June 9 -- French dinner bargain -- still room

STILL SPACE LEFT

We are up to 20 people coming to this event, so there is still space available, if you want to come. Let me know by May 30, so I can let Patrick know.

To review the details:

5-coure French dinner cooked by world-class chef, Patrick Chabert. Total cost, $65, including wine, tip, and tax -- but only cash or checks accepted.

The event is June 9th.

Dinner starts at 7 pm.

Patrick, who now works primarily as a caterer, uses the facilities of a deli called Berutti's.

Berutti's is at 771 S. Buffalo Grove Road in Buffalo Grove.

Let me know if you're interested.


----

Well, those of us who attended the French dinner last Friday night were all but fainting from pleasure as course after splendid course completely blew us away. And as an added bonus, the near legendary Jean Banchet was on hand, helping Patrick Chabert in the kitchen, strolling through the dining room to make sure we were happy.

In case I've lost you, this is the monthly French dinner outing that has been posted for some time under Friday Night French Dinners. Seven of us finally made it to one of the dinners, and we were treated to terrine of vegetable and foie gras with herb dressing and truffle puree, monk fish with Spanish chorizo, a combination of stuffed lamb loin en croute and rack of lamb a la Provençale served with ratatouille Niçoise and gratin dauphinois, a baby greens salad with wine-poached pears and crumbled blue cheese, and an assortment of decadent desserts that leaned heavily towards chocolate delights, but also included a passionfruit creme brulee. And all this was $65, including wine, tip, and tax.

While there is another planned dinner on May 19, we are approaching the summer break. However, that said, Patrick Chabert has offered to do a dinner just for lthfolks (and friends) on June 9. Same deal -- five courses with wine for $65 (cash or check -- no credit cards). But we need 20 people to do it. (We can go higher, we just can't go much lower.)

Of course, in order to have him book the venue and hire the wait staff for this special event, he needs to know pretty soon if we're interested. So are at least 20 of you folks up for a great dinner at bargain prices? I should probably get back to Patrick by May 5 with an indication of our intent, so let us know soon. If you want confirmation of my high opinion of the food, you can check with Cathy2, jygach, and mhl. They were all very impressed.

So let me know if you're in.

HI,

I plan to attend the June 9th dinner.

I just posted on last week's dinner with all the pleasant surprises of a Jean Banchet present in the kitchen and strolling through the dining room.

All the best,

Great photos -- and I loved reading your more detailed report of the evening. I could almost taste the dishes again. Thanks, Cathy.

Please add me to the list for June 9th, with a guest.

pd

You're on the list. Glad to have you join us.

Hi Cynthia,

Just reconfirming that I will be attending too. I can't wait! The timing is great too, as I am leaving for Singapore the next morning!

C

CrazyC wrote:Hi Cynthia,

Just reconfirming that I will be attending too. I can't wait! The timing is great too, as I am leaving for Singapore the next morning!

C

Excellent, put me and Mrs. JiLS down for two. Charlotte, we'll bring some good bourbon or drycleaning fluid or something appropriate to make sure you are properly miserable and hung-over for your flight to Singapore.

HI,

Just because it wasn't highlighted, they do serve wine with the French dinners.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

Just because it wasn't highlighted, they do serve wine with the French dinners.

Regards,

Yes, I was referring to the post-prandial intoxication session that will be necessary for Charlotte's sendoff to the Orient.

Yep -- I've got you on the list, CrazyC. And I've added Mr. and Mrs. JiLS.

With the Mensa folks who are coming, that brings us up to 13 signed up. We just need a few more to guarantee that the evening takes place.

And I'll be interested to hear about your plans for Singapore, C.

Hi Cynthia,

Please add me to your list. I thoroughly enjoyed my last French dinner and I look forward to the June dinner created for LTHers.
Thanks for coordinating this event.

Jyoti

I'll look forward to seeing you again, Jyoti.

