Headed to Lake Memphremagog yesterday for a day of biking and beach time. We brought nicer clothes with us, so we could go to a nice dinner after.
We saw some great reviews for Le Cinquième Élément and loved their motto "creative and lively cuisine." We also wanted to try two of their Table d'hôte, prix fixe menu offerings, so we could try as much as possible.
The restaurant itself is quite cosy and we opted to sit outside on the terrace. It was a little noisy from the neighbors. but otherwise, quite lovely.
Our server was wonderful. He had a great sense of humor and was quite charming.
We decided to order two Table d'hôte menus, "The Great Day" (we'd had a great day, so that was fitting; although I like the name they chose for it in French, "la Gourmandise" because I'm a foodie, but I digress). It consisted of an entrée + main dish + dessert for the exceptional value of $50pp.
The offerings were too good to choose from. Here's what we decided on:
entrées:
Deer terrine with berries, candied onions and homemade croutons
Thinly-sliced smoked duck breast, pear and balsamic glaze
main dishes:
The Shipwreck-grilled scallops and shrimp on creamy risotto with Hatley cheese & a tropical salad.
The Haunch:
Lamb shank with provençal sauce, old cheddar based mashed potatoes and and vegetable bouquet
Desserts:
orange infused crème brûlée
Soft chocolate cake with a heart of caramel
Verdict: Everything was so beautifully plated and delicious, in copious amounts. Truly generous-sized portions. I had no room for dessert (the server gave us a nice pause in between, which helped!)
The terrine was well prepared and the onion confit, sauces and berries that accompanied it were bursting with flavor. It was fantastic.
The thinly sliced smoked duck breast with pear was equally amazing.
The scallops were perfectly pan seared and the shrimp were perfectly grilled. The cheese risotto was creamy, perfectly seasoned and slightly al dente. The dish included lemon and lime wedges, which added a lively citrus boost to the already amazing flavor.
The large lamb shank was fork tender and again perfectly seasoned, falling off the bone. My only slight critique is that the potatoes and the beets that came with it needed a little more seasoning-but otherwise, the dish overall was excellent.
The desserts were to die for. I've never considered adding Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur to crème brûlée, but it was a great idea. The chocolate cake was moist and the marriage of flavors with the chocolate and candied berry topping was perfect.
A truly exceptional meal. I will definitely come back here. read more