French diner at the Hyatt Amman

So last week we went to the Grand Hyatt Hotel to have some good French food, made by the Michelin Star Chef Lionel Levy, on the occasion of the French cultural week.

The food was lovely, you can feel that the chef didn't have access to the same kind of produce as what he is used to back in Marseille - but still he made a great job! So here is what we had, in pictures. Am so sorry cause I forgot the titles of the dishes, not very good - but you'll still get the idea of what we had.

To start with, we had snails - I don't think it sounds very appetizing to eat snails haha and I prefer the French term Escargot. So we had escargot in a kind of falafel with a persillade sauce (parsley and garlic).

We then had some more starters... Bobs had a tartar of saumon, which was yummy and I had squid stuffed with foie gras and beef, miam miam.

Oh! and one more starter... just to make sure that we don't go hungry home! The last one was scallops with artichoke. Bibs just said WOW to the picture - she is as interested in food as her parents are.

Then to the main courses. We had a different one each: I had sea bass with asparagus, served with a lemon grass and asparagus sauce. Bobs had lamb served in 2 ways: a confit and pan-cooked rack. Both these dishes were really good.

Then to the deserts - which was not his best point! But then I am sure that he probably has a pastry chef to do them back in his own kitchen! Bobs had a creme brulee with black olives and anis as well as an oil olive ice cream (I was surprised, I really liked the ice cream) - I had a revisited strawberry tart - but it wasn't very "tarty" so was a bit disappointed, the taste was good, but not what I expected.

We had a lovely evening. I hope that they will do the same thing next year, maybe with more venues? It is a great idea and I think sharing through food is excellent.

You know you are back when... and French cooking in Amman

I simply cannot believe that I have neglected my blog like this! But for my defence we have been quite busy: and no don't worry I have been sitting in Dubai airport all this time... A week after we came back from the Emirates, we suddenly had to leave for the UK and that was that month on March. Pouf, gone! While in the UK, I could have found time to write, but we did not have internet. It's amazing how addicted you get to that stuff, but having said that an internet break is not a bad thing.

To celebrate my return to blogging, I thought I would make a little post about the small things that I rediscover!

So I know I am back in Amman when...

- you loose 15 degrees temperature wise, going from huge sunshine and 26 degrees to 11 and rain in 2 days! Spring time in Amman;
- I can get a couple of huge bunch of lilies at the traffic lights for a tenner;
- I get into Cozmo supermarket where they are renovating and I can walk on the newly laid floor tiles;
- or drive on a brand new layer of asphalt still warm (no wonder the streets are in a poor state);
- I can get tasty strawberries for 250 fils (or a little more) all year around;
- have to get used, yet again, to the non existence of traffic rules in the circles, are so-called roundabouts;
- The kilo of imported papaya reach 20JD or avocados cost 10JD per kilo - that's called extortion, in my opinion;
- when I watch Masterchef Australia and the word "pork" is censured;
- the internet connection is rubbish - one moment fine, the next soooo slow;
- I suddenly discover a German bakery on the parking level of Baraka Mall - where has that come from?? Yummy brown bread.

Then I wanted to share the initiative taken by the French Cultural Centre: 5 French chefs are in Amman this week at the following participating venues: The Grand Hyatt, The Intercontinental, The Sheraton and at Le Notre in Abdoun. We had the chance to try the diner at EVOO @ the Sheraton already, and let me tell you: best food I had in a very long time. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me so pics available, but as entree we had an asparagus broth with scallops, followed by lamb saddle. That was only 2 dishes of the  menu degustation - which is 5 dishes served at the competitive price of 37JD (+ tax & service charge) - the menu also comes with a choice of wines to accompany each dish, the price is then 55JD, still not bad in my opinion. They also offer a few a la carte items. The chef cooking at the Sheraton this week is Bruno Doucet. Tonight we have decided to go and try the Southern kitchen at the Hyatt with chef Lionel Levy and this time I take my camera! If you have some extra cash for a good meal out I think it's the week to use it.