Monsieur Marcel's Happy Hour

Nestled in the southeast corner of the Farmers Market is one of my favorite French bistros. Attached to a boutique grocery store which specializes in the finer things in life, Monsieur Marcel has the advantage of being able to utilize its excellent array of wine, cheese and charcuterie.

When dining I rarely get further than the coq au vin, which comes served with a divine gruyère-rich potato gratin ($15.49). If I'm there for lunch, or in the mood for something lighter, I'll either go for one of their quiches (ham & cheese, wild mushroom, or leek & goat cheese) which come complete with a salad on the side ($10.99), or one of their cold cheese or charcuterie plates ($16.99), which are perfect for sharing with friends.

However those on a budget or in need of refreshment after a shopping trip next door at The Grove (or both) should keep in mind that Monsieur Marcel has a rather excellent Happy Hour which runs from 3 til 7 PM. Wine is 50% off and they have a special menu of reasonably priced small plates. I've long been a fan of their by the glass wine list (even at full price), which goes well beyond the usual merlot and cabernet sauvignon varietals, and a small plate shared between two, eaten with wedges of baguette, will stave off hunger and soak up the wine in a delicious and satisfying manner.

The Breakdown
1 glass of bourgogne albert bichot vieilles vignes 07 (pinot noir) @ 50 % off = $4.75
1 glass of France madiran laplace 06 (tannat) @ 50 % off = $4.55
1 small plate of rosette de lyon = $4.99
Tax $1.39
Tip $ 3.50
Total = $ 19.13
Cost per person = $ 9.56

Get the 411: Monsieur Marcel website
Farmers Market @ Third & Fairfax
Los Angeles, CA 91604
Tel: 323 939 7792
(Plus new location in Santa Monica.)

Froma's Flight of Adventure

Enjoy an exquisite selection of wine, cheese and accompaniments (yummy candied apricots, dates and pecans) as Froma's highly knowledgeable French Canadian proprietress, Francine Diamond, educates you on the often unusual delicacies being served at this fine food emporium-cum-cafe.

Though there's a wide selection of antipasti, paninis and salads on the menu, we always seek out the adventure that is the three cheese tasting platter, which you can order with wine pairings for $18 total. You can specify what kind of cheese and which wines from the excellent by-the-glass menu you'd like to try, but that might be missing the point. We let Francine know if we're in the mood for red, white or both, but then leave the rest up to her good taste and top notch sommelier training.

French made Gruyère style cheese that we never even knew existed comes served with the kind of Bordeaux wine that'd be well beyond our price range if we bought it by the bottle. In around an hour Francine will take you on a gastronomic flight through France, Italy, Spain, and the most progressive regions of the New World. No journey is ever the same, so this is a treat that can be enjoyed again and again.

The breakdown
3 cheese platter with accompaniments and wine flight $18.00
Tax $ 1.76
Tip $4.00
Total = $23.76

Ge the 441: Froma website
Froma, 7960 Melrose Ave.,
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Tel: 323 653 3700