Where to go: Vivante French Eatery
Address: Hotel Carmichael, 1 Carmichael Square, Carmel
What to get: Roasted breast of chicken
Price: $24
Anna’s take: Vivante is a beautiful and classy restaurant nestled on the bottom floor of Carmel’s new Hotel Carmichael. It offers French cuisine for lunch and dinner. I started with Brussels sprouts ($12), a hefty portion of halved Brussels sprouts with crispy pork belly, Grand Marnier Honey Redux and Thai chili-infused beurre blanc. Brussels sprouts are in right now, and many restaurants have been trying to figure out ways to make them more appealing than what many of us grew up with. Vivante’s take is sweet with a slight kick from the Thai chilis, and it is delicious. I also tried the roasted beet salad ($12), a colorful rainbow of roasted red and golden beets, arugula, candied walnuts, goat cheese and a truffle vinaigrette. It was light and refreshing. For the main event, I had the roasted breast of chicken, a generous portion of chicken with a Grand Marnier glaze, pommes croquettes (for those of you who don’t speak French, these are essentially mashed potatoes covered in bread crumbs), seasonal vegetables and an herb jus.
Suggested pairings: The Feeling Good ($13), a gin cocktail
