Our annual staff dinner took place at McLean’s newest restaurant Bistro Vivant last week. Every once in a while we get together to just enjoy delicious food and try some wines we would never get to try otherwise. My co-workers and I had expressed to my boss that we had never really had any old Brunello’s or Barolo’s so he decided to take us out to dinner to taste a few…or many.
I was excited he chose this restaurant because the last time I went I only tried some of the appetizers, and I really wanted to get a chance to taste the food there. I had been hearing such great things.
As soon as we arrived we started with a glass of Eric Rodez Ambonnay 1998 Champagne and were served Goat Cheese croquettes and plates of delicious olives.
As we started opening up old bottles of Brunello and Barolo we ordered appetizers and entrees. I chose the scallops for my appetizer and the hanger steak for my entree. I wanted to go with a traditional French bistro type dish.
All of the appetizers looked amazing, and my scallops were delicious. I loved the Provencal style tomato sauce that was served with them.
I had the chance to taste some of my colleagues appetizers, and they were also very good. I was very happy with my choice of the scallops, and as soon as I saw my steak, I knew I had ordered the right thing. It looked incredible and was cooked to a medium rare perfection with a fragrant green sauce drizzled on top.
I loved the flavor of the steak itself, and it was accentuated with the green sauce. It was also a perfect pairing with all of the older Italian wines we were trying. And the fries weren’t too bad either 
So good that we ordered more for the table.
Too stuffed for dessert this time, but definitely a fun night and a delicious dinner!!! Thanks Bistro Vivant-This is exactly the type of restaurant McLean needs!
