Goose, Goose, Duck

Goose, Goose, Duck. It's not a children's game. Or even the caption of the above photo. It's what's on the menu in this part of the world. None of this California-foie-gras-is-illegal-because-of-animal-cruelty namby pamby. For example, one of Anthony's appetizers: pâté de foie gras four ways, including in an eggroll (so very French).

Just take a gander (yes, pun intended) at our favorite restaurant, Au Coup de Silex, right across from the Prehistory Museum in Les Eyzies (a.k.a. the town whose name sounds like the French word for "the penises").

Though it's no Le Clos Saint-Front in Périgueux -- a meal the girls still remember in vivid detail a year later -- the children's menu here does not disappoint. Unless you are Gigi and trying to avoid eating the cute ducks and geese.

 

For those that don't speak French, here's a translation: for 9€ (about $12), children can order the three-course Cro'mignon Menu (a play on the word cromagnon, since mignon means cute), with the following choices:

Entrées (which means appetizers and not, confusingly, what we call entrees):
Tourain blanchi périgourdin                                                 -- a local garlic and bread soup
Rillettes de canard et cornichons                                          -- shredded duck with pickles
Foie gras de canard mi-cuit a la fleur de sel, duo de toasts -- half-cooked duck foie gras with toast

Main dishes:
Petit magret de canard                     -- small slice of duck breast
Manchons de canard confits             -- leg of duck confit
Petite omelette aux cèpes                  -- mushroom omelette
Saumon grillé au thym, crème d'echalotes au vinaigre doux

-- grilled salmon with thyme, shallot cream sweet vinaiger sauce

All plates accompagnied by pommes sarladaises, which are garlicky fried potatoes.

Desserts:
Petit gateau aux noix, chocolat fondant, petite boule de glace à la vanille

-- small walnut cake, chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream

Glace 1 boule parfum au choix                        -- scoop of ice cream, choice of flavor

The only place on the menu you're safe is in the ice cream flavors; not one of them is duck or foie gras. The desserts are especially safe for you if you are, yourself, a duck, duck, or goose.