Food Fix: Le Express Bistro & Bar

Restaurant week is going strong. There are still several days on the calendar to choose from to try somewhere you have never been, or to revisit a favorite.

It has been a few years since I visited Le Express Bistro & Bar, so I decided to pay them a return visit this week. I was impressed both times with this little French bistro.

I think often of the dishes we enjoyed the first time, namely the Croque Madam. I truly had to resist re-ordering it on this visit as it was on the featured menu.

Setting the mood for the evening was the recommendation of a French Martini. My lovely server worked the room like it was her home, making sure everyone was attended to.

First course offered a few selections to choose from. I splashed through the Mussels Provençal, which arrived in a grand vessel made of pounded copper. It had two large bowls hinged together. For serving, it was delivered to the table opened and filled with bread and special utensils in one bowl. In the other bowl, the scrumptious little morsels sat knee-deep in hot and fragrant aromatics, tomatoes and a splash of wine.

Le Express generously presents six entrees on their Restaurant Week menu. Grilled Idaho Rainbow Trout won hands-down. Perfectly de-boned fillets were supported by a medley of roasted fingerlings and grape tomatoes. Elevating this dish above the ordinary was a piquant tapenade of kalamata olives.

Desserts are the bonus during these two weeks. Chocolate Lava Cake, French Crepes or a luscious Pumpkin and Golden Raisin Bread Pudding – It was a tough call.

Reservations are still available at many of the participating restaurants in our area. Also consider an earlier or later time to dine if the prime hours of 6 to 8 p.m. are booked. Don't forget many participating restaurants are also offering a special lunch menu.

Le Express is located at 1820 New Hackensack Road (Route 376), Wappingers Falls, NY, 12590. To make reservations call 845-849-3565.

http://leexpressrestaurant.com/

Read past reviews of other participating restaurants:

Duo Bistrohttp://pojonews.co/1t8cKzx

Mexicali Bluehttp://pojonews.co/1x7wF5z

The Poughkeepsie Journal pays for the meals that are the subjects of restaurant reviews and reviewers do not identify themselves prior to the end of the meal. Theresa J. Marquez, Web producer for the Poughkeepsie Journal, graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 2005 with high honors. She has worked for Cooking Light magazine and is a local personal chef and culinary coach. Contact her at enjoy@poughkeepsiejournal.com; Twitter: @ChefTheresaPJ; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmarquez.PoJo.