I'm all aboard for this. I will subscribe to their newsletter, donate to their campaign, pledge to their Patreon. I have become a disciple of Bouchons, a faithful representation of a stylish French bistro. A proper transplant--theater posters, a wine cellar, irregular stone walls, dishes placed on doilies, a menu displayed outside--I swear, if there are butter pats shaped as fruits, I'm locking myself in the wine cellar. If my waiter has an accent, I will order anything he/she suggests. Call it my kryptonite.
Bouchons is a breathtaking restaurant. It does everything right, from the checkerboard tiled floors and patterned roof to cloth-covered tables and stained-glass dividers. Hanging chalkboards advertise daily cheeses and chef specials. The interior is so impressive, you can actually tour the restaurant virtually via Google street view. No kidding, try it. If I was living in Kelowna, I'd introduce myself to the head chef and start what I would hope to be a positive relationship, mostly involving me receiving preferential treatment.
Being a posh French bistro, I expected a pampered experience at an extravagant price. If proven correct, I'd still embrace Bouchons on its merits. Yet, the three-course chef's table only cost $45. That's shockingly reasonable. My waiter had an accent, so I said yes to everything he suggested. I told you, I have no self-control. You should see what I drive.
Earlier that day--only three hours earlier--my girlfriend and I had enjoyed a meal at the Salted Brick, so there wasn't much left in the tank (or rather stomach). In the end, we shared the chef's course instead of ordering one each. Although I don't regret the day and adore Salted Brick, I do wish I had enough stretch to accommodate a full meal at Bouchons. At least it'll give me an excuse to return, as the actual printed menu's offerings were tempting. And they were French. I mean really French. It's an issue I've encountered with other places, especially those in my hometown, believing French akin to embracing cliché, like their only exposure to French cuisine is watching Amelie and enjoying a fondue on the weekend. Menu options are broken up between "Cliché", "Stuff Anthony Bourdain Likes" and "Mandated Family Food". Nothing offered approaches nouvelle cuisine. You get French dip, French onion soup, escargot, and quiche, a restaurant, which if it was in Paris, would be the one populated by obese Americans deluded into thinking they're enveloped in the French experience. Thankfully, Bouchons breaks from this expectation.
"House Made Country Style Wild Boar Rillettes perfumed with Calvados."
"Belgian Endive Salad with diced apple, walnuts and French blue cheese crumble"
"Scallops and Prawns in a crispy pastry nest with sweet vermouth and candied lime sauce"
Next time I'm in town, I'll take all those and a pale of truffle fries, please.
On that subject, when did truffle fries become the default side option at every restaurant...ever. It's like hearing the Chicken Dance at Oktoberfest. I mean, I love truffle fries--I'm sorry, pommes frites--and all, but enough already. The next time I'm at a bistro and not receive truffle fries, I'll beam the waiter an arrogant look and denounce the establishment as boorish for not supplying a metal pale of "pommes frites". After the bread course was served alongside a cup filled with butter pats shaped as blackberries (SQUEEEEEEE!!), my girlfriend and I shared Angus beef carpaccio with parmesan shavings (automatically revealing the date of when we went, as the restaurant changes the chef's table every week). This was followed by wild spring salmon on morels risotto and concluded with mousse au chocolat. Throughout the experience, a delightful man named Frederic waited us on constantly. Water was filled repeatedly and he did everything imaginable to accommodate two late arrivals that showed up without a reservation. I was allowed to tour the wine cellar, and even took photos. We were never forgotten, and the tip was well earned. And can you believe the pomme frites and French baguette were complimentary? The final cost was only $61 including a glass of pinot noir. Fantastic AND inexpensive. Bouchons might not just be one of the best restaurants in Kelowna, but one of the best I've had...period...full stop.
After reading about the faltering reputation of French restaurants in the motherland, there stands the possibility of Bouchons inflicting damage upon my expectations. The native bistros may not live up to the standards set by a small restaurant in Kelowna. The girlfriend and I plan to experience France within the next three years, and they have a lot to live up to.
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Presentation: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Recommendation: 5/5 read more