Maison Pucha Bistro Experience

Houston’s vibrant food scene is growing by leaps and bounds. Our city’s diverse population not only allows us to taste the authentic dishes of far away lands, but also affords us the unique opportunity of fusing these various cuisines into something dynamic and new.

Maison Pucha Bistro is a Houston gem that does exactly that. Chef Manuel Pucha not only perfectly delivers an authentic French bistro experience, he also manages to inject into a few choice dishes, a healthy dose of his Ecuadorian heritage. If the name sounds familiar, readers may remember him as the head chef of La Table Château, so we know his French culinary techniques are on point. Now with his own family run restaurant, he is able to deliver French food his way.

Let’s start backwards with dessert, because if you’re going to judge a French themed restaurant on anything, it has to be the soufflé. As fortune would have it, LCAHouston recently spent a month in Lyon, the heart of gastronomy in France and the world. We’ve come to know soufflés, and this was definitely a perfect soufflé. Honestly it was better than anything we had in France. There was also a wonderful creme brûlée and selection of chocolates, both handmade and a great finish for the evening.

Now back to the beginning. Dinner started with a serving of shrimp ceviche with a touch of the Chef’s Ecuadorian flair in the way of spice. This dish was not watered down. It had a wonderful kick that did not overpower the main elements of the plate and was very well balanced. The accompanying beet and goat cheese salad was very refreshing and cooled down the palate after the ceviche.

The next dish was a surprising seared foie gras. We rarely have foie gras warmed above room temp. The sear reminded us of a seared ahi tuna where contrast of cooked and raw are a prefect foil to one another. We highly recommend this.

Finally, the main course of applewood smoked duck a l’orange arrived. This was an excellently prepared dish and there was no hint of the gaminess that is often associated with duck. It was very clean and the sauce was exquisite. The duck was served with vegetables and a butternut squash purée. We did spy Coq au Vin on the regular menu, so we will definitely need to come back for a taste.

The restaurant has been opened for over a year, but was still packed though it was in the middle of the week. A good sign given the tumultuous Houston restaurant scene. With the weather finally cooling off, the outdoor seating area will be a wonderful way to enjoy an evening in the Heights. For those looking to entertain a party, there is a private dining area stocked with wines and some of the Chef’s own personal art work. We were not surprised. It’s hard to keep the talent of someone like Chef Pucha confined to the kitchen! Maison Pucha Bistro is a welcomed addition to our diverse city!

Inputs by Sandeep Khandelwal