Malibu Dining

Beau Rivage

The Irresistible Romance of a Mediterranean Evening in Malibu

Since you will be set back by around $150, let me start by giving you a few reasons to give the Beau Rivage on the Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu a miss. This luxurious culinary experience is neither for children, nor for large and boisterous groups of vacationers. Forget about what you have heard about the informality of California, for jeans and sandals are most inappropriate for this literally beautiful shore, which is what the restaurant name means. The setting is just right for that special person in your life, and 3 is definitely one too many for the intimacy of this paradise!

Timing is everything. Rushing to the Beau Rivage could deny you the enveloping pleasures of strolling through the verdant surroundings, and the heart-warming allure of Mediterranean architecture at the feet of the Pacific. However, nothing can match the charm of soft lights while the horizon changes hues and then fades away in to the night. You simply must make every effort to be settled at your table with an ocean view, precisely at dusk.

The menu is a delectable exposition of the stylish ways of Southern Europe. My only regret is that it is not written in French, Italian, or even Spanish! It seems such a shame to order vintage wine, fresh seafood pasta, and venison, to say nothing of a sinful dessert, in plebian English! The Beau Rivage will truly cast a spell on you, transporting you from reality, across the continent and the Atlantic, to the warm, blue waters that separate Europe from Africa.

Starting your meal will leave you in a quandary, for while Kalamata olives, goat cheese, and pine nuts beckon from the array of salads, the lobster bisque with cheese straws is not easy to ignore either. Entice your partner to settle for the organic salad mix with smoked duck, vinegar, and olive oil, for it will stand both of you in good stead as the night stretches on to eternity!

Oysters in season, lean beef, tuna from Hawaii, and salmon, are some cold appetizers to consider, while the Portobello mushrooms are a satiating vegetarian choice for the early part of a meal. Remember not to book tickets for any early evening shows, for dinner at the Beau Rivage is not to be rushed. I have overheard diners rushing in to the pasta, which is really a crying shame.

This is not to denigrate the alimentary pastes of Europe in any way, for even the common Gnocchi al Pesto will taste intriguing and different at the Beau Rivage. However, I must confess a weakness for the Risotto Parmigiana, with onions, butter and Parmesan cheese, having any number of other occasions to indulge in various kinds of noodles. The Beau Rivage management claims that their painstaking collection of ingredients from all over the world has something to do with the incredible flavors and plates they present, but I suspect that there must be more to it than just special oils and herbs!

Your culinary adventure takes you in to even deeper waters as you approach the entrees. Swordfish, duckling, Limousin Beef, boar, and antelope, await your pleasure. The restaurant loses no opportunity to tell you that their lamb is from New Zealand, but that does not go down well with my desire for a purely Mediterranean experience! I have planned to try pheasant and boar on future visits though!
 
I am not a dessert person, and have always felt an urge to be alone with my partner after the entrée stage of a Beau Rivage dinner, but I am told that the Zuppa Inglese, served on special occasions, is worth tarrying at your table for awhile: ah well, perhaps when we are older!

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