Mimi’s Cafe Introduces a Newly Imagined Entrée for Fall

It’s not every day your taste buds get whisked away to experience delicious French-inspired food. So when the opportunity presents itself to try a newly imagined entrée, you do what any foodie with a flair for French cuisine would do… Pack up your taste buds and head over to Mimi’s Cafe.

Located in 97 cities around the country, Mimi’s Cafe is a French-American neighborhood-style eatery that captures the vibe of a French country cottage with splashes of New Orleans-inspired decor. Already known for it’s hearty portions of great-tasting, fresh food, Mimi’s recently asked guests to help develop it’s next great entrée to be featured in Mimi’s menus this fall. Ellise Pierce, author of “COWGIRL CHEF” and CowgirlChef.com, took the lead as guest judge in choosing the winning dish of more than 175 finalist submitted recipes.

So, what was the winning dish?

An original recipe for Honey Lavender Pork Chop, as imagined by Michael Watz of Evanston, Illinois. For the winning recipe, Watz and his wife won a trip to France, where the Mimi’s parent company, Groupe Le Duff, is based. (Trying to contain my jealousy.) 🙂

I was invited to sample this new-to-the-menu entrée and I was totally blown away! The succulent center-cut pork chop is lightly glazed with honey, and seasoned with lavender and herbs de Province providing an excellent balance of flavors that serenaded my palate like a Jazz saxophonist. The entrée is perfectly paired with a mixed green salad with green apples, cranberries, goat cheese, toasted walnuts and roasted potato croutons tossed with balsamic dressing. Oh sooo tasty!!!

“This one-of-a-kind dish brings the lavender of the French countryside to America’s beloved grilled thick-cut pork chop,” says Pierce, cookbook author and chef. “We went looking for an original French-inspired, American comfort food recipe to feature at Mimi’s cafes and we found dozens. In the end, the light honey and herb glaze with the smoky grilled pork won us over.”

And, win me over it did! During my Mimi’s experience, hubby and I met with Don, the General Manager at Mimi’s Cafe in Perimeter Place in Atlanta, who gave us an exclusive tour of the restaurant’s eclectic vibe along with several other offerings from their equally diverse menu. First up were two fresh takes on a common cocktail. The Mango Mimosa (Korbel champagne with fresh-squeezed OJ and mango),and the Triple Berry Mimosa (Korbel champagne, fresh-squeezed OJ, strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry) that is by far the best Mimosa I have ever tasted!

We also got some VIP treatment from the very friendly head chef, Nigel who served us two more dishes: the signature Jambalaya and the Simmered Meat Sauce Pasta. Is it proper etiquette to kiss your plate before or after you eat? 😛 To say the entire meal was delicious would be an understatement. We finished our tasting tour de France with a palate pleasing Pumpkin Cheesecake Slab Pie that sang a sweet serenade to my sweet tooth.

I’m so thankful that I was chosen to taste the yummy new Honey Lavender Pork Chop dish among the other fantastic Mimi’s offerings. Now that my tasting tour was complete, all that remains is a trip to fabulous France to seal the deal! 😉 Hey, a girl can dream, right?

Hey, if you want to take your taste buds on a tasting adventure to the French countryside, be sure to stop by Mimi’s Cafe. And while you’re there you’ve got to experience their new Honey Lavender Pork Chop which debuts on menus today! I’m definitely heading back for another bite… Or two, or three… 😉

Mimi’s Cafe is located inside Perimeter Place at 1221 Ashford Crossing in Atlanta, Ga.

I was compensated a tasty meal in exchange for my opinion, but all drooling is my own. 😉