I recently got back from a quick trip to New York to attend a friend’s wedding—congrats again, Robert and Chris!—and while the visit was short, the pleasant memories stayed long.
One of the best ones was dinner at the French restaurant Le Coucou. The name rings a bell among those who scout food blogs, even W Magazine, and most specially the ones who take their food seriously. Top restaurateur Stephen Starr (of Alma de Cuba fame) and Paris Chef Daniel Rose team up in this venture—a match made in culinary heaven if you ask me.
Dubbed by Eater as “one of the city’s best new French restaurants,” Le Coucou was a hard one to miss. The restaurant’s large windows were too inviting, the chandeliers comforting despite their size, and the room smelled of the many dishes waiting for us. I’m surprised I made it to my table with my senses intact—just a whiff of those slow-cooked carrots is enough for me to come undone.
We started with the Tête de veau ravigotée, a hors d’oeuvres of fried veal head, fresh herbs, capers, and egg.
Among everything we ordered, this was my least favorite. I found it a bit too oily for my taste. I would actually skip this the next time I eat here. And yes there will be a next time, if we get reservations, because everything else was excellent.
Next up was the Faisan à l’Alsacienne (pheasant for two Alsace style, foie gras, stuffed cabbage).
I enjoyed this combination a lot. I wish I read more food mags, which I promise to do, so I can thoroughly explain how nice and balanced this was.
We also had the Côte d’agneau du Colorado, aubergines, tomatoes farcies (lamb rack, eggplants, tomatoes stuffed with “choulder and chard”).
In all honesty, I am not particularly fond of lamb, but this was good.
I had the filet de boeuf, jus à la moelle, queue dans la boulangère (prime filet, bone marrow jus, oxtail potatoes).
I could’ve eaten more because it was exceptional! In fact, I felt like a winner because I ordered this dish.
Just when I thought I didn’t have room for anything else, we got a generous serving of Mousse au chocolat.
This was to-die-for. So I highly suggest you share this one because it is so easy to finish, but can you just imagine the calories?
There’s something so comforting about the food at Le Coucou that despite not being French and living far from its picturesque landscape, I feel at home. It’s a food coma I’m willing to go through all over again if that means having seconds of that filet mignon and Mousse au chocolat.
I wish I took more photos especially of the interiors. In fact not only the interiors, I can still hear the song in the bathroom, the one that kept repeat “Cou Cou,” while I’m writing this post. But I was just so over-whelmed with the place and just way too happy we got reservations. I simply enjoyed the food and company too much I forgot to snap away.
See you soon, New York, I’ll be back!
