Chef Jan Kinds and his wife, Isabelle Roos have created a wonderful fusion of French and Belgian cooking. Chef Jan Kinds grew up in his family’s restaurant in his native Belgian town of Bruges. “Nouvelle cuisine” is an approach to cooking and food presentation used in French cuisine. Unlike haute cuisine, nouvelle cuisine is lighter, more delicate, without the heavy sauces and long-cooked vegetables. There is an increased emphasis on presentation.
The food was light, fresh and delectable. Traditional offerings such as escargot and frog legs tempt the adventurous, but Jackie P. and I settled for a delicate chicken crepe as a starter. Entrees come with soup or salad, and my broccoli soup was delicious. Also, it was unusual in that it was not cream based, but built on a flavorful chicken stock. The selection of entrees is ample but limited for those with more pedestrian taste. My chicken’s green peppercorn sauce contrasted with the delicate simplicity of perfectly cooked snap peas. The carrots were my favorite - delicate, sweet with a hint of nutmeg or cinnamon? The ‘Gratin Dauphinois’ is our potatoes ‘au gratin’ but nothing like the box stuff. It was amazing - a crunchy, crumbly crust topped a multitude of creamy potato layers below.
Eating with Jackie is great because it always involves desserts. Mascarpone white chocolate cheesecake topped with blackberries was heaven on a plate. The sweetness of the white chocolate did not overpower the thick, creamy cheesecake. Creamy clouds of cheesecake simply melted in my mouth. Jackie and I split a piece of cheesecake, but we agreed that we could probably have demolished a whole slice a piece. I kept eating and eating and eating, but the food was all so light that I never felt unhealthily full. I only regret that I could not fit in the garlic soup with gruyere cheese. I was told it was to die for.
The atmosphere was traditional, not trendy, but pleasant and quiet. It is not inexpensive, but quality is definitely there. Dinner reservations are recommended. If you are looking for a less expensive alternative, try lunch!
Five Forks!
Hernando County
10531 Spring Hill Dr
Spring Hill, FL 34608
Just west of the intersection of Mariner and Spring Hill Dr.
352-686-6860
http://thenouvellecuisine.com/
Dinner - $$-$$$
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