Restaurants for your French-inspired weekend

For us locals who do not have the time nor the luxury to visit France, we make do with what we have—going to a French restaurant to get a taste of rich French cuisine. It won’t hurt to have at least one French-inspired weekend to relax and unwind, especially since it’s considered as the most romantic country in Europe. How should your French-themed weekend go?

Perhaps you could spend some time planning your eventual trip to France, stopping off in London to spend the evening wining and dining in restaurants like http://100hoxton.com, and then boarding the Eurostar for two hours until you reach Paris. To cap off your day, you can have dinner at your favorite French restaurant nearby. If you haven’t tried dining in one, here are a couple of local suggestions:

• Petite Maison

Address: 7216 E. Shoeman Ln. (Scottsdale Rd.) Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone: 480-991-6887
petitemaisonaz.com

The chef and owner of the restaurant is James Porter, and the menu has fancy sounding inclusions such as poisson entiers pour deux and porc et lardon, but this menu is updated on a regular basis. Dinner is served Tuesday to Sunday every week, and during Thursdays through Saturdays between 10pm until midnight, the restaurant features what’s called a “Staff Meal” where the establishment’s gifted chefs showcase their best dishes for the guests to enjoy. Named as one of Phoenix Magazine’s “Best New Restaurants,” Petite Maison is a must-try.

• Coup des Tartes

Address: 4626 N. 16th St. (Highland Ave.) Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone: 602-212-1082
facebook.com/CoupDesTartes

The name sounds witty enough, so we decided to check it out. It’s a cozy bistro, perfect for romantic dinners. The establishment not only offers succulent French food, but some American gastronomic delights are also on the menu. You’ll not get bored with the menu if you’re a regular, since it’s updated every season. We ought to give you a warning, though: the place is usually packed during weekends, so it is advised that you make reservations in advance.

If the heat has you staying indoors, you can settle in with a DVD of your favorite Audrey Tautou flick. Amelie, Coco Before Chanel, Priceless, A Very Long Engagement, or He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not are great examples.
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