LE REFUGE COURTESY OF JESSICA.

Jackie and I used our Kris Kringle from Jess last night for my birthday. It was a lovely experience. Le Refuge is on City Island in a historic Victorian house called The Pell House. It was a very genteel and very, very French experience. It was three course dinner, appetizer, entree, and dessert - prix fixe. Sol had: Escargot en feuillete (snails sandwiched between puff pastry with and excellent, dark mushroom and garlic sauce laced with various mushrooms) followed by Duck a l'orange (perfectly done, not sweet at all and garnished with a few Mandarin oranges and followed by Profiteroles (Pate a choux shells filled with ice cream and topped with chocolate syrup). Jackie had: Pea soup (made with fresh peas, pureed and smoothed out with creme fraiche) followed by the Duck a l'orange and also Profiteroles. We started with glasses of champagne to wash down the "ameuse bouche" which they presented upon being seated and the main course was accompanied by an Echezaux (a splendid rendering of a Vosne Romanee, a special favorite of Jackie). A wonderful experience and thank you Jess for your imaginative choice.