A French food lover? What a better place to explore French restaurants than in one of the top foodie capitals in the U.S. For my birthday this year, we headed to Cafe Jacqueline, an exquisite bistro gem in the heart of the city whose owner is also the chef and has been specializing in soufflees for over 30 years. Sweet and savory souffles are the star of the menu at this longtime French eatery.  There’s not much else on this limited menu that Chef Jacqueline Margulis prepares nightly but soufflees are most definitely her passion. I wouldn’t have known just how small, authentic and old school this place was if I hadn’t made my way to the bathroom, with a whole lot of curiosity in the back of my mind. I walked slowly past the open kitchen and there was Jacqueline herself, giving me a friendly nod as I made my way past.  She whips up her soufflees with such precision and passion, you have to wonder how she continues to do so with such enthusiasm after making the same thing year after year for so long.

I learn that she grew up in a convent in France because her mother died at childbirth and it was there she learned to cook. You’ll find her every night the restaurant is open whipping up egg whites in an oh so French copper bowl with other authentic utensils and bowls around her, including one of those massive old fashioned wooden bowls.  For a moment, I felt as if I had been transported back in time. I wanted to start with the snails – as tres cher as the appetizer was, I had to try them — lots of garlic, I had hoped and they didn’t disappoint. Below, the green flecks aren’t pesto but parsley mixed with butter and garlic and a whole lotta experience and love from inside a French-infused kitchen.

Cafe Jacqueline

Alongside the snails, Anthony had to try the oh so decadent onion soup that was perfectly prepared. It’s hard to get that perfect creamy blend of butter, onions, garlic and cheese and she nails it.

 Then came out the souflees, the gourmet savory ones that is. We opted for prosciutto and mushrooms — they are a combination of perfectly fluffy and decadent. Dishes range from around $35-60 depending on what you order and include fresh ingredients like cilantro, tomato, mushroom (often my favorite), asparagus, broccoli and more. You can also have crab and lobster if you really want a rich blend.  We didn’t try it but the corn with ginger and garlic sounded oh so divine and I noticed our neighbors had ordered it.

She offers 18 savory options, which are meant to be shared, and they start at $35 for single add-ins such as mushroom, spinach, broccoli, asparagus or tomato and cilantro, and go up to $60 for crab and lobster.

There’s a whole lotta wow going on here!

Dessert anyone? We weren’t going to splurge but Anthony insisted given that it was my birthday and while they don’t do the “cake” thing, they did put a candle on my soufflee to make me feel a l’il special for my night out on the town. She offered berry choices but I was drawn to the Grand Marnier and Anthony went with the chocolate, though we were told later on that her lemon soufflee would have had us begging for more.   So unique, so authentic and so pure that despite its limited menu of anything else, it’s an experience not to miss.

The eatery is small and romantic, classic in every way from the lighting to the fixtures on the walls and the tablecloths. Seating only 28 in total, you want to book well in advance just in case. There really isn’t a turn over in an evening as dinner can easily last four hours given the long preparation time and what I’d call a specialty experience.

Renee Blodgett

Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.

She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.

Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.

Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.