Experiencing France in Wichita

Bart checking in. My wife was out of town for the evening, so I went out for a bite after a long day at work.  10 minutes later, I was sitting at the bar at Georges French Bistro.  This is an upscale, true French restaurant with a genuine neighborhood feel; a true gem in College Hill.  Sitting inside this beautifully crafted bistro, you must remind yourself you are still in Wichita, Kansas.  The menu and wine selections complete the relocation to France, if only for a little while. This place has a wonderful romantic feel on Friday evenings, with all the couples sitting about.  Abby was my bartender, making me immediately feel at home, quickly dissipating the sense of being alone at the bar.  

I decided on Mussels & Frites.  The mussels were sautéed in white wine, garlic, shallots, butter, and fresh herbs, complete with seasoned fries and served with garlic bread. Yes, it was as exquisite as it looked!  

Abby suggested pairing this with the 2022 Mary Taylor Muscadet (muh-skuh-day).

This is from Pays-Nantais in northwest France, where the Loire River meets the cool Atlantic Ocean. This wine rests on its lees (dead yeast cells) 8-12 months, underground in glass-lined cement tanks, giving this white wine a crisp, fresh, creamy elegance.   It has a light floral nose of honeysuckle, with light lime/citrus and white peach notes.  It is very balanced, clean on the palate with a delicate saline finish, revealing its seaside origins. This allows a delightful interplay between citrus and saline.  A seafood-lover’s dream! Abby was spot on—this matched seamlessly with the Mussels, fries, and bread. The wonderful citrus and saline dance continued to the last drop.  Unfortunately, half of the mussels were still in my bowl.  I was certainly tempted to repeat the verse, but life is short!

I decided to try the Château de La Roche Sauvignon Blanc.  

It is also from the Loire Valley, but 300 miles inland in Touraine. Most people think of Sancerre when they think of Sauvignon Blanc from France, which is usually very light in color and very crisp and clean with green, citrus, and mineral notes. Touraine Sauvignon Blanc is paler in color, a little more aromatic, with riper citrus fruit. This Château de La Roche was very bright, fresh and clean, notes of citrus and ripe peaches with a clear pyrazine presence. Pyrazine (green bell pepper and fresh cut grass aromas) is one of the classic giveaways for Sauvignon Blanc.  This wine was very nice, but clearly bolder, demanding center stage more than the initial Muscadet.  

Now back to my Mussels and Frites!  This is a beautifully balanced dish, helping me forget I was dining alone.  Sauvignon Blanc is also a classic pairing for seafood.  This wine, however, seemed too bright, clean, and big for this dish, overpowering the more delicate flavors of the mussels.  It did work better with the frites and bread, but I really enjoy mussels.

Overall, they both paired nicely with this dish, but the Muscadet melded more seamlessly with the mussels.  The Sauvignon Blanc was a wonderful wine but will likely play nicer with a richer, seasoned or smoked fish dish.

Georges, I really love this Bistro.  For those who have not experienced this place, enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience (in France) right here in Wichita!

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