I know, I know, after all the food that you had to end 2012 and ring in the new year, the last thing you probably want to think about right now is food, but in this new year, there are a number of chefs doing fabulous things that you really need to check out with Chef Jacques Carlino's Lyford Cay opening of Blue Caviar Le Restaurant leading the way. Actually, Blue Caviar Le Restaurant has been open for a little over four months, but it took me an awfully long time to get there -- but boy, when I did get there, I realized how much I'd been missing.

And especially considering his Blue Caviar Le Bistro location at Blake Road was one of those places that was a regular lunch haunt for me. I had the opportunity to dine at Le Restaurant recently with my husband, David, and was kicking myself at the fabulousness of it all, starting with just the ambiance. The restaurant is small -- it seats only 40, but it's a romantic setting that you definitely want to dine in with your significant other.

The restaurant is designed in an eclectic style of classic French and modern European with high vaulted ceilings and exposed wooden beams. If you can't get a table, it's okay to sidle up to the bar or the bar lounge as there is space available to seat six in each area. Seated at a cozy table for two, I opted for the tartar of ahi yellow fin tuna with avocado and citrus vinaigrette to start, followed by the breast of duck with a tarte fine of pears, beetroot puree and Madeira sauce and one of my favorite desserts to finish - crème brulee with sable.

My husband opted for the French onion soup with cheese and croutons, cherry tomato, fresh goat cheese, arugula and lemon olive oil salad and the veal chop with creamed potato and mushroom sauce. He finished with the pavlova with berries for dessert. Suffice it to say, it was one of the most delicious meals I'd had in a long time, and one I'm looking to replicate real soon because there are a few other menu items that I would like to stick my fork into -- the escargots bourguignon (snails in garlic butter) which I love, the steamed asparagus with prosciutto crudo and poached egg (simply because a poached egg on top of a dish just elevates it to levels most people don't even know about), the roast fillet of salmon with asparagus new potato and hollandaise sauce (because salmon is one of my favorite fish), and the filet of cod with cauliflower puree, shitake mushroom and demi-glace (another one of my favorite fish), among other menu items.

The menu at Le Restaurant reflects the chef's philosophy that food should taste as good as it looks. And believe you me, it certainly does. For people wanting to try a little more of Chef Carlino's offerings at one meal, he also offers up tasting menus. You can indulge in an eight-course tasting offered at $95 per person which includes an amuse bouche; handmade wild mushroom and chicken tortellini with truffle foam; tuna tartar; the cod; tenderloin of beef with pomme pont neuf (Parisian fried potatoes) and peppercorn sauce; pre-dessert and a chocolate trio.

For those wanting chef recommended wine pairings with their meal, the cost is $135 per person. Just remember, to enjoy the tasting menu, everyone at the table has to order tastings. As an added bonus, at Le Restaurant, Chef Carlino serves breakfast and lunch as well as dinner. At Blue Caviar Le Restaurant the prices for dinner range from $12-$18 for starters; main dishes are priced from $25-$42. Blue Caviar Le Restaurant is open Mondays 8 a.m. to 5 pm. and Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant is located across from St. Paul's Church in the Harbour Green Plaza just outside of Lyford Cay.

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