The shrimp bisque was excellent, with a nice full body, and lots of flavor. The three soups I’ve tried have been pretty good. Berries, peaches, corn, etc., have been wonderful this summer, and they use them to their best advantage, whether as a sly accompaniment to an entrée or as the main event. They do best with items that showcase seasonal ingredients. Salad du Jourīistro Maison’s menu is mostly French, or French influenced, with the incongruous exception of house-made ravioli, which I didn’t try. Strange because the same thing is written on the piece of paper in your hand. Service is excellent, the timing on all of my meals has been just right, with the only unusual moment occurring when the server recites the entire specials menu to you. When ordering by the glass, they bring out a couple of bottles and give a taste of each one so you can decide which one best fits your fancy. The Bistro has a large number of splits, or half-bottles, which is great if you are worried about driving back to Portland, as well as a selection of by-the-glass pours. If I have any complaint, it is that the markup is higher than I normally see. However, there were different vintages, styles, and producers. For instance, when we were there for lunch I had three choices of Vouvray by the half bottle, and it was all contained in one line – as the creator of the list realized that they were of the same cloth. Many lists will have pages of redundancies (as in, fifteen Oregon Pinot Gris), but this one lumps similar ‘characters’ on the same line, creating more space while still offering multiple choices. All of the wines are personally picked by Deborah, and I think she does a good job of meeting a variety of price points and showcasing wines from Oregon and other regions. The wine list is quite interesting and bigger than the version posted on their website. They finally settled on McMinnville and opened Bistro Maison, where they have one of the most passionate groups of followers I’ve ever seen. We felt so lucky to have found it this soon.” We were embracing the future food and wine destination in the US. When we saw the Willamette Valley, it was a no brainer. Cities, the North Fork of Long Island & Northern California were out because too much $$$ for the real estate. After thinking about his offer, I said I would, BUT… we have to own the property, building, and every piece of equipment in case we wanted to kill each other after the first year. He had this brilliant idea of having his wife, me, quit her job and work with him. Happens to many chefs when they hit their late 40s… After 40 years in the kitchen, he was getting frustrated and tired of running with the bulls of Manhattan. Meaning no investors, no partners, no money people. “My husband, Jean-Jacques, wanted to open his own restaurant in NYC. Via email, I asked Deborah what brought them to McMinnville. Veterans of the restaurant industry, between the two of them they have worked Paris, Rome, and NY City. Service is generally top-notch, with Chef Jean-Jacques and his wife Deborah both making sure everyone is comfortable. On a summer day, cross ventilation allows plenty of warm air to flow through. Padded leather chairs surround linen-covered tables. French artwork dots the walls, and light jazz floats through the air. The inside is kind of like visiting your grandmother, with lighting and wallpaper which match the age of the building. That’s not to slight the interior, which is also very pleasant. Despite the plastic chairs, it is a comfortable way to indulge in after an afternoon of wine country adventures. The patio is terrific, a little enclave separated from the street, shaded by trees, watched over by a dog named Lily, who sleeps quietly in the corner. I always opt for outside, as I don’t terribly mind it if an errant pine needle tumbles into my wine glass – consider it a benefit of dining al fresco. On a nice day, you’ll have a choice of dining inside or out, especially if you have planned ahead and made reservations, which are often necessary. It sits at the end of NE 3 rd street in the picturesque old downtown area next to an even older train station. Review of Bistro Maison in McMinnville Oregon Bistro Maisonīistro Maison opened over seven years ago and is now a McMinnville institution. Reader Survey: Best Coffeehouses in Portland 2017.A Map of our favorite Portland coffeehouses.Interviews: Honest dialog with people in the Portland food industry.Reader Survey: Best of Portland Food 2017.
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