La Boucherie Phuket

In France 14 cities boast branches of La Boucherie; there is one in Geneva (the Swiss, of course, can be counted upon to know good value when they taste it), and, for four years, one in Thailand, on Soi Sawadirak, about 100 metres east of the beach road, in Patong. As the arches are synonymous to McDonalds, the same can be said for the distinctive verticle red-and-white stripe motif of La Boucherie.

The leather bound menu has something for about every person, whether a beefeater or not. Some favorites starting with salads include: Warm Goat Cheese Salad; Escargots de Bourgogne 6 or 12 240/420 Baht, Salad Nicoise, and Mousse Foie Gras. Moving on to red meat, popular choices on the menu are Chateaubriand 280g at 560 baht which was my choice that comes with baked potato and salad with four sauces: pepper, shallot, Norman and Bearnaise which was cooked to perfection, rare of course. My dining partnmer chose the Mixed Beef, a dish that includes onglet of beef, lamb chop, and tenderloin, served with baked potato and sauces. There is a 350g T-Bone Steak, Entrecote 300g and 450g, Veal Medallions; Lamb Chops, Chicken Scallop and Osso Bucco. Pasta is even available in Bolognaise, Carbonara, and Seafood at only 200 baht which is what I chose for my young son. The beef is imported, cold chilled which assures tenderness without the pitfalls of using meat that has been frozen, from New Zealand.

If you have room for dessert, The Tart Tatin, an upside down apple pie in a nice French pastry is delicious and there is also Creme Brulee, Chocolat Mousse, and if you must, Tiramisu. As with dishes on the menu, wines are available from both France and Italy and very reasonably priced.