{"id":2786,"date":"2010-01-31T21:56:33","date_gmt":"2010-02-01T05:56:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/myhalalkitchen.com\/?p=2786"},"modified":"2021-03-19T13:49:53","modified_gmt":"2021-03-19T18:49:53","slug":"chez-colette-and-breakfast-eggs-with-smoked-salmon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myhalalkitchen.com\/chez-colette-and-breakfast-eggs-with-smoked-salmon\/","title":{"rendered":"Chez Colette and Breakfast Eggs with Smoked Salmon"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Salmon<\/a><\/p>\n

On a cold, blustery winter day in search of some comfort food in a warm setting, we trekked out to a French-American restaurant called Chez Colette.  Actually, anything would have been warmer than outside at that time, but this place was especially inviting.<\/p>\n

Conveniently located inside the Sofitel Hotel in Rosemont, IL near Chicago\u2019s O\u2019Hare airport and the Rosemont Convention Center, we found Chez Colette, to be a cozy surprise as our waiter seated us at a fireside table for two- the perfect setting for a special Sofitel Sunday Brunch.<\/p>\n

A Lavazza<\/a> (Italian brand of coffee) caf\u00e9 au lait was the perfect warm up to study the menu that would leave me undecided for some time. The taste brought me back to any caf\u00e9 in Europe where they would serve up the exact same flavor. I was quietly happy at the decision to brunch at Chez Colette.<\/p>\n

There were many items we could have ordered on the menu, so many in fact, that it was hard to decide. Would it be the Brioche French Toast<\/strong>, Lemon Crepes with Strawberry-Vanilla Cream and Citrus Syrup<\/strong><\/span>, or something savory like the Open-Face Avocado Omelet with Tomato and Cream Cheese<\/strong><\/span>?<\/p>\n

Scroll down the menu and we could also have Fettucine Pasta with Shrimp, Scallops and Saffron<\/a>,<\/strong> <\/span><\/span>or <\/span>Seared Atlantic Salmon with Asparagus and Beurre Blanc (butter<\/a>)<\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We could just skip right to dessert and order the Meyer Lemon Tart, Chocolate<\/a> Profiteroles<\/span><\/strong> (puffed pastry filled with chocolate<\/a> cream), or a trio of Lavender Sorbettuille<\/span><\/strong>?<\/p>\n

We had to slow down and decide on a couple of things for the moment, with hopes of coming back later to try more from this elegant menu.<\/p>\n

For brunch we decided on the Scrambled Eggs with Atlantic Smoked Salmon and Red Pepper Coulis (sauce)<\/span><\/strong>. It was perfectly cooked, with quality smoked salmon and just enough punch of flavor coming from the red pepper- a delightful combination.<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t believe we actually gave in to dessert after such a plentiful brunch, leaving my palette satisfied and clean. Did I really want to add more intense flavors to such a pleasant dining experience?<\/p>\n

Absolutely- when you can have Chocolate<\/a> Mousse<\/span><\/strong> without any alcohol added?  Alhamdullilah.<\/p>\n

It was silky, smooth, rich and luxurious, a little too much as one order was more than enough for two of us. But, chocolate<\/a> is healthy, non?<\/p>\n

Chez Colette (French-American)<\/strong><\/p>\n

5550 North River Road
\nRosemont, IL
\n(847) 678-4488\u200e<\/p>\n

Tips on Eating Halal at French Restaurants<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00b7 French restaurants, very similarly to Italian ones, often cook their meats<\/a> and fish in wine. At Colette, we were fortunate in that many of their seafood dishes did not have a wine base used in the cooking, particularly as this was a brunch menu. If it had been a dinner menu, I venture to say the meals would be a bit more extravagant, hence the use of wine or alcohol a noticeable ingredient on the dinner menu.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 French pastries often use wine or other types of alcohol such as vermouth or calvados (apple liquor), to flavor anything from ice creams and sorbets to mousse, creams and tarts. Again, we were fortunate that Colette did not add these or any types of alcohol to any of the dessert items on our brunch menu.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 One note worthy of mention here is that \u201cchocolate liquor\u201d is not alcohol, it\u2019s simply a combination of cocoa solids and cocoa butter.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 French words to know in order to avoid the non-halal meat, pork and alcohol are as follows:<\/p>\n