag of World-Class Dining on Bastille Day

 

If you could not be in Paris singing Les Marseillaise on the Champs-Élyssés on Bastille Day, the next best place to be was Bistro 45 at their annual Bastille Day bash.  Guests celebrated à deux or with a group of friends While dining, family style, on French classics with a twist.

At the appointed hour, my companion and I stepped into a cool room, with glowing candles shimmering on tables dressed in white linen.  With jazz playing softly in the background, I immediately began the decompression from work to a more relaxed state of mind.  My companion and I were immediately greeted by owner Robert Simon and given a glass of Pinot Gris Tolosa from Edna Valley, which was refreshing after a hot day.  We toasted and sipped as we were shown to our table.  We nibbled on foie blond, our first course.  The creaminess of the foie blond was complemented by a tangy mushroom and onion compote and crunchy crostini.  The Pinot Gris provided the necessary acid to balance the richness of the dish.

 

Our next course was crispy calamari, steamed mussels and French fries.  Calamari, when fried in a heavy batter, can be overwhelming.  This calamari was light and delicate to the taste.  The dipping sauce was reminiscent of a Creole style – hot and tangy.  When combined with the calamari, it was the perfect bite.  The mussels were a cool contrast – flavorful mouthfuls in a delightful broth that begged for sopping up with crusty bread.  The Destinos Macbeo from Spain was smooth and complemented both dishes.

 

A Rodolfo Malbec from Argentina was the perfect foil to our next course of chicken Provençal with grilled vegetables and leg of lamb on a bed of homemade fettuccini.  The chicken was moist, infused with herbs that reminded me of summer – thyme and marjoram.  The highlight for me was the vegetables, which tasted as if the chef had plucked them from the garden minutes before grilling.  The leg of lamb was roasted to perfection.  Each savory bite, when combined with the luscious noodles, melted in my mouth.

 

Did we save room for dessert? An emphatic yes!  Dessert was not the traditional petit fours, but a delightful mix of small bites designed to tempt: a profiterole bursting with an intense Tahitian vanilla crème and caramel sauce, a chocolate cake morsel with a hint of cinnamon, a decadent carrot cake bite, and a mini lemon curd tartlet with just the right balance between sweet and sour.  However, as a confirmed chocoholic, the dark chocolate truffle was one of my favorites, especially when served with the Colombo Cotes du Rhone from France.

Bistro 45 is a charming Art Deco hideaway in the Pasadena Lake District with a distinctive flair for cuisine and a marvelous wine list.  The restaurant is located at 45 S. Mentor Street, Pasadena, and is open for dinner only, Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  For reservations or more information call 626.795.2478 or see www.bistro45.com .