Reviews & Articles

Maison Blanche serves uncompromising French cuisine in Longboat Key

By Laura Reiley, Times Food Critic
In Print: Wednesday, December 9, 2009

LONGBOAT KEY

The silverware is heavy and stylish. A customer uses a sleek knife to slice into his tender short ribs. Replacing it on plate's edge, it slides foodward, a dab of sauce besmirching the handle. Across the dining room, a server's brow knits. Within seconds, and wordlessly, a new knife is proffered on a tiny plate; dirty one whisked back to the mother ship.

Maison Blanche really is an alien life-form on the Gulf Coast, which is precisely why chef-owner Jose Martinez chose Longboat Key as the site of his restaurant seven years ago (the previous one of the same name was in Paris for 10 years). It's uncompromisingly haute French cuisine served in a glamorous, white-curtained dining room designed by architect Franck Hammoutene. Servers slide silently across the hardwood floors, popping up tableside to deposit a tiny amuse-bouche of chilled carrot bisque topped with a glimmer of fruity olive oil and miniature shards of buttery crouton. Positioning it just so with a quiet, "S'il vous plait," the server glides off.

This time of year, with house guests visiting and the season's souped-up sociability, Maison Blanche is an exceptional reason to head south and beachward. It's an evening's theater, a reason to dress up and order a bottle of something nice (300 labels, many unusual and with a steep markup). Sink into dark leather club chairs and marvel at the soaring flower arrangement at room's center. Then get to work on the menu, deciding between a la carte or the strictly splurgy prix fixe options. (Mesdames, here's something to get your attention: Only the men get menus with prices. Charmingly retro or infuriating, you be the judge.)

Music can be a jarring stew of classical and French show tunes, but otherwise Maison Blanche is seamlessly serene. Jewel-colored crystals clustered at each table's center refract votives' glow, adding shimmer to the room's flattering lighting. A meal's pacing is perfect, diners neither rushed nor ignored, many needs anticipated before the diner has quite formulated the thought.

Meals begin with individual housemade baguettes, like bonsai versions of the long French loaf, served warm with perfectly spreadable sweet butter. The plates that follow are pretty without being fussy. An asparagus soup ($14) comes as a bowl full of tender tips, the luscious, creamy green liquid poured over it from a small kettle. A tomato tart ($14) brings a gossamer bit of pastry on top of which sweet, warm red grape tomatoes perch, just ready to explode in the mouth, a drizzle of basil oil a lively herbal counterpoint.

The single best deal at Maison Blanche is an entree you don't see often in these parts: suckling pig ($24), its crispy skin like the most delicate of brittles, giving way to a plush layer of fat and the velvety pale meat below. Sumptuous. A roasted ribeye was nearly as good ($39), served rare, as ordered, with a subtle black peppercorn sauce that proved only to showcase the deep flavor of the beef, the accompanying roasted fingerlings simply seasoned and deliciously crunchy.

The amuse-bouche is often a tip-off in a French restaurant that there may be some little free dessert nibbles, a tray of petite truffles or cookies or fruit gelees. Maison Blanche doesn't disappoint (a chewy chocolate caramel cube and diminutive bubblegum-flavored marshmallows — crazy, but tasty). That doesn't, however, mean you shouldn't get dessert. The house apple tart is really the signature sweet, but it must be ordered early because it's baked to order. For an on-the-fly confection, the chocolate lava cake ($12), with its molten, oozing center and counterpoint, a quenelle of tangy yogurt sorbet, were lovely.

A common reaction upon an initial visit to Maison Blanche is, "What is this doing here?!" It seems far too posh and Parisian for these parts. But that was Martinez's idea. Sure, he could have plopped his "white house" down in Miami or New York, but then his culinary vision might not have seemed nearly as remarkable.

 Anonymous writes on 8/15/09:

“The best food I have ever eaten in the United States....and I am a 53 year old American! French perfection without the heavy cream sauces. From the fresh baked bread, celery potato foam topped with caviar, roasted lobster with asparagus tips, duck ravioli, filet mignon with a homemade potato chip bridge to a roasted shallot it was an explosion of flavors, tastes and textures. A New Years Eve epicurean fantasy.”
 

Robert & Susan H. write on 5/3/04:

"We were pleasantly surprised to discover Maison Blanche in the lobby level of Four Winds Resort, occupying the old Ivo's space.The design and color scheme of the new restaurant is upscale and slick. A delightful change from the ordinary.We were greeted warmly, immediately seated, and offered a glass of Champagne.From the first course to the final course, we had nothing but rave reviews, and immediately scheduled another evening later in the week to entertain friends.Every aspect of our evening at Maison Blanche can be summed up with one word: outstanding.The food, the decor, the service . . . simply outstanding."

Anonymous writes on 12/30/02:

"This was one of the best dinner experiences I have ever had. It began with mushroom ravioli that caused us to make a reservation for the next evening. The prawns were an interesting mix of sweet and tart-delicious and the salad was plentiful and very fresh. The selections were varied-meat and fish...over the two nights we were able to taste lots of dishes....all were outstanding. Although there is not a kids menu there was a rack of lamb and and prime rib...mashed potatoes etc....not really a kids restaurant but we did fine. The service was outstanding and not pretentious, we had lots of questions about the menu and all were accurately answered...desert had lots of choices although we were probably too full to do it justice... we cant wait to go back. a wonderful dining experience"

Anonymous writes on 9/14/09

"This phenomenal french restaurant, a quick 10 minute ride from Sarasota to beautiful Longboat Key, is a true gem. The food is unsurpassed. Service is exquisite. And the ambience is Parisian. We have been to many high end restaurants in the area and this is truly our favorite. Golden spoon winner. Wonderful wine list. Fantastic chef trained in France. You will love this jewel."