HiGuys!. Count me in....I haven't seen the post on where exactly, when exactly, how much (approximately) and byob? and any one wanting to say Happy Birthday, I'd be glad. JOJO Whenever the notice goes out, I'll be fine. j Thanks for putting it together.

HI,

An earlier event post from Cynthia will explain the deal. However for this occasion you will reserve directly to Cynthia.

Cynthia wrote:If you love French food and don't care a whole lot about ambience, you might be interested in the French dinners that take place in Buffalo Grove once a month. Patrick Chabert, who was for 16 years the sous-chef/lieutenant under Jean Banchet at Le Francais, mostly does catering these days, but once a month, he whips up a great fixed-price French dinner that gets served in the pleasant but not elegant dining area of a deli called Berutti's. Jean Banchet steps in on occasion and helps Patrick with the dinner -- so you're getting Le Francais quality at much lower prices ($65 all inclusive -- wine included, too). But be advised, payment needs to be check or cash.

Dates for upcoming dinners are Feb. 10, March 17, April 21, May 19, and July 14 (though the dinner will be a bit more celebratory, its being Bastille Day).

Dinners start at 7 pm.

Berutti's is at 771 S. Buffalo Grove Road in Buffalo Grove.

To reserve a place, call 847-215-1931.

Patrick's food is very, very good. I won't be there in Feb., but I'm looking forward to hitting at least a few of these dates.

I thought I had better put this info at the bottom of the list of messages, as well as at the top, because some might not go back to the original message if they were just checking updates. So here's the news:

STILL SPACE LEFT

We are up to 20 people coming to this event, so there is still space available, if you want to come. Let me know by May 30, so I can let Patrick know.

To review the details:

5-coure French dinner cooked by world-class chef, Patrick Chabert. Total cost, $65, including wine, tip, and tax -- but only cash or checks accepted.

The event is June 9th.

Dinner starts at 7 pm.

Patrick, who now works primarily as a caterer, uses the facilities of a deli called Berutti's.

Berutti's is at 771 S. Buffalo Grove Road in Buffalo Grove.

Let me know if you're interested.

Do you know what the menu will be for the June 9th dinner?

No, I'm afraid I don't know what the menu is. But I do know I've never had anything prepared by Patrick that was less than sensational.

Please include me on the list for the June 9th dinner. JOJO

Please include me.

Jojo -- you're already among the 20 mentioned in the update, as you responded some time ago. I look forward to meeting you.

And gourmande, you have been added to the last. Glad you'll be joining us.

See you on the 9th.

Thank you, Cynthia. Look forward to it.

I just learned that I won't be working early hours next Saturday, and so I could attend this dinner. Is there still room, or is there a wait list I could plunk myself onto in case someone has to cancel?

Giovanna

Cynthia, thank you for organizing this. I'd also like to be there next Friday if there is still room, SVP.

Josephine and Giovanna -- we got you in. See you Friday.

Also, Patrick has asked that I collect the money from everyone, so he can focus on what he does best -- cooking. Cathy2 knows who I am, so if you can't easily identify me, ask her, and she'll point you in my direction.

This should be a great party. So far, Patrick has hinted at foie gras ravioli and something involving soft shelled crabs, which are in season now. Mmmm.

See you Friday.

We have a large group (39 coming out for the French dinner.

I look forward to meeting or seeing again those of you who are attending.

PLEASE NOTE: Patrick is preparing precisely the amount of food needed for those attending. If you decide you don't want to come, you must cancel by noon Wednesday or find someone to take your place, as the food will have already been purchased and will have to be paid for.

This event is now completely booked. You can always check to see if anyone has cancelled, but there are no more places available.

However, I have learned that there are still some spaces left for the July 14 Bastille Day dinner. However, for that, don't contact me or post here -- it's not an LTH-specific party, like the June 9 event -- for this one, just call Patrick directly -- the number is above. But call before June 17, as Patrick will be leading a tour to France in late June, and he will only return a few days before the Bastille Day dinner, so he needs a final count before he leaves.

HI,

A report on the Dinner Made Just for Us!

Regards,