QUICK BITE:. Can you find good French food at a Mexican all-inclusive?

We arrived last night at the Hard Rock in Riveria Maya Mexico.  After unpacking it was time to find some dinner.  We decided on Le Petit Couchon which is their French restaurant.   Can French food possibly be good at a Mexican resort?   Yes.  And yes.  

Started with the beet carpaccio. 

Most fine restaurants these days will feature a beet appetizer and it ends up being disappointing since beets aren't the featured ingredients. That wasn't an issue here. The beets were finely chopped and molded into a beet shape.   There was also a bit of creme fraiche to add some creaminess.   It was presented as a dip since there were chips that were crispy wedges of potato.  Such an outstanding dish and a wonderful start. 

Next was the foie gras.  

This had a slab of deliciously savory foie gras.  And on the sides were sweet offerings including marinated plums, sweet cream and some cookies that were like vanilla wafers.   I appreciated that there was sweet and savory combinations, but as I got to the end it was tasting more like a dessert.   And this could function as a very interesting dessert.  I would have preferred it to be more savory.  

Next up was onion soup which has such an interesting presentation.  We were served a large mound of carmelized onions on top of a crouton. And then a delicious broth of onion goodness was poured on top.  Too often an onion soup features goopy cheese and a soggy crouton.  In this preparation, the crouton had a subtle essence of cheese but it wasn't overpowering.  And since the broth was poured tableside, the crouton still had some texture. 

My main course was grilled scallops with  what was stated as a mushroom risotto.  The scallops were perfectly cooked medium rare and had the flavor from the sea - just like they should. I think the only seasoning they used was some salt which was all they needed.  The "risotto" certainly wasn't traditional.   It was a mound of somewhat mushy rice on top of a delicious mushroom sauce.   Great flavors, but it wasn't a composed risotto.  

My wife tried the mushroom stew which was such a simple dish, but had great complex flavors.  It was really just sauteed mushrooms on top of a cauliflower and potato puree.  So simple and could have very easy to just throw together into a tasteless mess.  But here the mushrooms were so meaty and savory, and perfectly complimented by the barely underseasoned puree.  There was plenty of butter throughout the dish to bring it all together.  While the beet carpiccio was my favorite dish of the night, I would definitely order the mushroom stew for my main next time.  

So you can have great French food at a Mexiy all-inclusive.   They also had some more traditional French dishes such as duck and filets with complex bourginon sauces.   We are here for six more nights so we may have to come back.