Last week I was invited to have dinner at Pinot Provence in Costa Mesa. It’s an awarding winning French restaurant near South Coast Plaza owned by the Patina Group.
I was super excited about this because there are not a lot of French restaurants near me so I never eat French food (besides French fries). And it was nice to get dressed up for dinner! I felt all fancy-like.
And this wasn’t just any French meal – the chef put together a tasting menu in honor of the 100th Tour de France! 
First course was Tomato Gazpacho, Dungeness Crab Beignet, Heirloom Tomato, Basil Pistou ~ Chateau de St. Martin Rose 2012
I loved this rose – very light and perfect for summer. 
I went on a Wednesday night so it was pretty quite. 
The second course was my favorite non-dessert course – scallops! I also loved the plate and presentation of this one.
Seared Scallops, Parsley Gremolata, Basil Scented Jus ~ Domain Cherrier et Fils Sancerre 2011
Third course – I’m not a big red wine girl, but this was delicious. I think this means I’m buying the wrong reds.
Roasted Duck Breast, Celery Root Purée, Summer Squash, Duck Liver Jus ~Tablas Creek Vineyard Patelin de Tablas 2011
The grand finale is always the best, right? I had never had a Sauternes before and really enjoyed it. I love Port with some dark chocolate for dessert and this was smooth and just as sweet (without being cloyingly so).
Summer Peach Tartin, Brown Butter Crumble, Lavender Chantilly, Tonka Bean Gelato ~ Chateau Grand-Jurga Sauternes 2007
There was even live music…
Okay, maybe not. Maybe by the end of the night I was a little loosened up and just having fun 
The tasting menu was just for 2 days and is over now. But, that menu is reflective if their entire summer offerings so many of the dishes are available. The chef updates the menu seasonally and it should hold until about September. You can check out the current dinner menu here.
But before you hit up dinner you can work up an appetite at a new exhibit in Buena Park. 
Bodies the Exhibition and Titanic the experience are both opening on August 1st in Buena Park (near Knott’s Berry Farm). I saw the Bodies exhibit a while back in LA and it is AMAZING and super interesting. 
As a runner and trainer I am curious about the body, but don’t get the opportunity to see what’s going on under our skin (guess I shoulda went to medschool instead of getting a state school degree in Blogology). I think anyone with a body should check out Bodies and learn something.
I’m also kinda obsessed with the Titanic so I’ll be checking that out too.
Opening day is August 1st and ticket pricing is below:
Check out the Premier Exhibitions website for more information.
Ticket Giveaway: Premier Exhibitions is giving one RER reader FOUR tickets to the the exhibit!
To Enter: Leave a comment on this post saying which exhibit you’d be more excited to see!
Closes July 31st 8am PST. Open to all, but please only enter if you are able to get to Buena Park. I’ll announce the winner July 31st by noon. Winner can choose the date they want to attend.
Is this a comped post? I wish bloggers would disclose when something is paid or otherwise comped…
No, it’s not a compensated post. I was provided travel for this, but wasn’t required to post about these events – I just wanted to 🙂
I am most excited to see the Bodies Exhibit!!!!!
Thank you for the opportunity : )
I’d love to see the bodies one!!!
I am in physical therapy school so the body fascinates me… i have been to bodys once and titanic twice. i love the history of titanic…. i cant really say what one i like better… but i went to bodies before i started grad school… so now that im half way done i want to go back because i will appreciate more this time
I’d want to see the Bodies Exhibit. I’ve wanted to see it since it was out at the California Science Center a few miles from my house….but I’d totally drive to Buena Park to see it! Everyone I know that has seen it said it was amazing.
I am obsessed with the Titanic too. But I think I’d be more excited for Bodies!
I’d love to see both of them!
I would love to see both of them!! They have always been on my “to-do” list 🙂
I’d like to see the “Bodies” exhibit….I took an anatomy class in college and got to study using cadavers. While I LOVED the class, I didn’t do well on the tests. I would love to learn more of what the body does.
I have been longing to see the Bodies Exhibit!!!!!
I am currently unemployed and do not have the financial means to purchase tickets.
Thank you for the chance & opportunity!! : )
Hey Joyce – you win!!! Please email me with your full name and the day and time (approx) you want to visit with your guests.
Pick me! 😉 I’d love to take the kids to this, sounds very interesting!! 🙂 🙂
Saw the body exhibit 2 months ago in Vienna (Austria) and I was fascinated! A totally “must see” to learn more about our bodies!
Everyone should go there, some would totaly change their “thinking” about how to treat there bodies!
I too love dark chocolate, i go to taste it today!!
I would love to see the Bodies Exhibit. I remember when in was in SD as well at the mall in LaJolla. I didn’t get a chance to see it. I just have to check it out this time in Buena Park. Would make a great date/family night!
