Thankfully, I was blessed with the good company, dining here with Amo and Simi - my wife was back in the UK visiting her family (again, sheesh!).
The reason I say one needs something to talk about is that Trou Normand is strangely lacking in the usual atmosphere that accompanies a hot, new restaurant. The place has a sparse, underpopulated feel to it. It's a large, high-ceilinged space, with a handful of large tables. There are more tables in another room at the back, and a patio, but you can't see those from the main, front dining room.
No matter though, as the food is spectacular, and not the usual California vegetables on most other menus in the city.
I told Amo - who's vegetarian - that it was particularly brave of him to eat at this distinctly non-vegetarian location. Nevertheless, they made a special meal for him - something pasta-based and devoid of the wonderful meat that Simi and I enjoyed. We had the Pork Pate with Mulberry, a mountain of fresh Ham, and some Risotto balls that Amo ordered but had to hand over when they turned out to contain some meat too! Lovely jubbly. For our entrees Simi had Pork Ragu and I had the Bucatini All'Amatriciana. Both were delicious. In fact, everything was.
I guess this should come as no surprise, seeing as Trou Normand is owned by the same guy that owns Bar Agricole, but still, good job Simi, who booked the place.
