Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

How to brunch like the French with lobster croissant and champagne

Chef Geoffrey Lechantoux at Maison Close shares his insights on lobster and frog legs for brunch.

By

Maison Close restaurant dining room.
The dining room of Maison Close. Maison Close

Brunch, that relaxing weekend breakfast of cocktails, omelets, and conversation with friends, is always a great time. But how about brunch with a French twist? Instead of eggs benedict or a spicy shakshuka, why not foie gras or a lobster brunch? We could all use a bit of luxury sometimes.

Recommended Videos

At Maison Close, this New York-based French restaurant certainly thinks so. With a menu that features everything from frog legs to a rich raclette burger to their popular lobster croissant (think Maine lobster stuffed in fresh croissant; it’s New England meets Paris), you can enjoy a taste of France for brunch. We spoke with Chef Geoffrey Lechantoux at Maison Close to get his insights on the food, drinks, and some lobster breakfast ideas.

Related

Brunch with a French twist

side shot of Maison Close burger.
The Burger Maison Close. Beef, raclette cheese, candied onions, chives, homemade mayonnaise. Maison Close

The brunch menu at Maison Close features a laundry list of French classics. From a classic omelet with ham and mushrooms to their popular burger, which features a generous slice of raclette cheese, the food is rich. A prime example is the Escargot à la Bourguignonne, which is served drowned in garlic butter. It’s tasty, but you’ll need the bread that it comes with to cut down the fat.

But for an unconventional brunch choice, Lechantoux recommends a French classic, frog legs. “The origins of our frog legs vary depending on the market, ensuring freshness and quality,” said Lechantoux. “Seared to perfection, they are delicately finished with aromatic tomato and garlic butter, topped off with a splash of zesty lemon juice and a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley.”

For a drink pairing, there’s much to choose from. “Our signature cocktail, Madame Claude, featuring pear vodka, cucumber, ginger, and rose water served over ice, complements the refreshing flavors of our tuna tartare beautifully,” said Lechantoux. “La Chouchout stands as our most sought-after brunch cocktail, resembling a passion fruit mojito with a unique twist. Made with Barbancourt rhum, passion fruit, and chayote, this flavorful concoction offers a delightful and refreshing experience for our guests.”

The lobster croissant

Closeup of croissant lobster
The Croissant au Homard du Maine. Maison Close

In Lechantoux’s opinion, there’s a simple explanation for why the restaurant’s lobster croissant is so popular. “Our Lobster Croissant is a fusion of two culinary worlds,” explains Lechantoux. “We blend the classic Parisian croissant with our own unique twist on an American lobster roll.”

Instead of butter, the lobster is served with tomato marmalade and house-made mayonnaise. The sauce helps cut some of the richness of the croissant, sourced from Le Fournil in the East Village. The flavor is nice and tangy, with a slight tomato sweetness. And if you’re interested in champagne with your lobster, the Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut at Maison Close is an excellent choice.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Hunter Lu
Hunter Lu
Contributor
Hunter Lu is a New York-based food and features writer, editor, and NYU graduate. His fiction has appeared in The Line…
How to marinate steak like a pro: Tips and tricks you need to know
How to get the most flavor by marinating your steak
Marinating raw steak tips in a plastic bag

A great steak isn't something you just stumble upon, and if you've circled the block a few times, you know it all starts long before it hits the grill or pan. Do you want a bold and smoky profile, bright and citrusy, or deeply savory? — regardless, a good marinade turns up both the tenderness and flavor.

But we shouldn't confuse marinating with aimlessly dumping a bunch of ingredients into a bowl or bag. Just soaking your meat isn't going to cut it, which leads to the pressing question of how to marinate steak in the first place. Let's get into the ins and outs of the correct way to bring the most flavor out of your meat.
Why marinate your steak

Read more
How to steam milk: Perfect your technique for rich, creamy coffee drinks
Learn to steam milk like a Barista
steamed milk

As an aspiring barista, I've grown to understand the importance of steamed milk in making all of my favorite drinks. To learn how to make a cappuccino at home, I had to master the art of making steamed milk. Learning how to steam milk at home is difficult, but you'll need to commit to learning if you want to expand the types of coffee drinks you can make at home. Teaching yourself how to steam milk will allow you to experiment with all kinds of elaborate espresso drinks just like you order at the café -- from the cafe au laits to cappuccinos.
Steamed milk vs. frothed milk

As you experiment with how to steam milk, it's key to understand the slight differences between steamed milk and frothed milk. In the world of coffee-making, these two are often confused -- and I completely understand why. To help you know the difference, consider how you'd make a latte. The ratio of espresso to milk in a latte is usually 3:1, with espresso on the bottom, steamed milk on the top, and a light layer of frothed milk on the top.

Read more
How to use a milk frother: Simple tips and tricks to elevate your drinks
Here's how to use a milk frother with ease
Cappuccino

Once you've mastered brewing the perfect coffee at home, the next step in every home Barista's journey is to learn how to use a milk frother. You'll need frothed milk to enjoy specialty-type coffees from your kitchen, such as lattes and cappuccinos. At one point, I was intimated by the concept of frothing my milk, as it can sound more complicated than it is. Learning to use a milk frother is easy enough for coffee lovers of any skill level. Here are two of my favorite ways to froth milk for coffee at home, ideal for those who do not have an espresso maker with a steam wand attachment.
How to use a milk frother: Hand frothing

Using a handheld wand milk frother is one of the easiest methods for frothing milk at home. A handheld milk frother can be used in your mug and is an excellent option for those who don't have an espresso maker at home. Before I had an espresso machine with a steam wand at home, I found the handheld milk frother to be my go-to for frothing milk for coffee. I like this method because it requires minimal skill and clean-up (always a motivating factor when making coffee at home instead of ordering it out at a cafe).

Read more