Just waiting to go in

Located in the heart of downtown Burlington on Church Street is a little bit of France. Leunig’s has an old world ambiance AND great food. I heard from the server there that a lot of Canadians come to Burlington and eat there.

There is this big bar as you enter and the tables are arranged thoughout on various levels.

Jenn and Roberto at our window view table 

It was warmer when I visited and we had this wonderful table by the window that opened to the walk outside. It was charming. The menu features French foods with a Vermont touch added for good measure.

My yummy salad

They serve a weekend brunch and are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a little café menu tucked in the middle for those who drop by between meals for a little somethin’, somethin’. I was also happy to see gluten free additions to the menu. Leunig’s is a member of the Vermont Fresh Network.

We were there for lunch and I am determined to go back repeatedly until I can sample the foods from the different mealtime menus.

Stained glass outside entrance

If you visit their website right now, you can find a recipe for Glug, a Swedish holiday Spiced Hot Wine. Or just stop in for a mug!    www.leunigsbistro.com

When Jenn and Roberto last visited Ocala just before their second anniversary, they asked if we could go back to “Le Cuisine” French Restaurant just a block off the town square in Ocala, Florida to celebrate. This is a little jewel and our second trip there lived up to our expectations of it being just as good as we remembered.

I asked for a quiet table for our evening when I called for reservations. To our surprise and delight, they gave us our own private, little room off the main dining room where we could talk and take pictures without disturbing others. It was great!

The décor is fanciful and rustic with little pigs tucked here and there, twinkle lights out front as you come in, bright red walls, but at the same time elegant in its simplicity with chandeliers, white linens and tea lights on the tables.

Food is traditional French cooked by French chefs. To start we are brought a little bite – some crisp French bread with 3 tiny pots of sour cream laced with herbs and spices. With that we had some sparkling water flavored with raspberry for me and blackberry for Jenn.

Then we shared an amazing appetizer tart made with phylo layered with zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes and pesto.

For our main courses, Jenn selected a plate of mussels with a side of Pommes Lyonnaise, thinly cut homemade fried potato crisps.

Roberto ordered Pork Jarret in Honey, a slow cooked, very tender pork shank, meaty and plentiful. As his side he selected Gratin Dauphinois, closely resembling escaloped potatoes.

For me there was Chicken in Dodine, a roasted chicken cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce just loaded with mushrooms. I also had the Pommes Lyonnaise.

To finish, Jenn ordered Oeufs a la Neige, stiffly whisked egg whites, poached, light, not too sweet, and floating in a pool of liquid, vanilla custard.

Roberto wanted something a little chocolate and he found Chocolate fondant, warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and crème anglaise. He asked if they could go light on the cake and add more ice cream. The cake was pre-portioned but the chef indulged him with an extra scoop of ice cream.

I had a Tarte Tatin, warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream. To wash it down we had espresso with whipped cream.

It was a lovely evening and we left satisfied and very, very, full.

“La Cuisine” French Restaurant
48 West 1st Avenue
Ocala, Fl, 34471