Brasserie Ten Ten
UPDATE: Sadly, the COVID outbreak of 2020 has forced The Brasserie to shutter its doors permanently.
Steak Frites
There is a pair of absolutely quintessential eateries facing each other across Walnut St. in Boulder... "Wonder Twins, activate! Shape of The Med with it's large diverse Mediterranean inspired cuisine executed to perfection. "Form of Brasserie Ten Ten"where the French fare is elegant, approachable and above all, incredibly delicious.
You can't miss with the Steak Frites which consist of a perfectly grilled slices of hanger steak, Kennebec frites & caper-miso tossed arugula with choice of: bearnaise or pepper crusted with brandy crème (au poivre-style and my personal favorite).
Poulet en Brique
If you're not in the mood for a steak, try the insanely good Poulet en Brique (or simply ordered, the Brique) is really just chicken with fries, but to stop there would be an injustice. And now that I think of it, if the Hall of Justice had a French member, he would be called "Le Brique" whose superpower was to satisfy the most restaurant-weary diners in the world. OK, enough of the Super Friends analogies. Point being, the Brique is quite possibly the best chicken dish I have ever savored.
The salt & herb spiced chicken is cooked in a specially designed brick oven where the chicken is literally pressed between 2 bricks while being baked at 700º so skin crisps up to perfection and the meat on the inside stays tender & juicy. The butterflied half-chicken is then covered in a decadently exquisite beurre blanc and served with seasonal vegetables such as sautéed asparagus or haricots verts (green beans), plus their signature Kennebec frites—freedom fries they are not!
Moules à la Marinière
For a starter, nothing beats the steamed mussels offered in 2 preparations: Moules à la Marinière with five lily, crème fraîche, thyme & butter topped or Moules à la Basquaise: tomatoes, chorizo & olive oil topped. The tender mussels are served with Kennebec frites and grilled baguette—perfect for dipping in those scrumptious broths.
