Thursday, February 5, 2009

L’Ecole – Contemporary French Cuisine

Restaurant of the French Culinary Institute
462 Broadway (at Grand St. – SoHo); 212.219.3300
Lunch Mon-Fri 12:30-2:00, Dinner Mon-Sat 5:30-9:00
A la carte dining available only at lunch. Reservations required.
www.frenchculinary.com/lecole.htm

Bargain gourmet meals are prepared by advanced students of the Institute. The prix fixe menu changes every six-eight weeks.

Sea bass with shrimp

Frozen lemon mousse

$42: 5-course Prix Fixe (dinner)
appetizer, fish course, meat course, salad, dessert.

$28: 3-course Prix Fixe (lunch)
appetizer, entrée, dessert.

Wine pairings are bargain priced, as well.

Before dinner service at L'Ecole, a culinary Chef-Instructor meets with his students before their kitchen shift begins. Students of Classic Culinary Arts and Classic Pastry Arts get real-world experience cooking in a restaurant for paying customers. Recently L'Ecole received a 25 score for food from Zagat, the same rating as the acclaimed NYC restaurant, Le Cirque.