We went to Talouse Cafe and Bar on our way home from tip-toeing through the bluebonnets in Ennis.  We stopped on Knox Street to shop a bit, and it was supper time. (Okay, dinner time since we went to a French restaurant.)  I remembered that The Mrs. had mentioned Toulouse was a good restaurant, and perhaps we should dine there sometime.

Since we were “in the neighborhood” – Knox Street by the Katy Trail – we took advantage of the opportunity.  Toulouse is like eating at a little cafe in France.  The front of the restaurant is a large covered patio area draped in red.

Toulouse’s decor is charming.  I loved the buttery yellow walls with red accents.

French bread – Sometimes the simple things at a restaurant make a big impression.  The bread was very good – crusty with a chewy center.  I liked it.  I loved it.

Ever-Lovin’ and I shared the Toulouse Salad – Lettuce, endive, poached pears, toasted walnuts, Roquefort cheese, and a raspberry-walnut vinaigrette.  Fresh tasting and flavorful.  We appreciated their splitting the salad for us.

The Citrus Crusted Salmon was good, but … Be still my heart.  The bed of sautéed artichokes, grape tomatoes, braised fennel, black olives, fresh herb, and Champagne Beurre Blanc was amazing.  True confession.  I do not have a very sophisticated palette.  What I eat and cook would probable be called home cooking.  But I do like artichokes, and many times a deciding factor when selecting what to order is the inclusion of artichokes in a dish.  I was not too sure about the fennel.  Let it be known.  This dish was beyond delicious.  Champagne Beurre Blanc is a classic French white butter sauce.  What is not to like? – Champagne and butter – yummy.  There are recipes online for Champagne Beurre Blanc, and it does not appear difficult to make.  This Champagne Beurre Blanc sauce had a lemony or citrus flavor that complimented the Citrus Crusted Salmon.  I did feel that I had been to France.  By the way – I loved the fennel.  I would seriously like to know how to recreate this dish.  Maybe I will work on it.

Ever-Lovin ordered Petit Entrecôte Pommes Frites – steak and French fries.  His steak was fantastic – cooked to order and flavorful.  Again, you know you are in a French restaurant when the sauce steals the limelight.  Ever-Lovin’s steak came with a Béarnaise sauce.  Bearnaise sauce is made with “clarified butter, emulsified in egg yolks, white wine vinegar, and flavored with herbs.” (Wikipedia)  It was excellent.

But as good as the steak and sauce were, (and they were good) the Pommes Frites really got our attention.  We declared them some of the best fries we have ever eaten.  They were crispy on the outside and soft inside.  A week or so after we ate at Toulouse, Eater Dallas had a list of the 13 best restaurants for fries in Dallas.  Guess what restaurant was on the list?  Toulouse!  I do understand why.

We did not order dessert, but Excellent Cook Nancy says we must try their beignets.  That alone is reason to return to Toulouse.

Blessings to you and yours,

For more information, click HERE to view the Toulouse Cafe web site.  There is a weekend brunch that begins at 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.  That would be fun, and it would be the perfect time to order beignets.