Jeune et Jolie
Cheer to my dearest weekly dinner when I was living in San Diego. A full year has passed since I moved, thankfully everything there was still lovely.
This season’s highlights 
and 
- just because!
Crabe: Canadian snow crab, verjus, kohlrabi, shiso
Excellent opening, went well with the light acidic hit from their avocado appetizer. The most refreshing course of the night. Light and addictive.
I usually request extra for UN & DEUX because there are a lot of hitters I enjoy in these sections. This time I went with their Homard (lobster) and Cuisses de Grenouilles (frog). Both warm courses had stronger impressions, contrasting well with the refreshing Crabe earlier. Fun time!
Homard: lobster, harissa, basil, tarragon
The espelette pepper hit wonderfully in this sauce, not too spicy but strangely enjoyable, contrasting well with the perfectly cooked texture and gentle taste of their lobster. My favorite dish from the whole menu.
Cuisses de Grenouilles: frog legs, black garlic, cipollini onion, nasturtium
If you into fried food as much as I do: I would eat this instead of fried chicken for the rest of my life. Crunchy outside, super moist inside, excellent sauce. Fun texture between the breaded vs the naked bits and those onion. Highly recommend as an add on.
But honestly if you drive out for a dinner and didn’t start the meal with their raw bar items, I would pity that experience. John, the owner, has a long industry history with oysters and shellfish in general, trust him.
Come for the taste: I always enjoy exciting French fair with a touch of Asian influence - just enough umami to round up the usual sharpness in flavor of traditional French cooking. Thanks to the time chef Eric worked in Singapore!
Stay for an unpretentious, almost-relax bistro vibe, and the most romantic touch for a perfect date spot, imo. If you get to know the crew, you will have a hard time to move away, just like me. Also take a look at their custom made records behind the bar, lots of fun nuggets in this little place… I still like it quite a bit after a long year disappearing away.
*Forever looking for exciting, nearly perfect flavors with simple and beautiful ingredients… uptight, boring and pretentious executions for the grams easily bore me. If you’re somewhat similar, you will like their menu this season.
PB. YMMV.