Oh, please, please, please! I will (and can) go! 😀
Titanic and I must be the only person who didn’t and hasn’t watched the movie. No kidding! Not that I didn’t want to but the showing times (came out when I was in university) didn’t fit my schedule and by the time it did, it stopped showing at the cinemas. I’ve read about it countless times though.
That body exhibit is incredible! I am such a medical-info junkie and spent way too long at the exhibit.
I would love to see the Titanic one.
I would want to go to the titanic exhibit! I have seen Bodies before and it is really cool!
I would looooove to see the Titanic exhibit! Nerdy fact- My fiance is from Newfoundland- the Titanic sunk of the coast of NL!
My aunt designed that restaurant. Isn’t it beautiful?
I saw the Bodies exhibit 6 or 7 years ago in Amsterdam. Amazing.
Yes! That is awesome!
I’d be interested in seeing bodies- looks really interesting. I’ve seen Titanic but that was maybe 8 years ago so that would be great to see as well!
I’m definitely more inclined to see the Bodies Exhibit!
Totes the bodies exhibit! I’d love to see if they have a detailed view of the ankle so I can try to figure out what the hell is wrong with mine! 😉
I would love to see Bodies! My husband and a couple of friends are out in LA for work for the next 5 weeks. I will be flying in one weekend in August (TBD) to hang out, and it would be awesome to go see the exhibit.
I’ve wanted to go to Bodies for FOREVER – but I like Titanic too. But Bodies definitely has me sold! 🙂
Oooh, I’d love to see both!
Bodies!!!! I’m a bio major too 🙂
Both look great! I’d love to see the Titanic one- so fascinating!
I would love to see the bodies exhibit… We just moved to SoCal and are excited about all the awesome museums here!
Bodies! What a rad exhibit. A day trip from SD would absolutely be worth it!
When I first saw the exhibits, I thought it was one exhibit of bodies from the Titanic. Seemed a bit morbid, but after reading further, I get it!
Too bad I moved out of Cali 2 years ago. This would be awesome. I have heard great things about the Bodies exhibit and who doesn’t love Titanic? Thank you Leo for that one.
I’d love to see the Bodies exhibit. I saw it a few years ago and thought it was fascinating.
I tried that dress on at Target this morning (only $12 on clearance!!) but it was too short for work. Oh well!
Firstly, way to go on sneaking in a nerb in the title. Who doesn’t enjoy a good noun/verb combo for funzies.
Secondly, I live no where near California but hope that this exhibit might make an appearance in Dallas or Fort Worth. It looks pretty wicked!
Nerb! I feel like I’ve never heard that term 🙂
yum, i LOVE scallops – one of my absolute favorite foods 🙂
i’d love to see the titanic exhibit!
I once worked at a French restaurant that cuisine is wonderful. Looks like you had some wonderful selections. It is nice to get dressed up and have dinner served to you now and again.
I wanted to see the bodies exhibit when it was here in the C-bus but never made time to, now I’m sad that I missed it.
I have wanted to see Bodies for YEARS! I was in San Diego last time it was there but somehow missed it. I would definitely make a day trip out to Buena Park for this 😀
I live in SD so I can make a trip to Buena Park to see the Bodies exhibit. I saw it years ago in LA but my hubby’s never seen it and it’s something he would totally be in to! Pick me, pick me 🙂
I am a Titanic fan so I would love to see it!
Definitely Titanic….I’m not sure I could handle “Bodies” just yet. I’m more of a Jack Rose than an “I’m going to throw up!”
I want to see the bodies one & I am sure my hubby would want to see the Titanic one – I am stronger! 🙂
Ahhh, I want to go! I missed the Bodies exhibit when it came to Seattle. I’ll be in Santa Barbara when it opens, so I really hope I win!
How was the celery root puree? I’ve been wanting to try celery root.
It tasted like mashed potatoes, it was amazing.
That’s a tough one. I think I’d find both exhibits fascinating. But probably Bodies. The human body is fascinating.
I’ve been wanting to see the Bodies exhibit for a long time but never actually made it.
I would love to go.
The body exhibit would be super duper interesting! I can def relate with you in the fact of being a runner & so therefore being curious about your body! Also, we just moved to SoCal so this would be awesome!
Welcome to SoCal 🙂
I saw bodies when it was in chicago, it’s wayyyy cool!
I’d love to take my bestie to the Titanic exhibit! I live in San Diego and she lives in West Hollywood, so it would be a great reason to come up and take her!
I’d LOVE to see the Bodies exhibit. I missed it last time it was in San Diego and heard it was neat! 🙁
Wow all of those dishes look amazing but they were each so small, were you full when you left? I’m all about good food but as a runner I often apprecate quantity almost as much as quality!
French foods are typically smaller portions and super rich/creamy.
It’s funny you ask, as I was eating I thought, “I’m going to have a snack when I get home…” But nope – I was full 🙂