In 1974 Le Papillon opened Toronto’s first crêperie in the bustling and historic St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood. Today the restaurant offers a casual French dining experience in a building that perfectly compliments its French brasserie atmosphere.
It was 6pm on a cool meets wet Spring evening when I arrived at Le Papillon with my Aunt Mary who was in town visiting for the week. I first really got to know Mary in the summer of my second year of university when I lived with her family in Victoria BC. I became familiar with her passion and enthusiasm for sparkling wine, plates teaming with cheese and early morning scone and cinnamon bun baking sessions.
After arriving at Le Papillon, we were seated at a table overlooking Front Street and immediately grabbed the wine list to suss out a French bottle. Over the course of our meal Mary got me up to speed on the development of her Camino course and filled me in on her plans to live in France for several months this year.
While basking in the steam of fresh Moules marinières she chirped about her favourite mussels encounter on a rainy day near La Charité-sur-Loire. The following morning I would be flying to New Orleans to enjoy my first taste of a French cuisine made famous for its unique Creole spin. Our French banter found a happy home over tarragon garlic butter shrimp and stringy gruyère adorned soupe à l’oignon. After sharing a hearty crêpe filled with boeuf bourguignon and crispy duck confit. the evenings ode to those who “fancy the French” concluded with a sweet duo of pouding chomeur and elegant crepe banana royal.
The Feast:
Moules Mariniere
mussels, wine, butter, dill, onion, garlic
Crevettes
tiger shrimp, tarragon garlic butter
Soupe a L’Oignon
french onion soup, crostini, gruyere
Boeuf Bourguignon
beef, onions, carrots, mushrooms
Duck Confit
leg of duck, orange grand marnier sauce
Pouding Chomeur
cake with hot caramel sauce, french vanilla ice cream
Crepe Banana Royal
fresh bananas, chocolate sauce
