Archived Article By Tom Fitzmorris Originally published October 23, 2007 Champagne Dinner Begue’s Inspired by Hitchcock Halloween is just over a week away, and each year more restaurants create special menus around that holiday. Reason: we Baby Boomers, for whom the restaurant business as we know it are created, never completely grew up, and consider Halloween as a major holiday. Begue's, the flagship restaurant at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, begins its special dinner for this season this Thursday, running through the weekend. The theme is the films of Alfred Hitcock. And the wines are being suppluied by Mumm's, the big maker of sparkling wines in Champagne as well as in Champagne. But what caught my attention is the price of this event, which strikes me as a major bargain. It's $50 plus tax and tip. That's around $65--still much lower than I'd expect for a menu like this one. I give it to you along with a number of quotations from the master of film suspense: “A lot of movies are about life.  Mine are about food.” Act One Blackmail Potato Wrapped Black Cod Melon Confit, Arugula Emulsion ~or~ The Birds Duo of Fowl Confit of Quail, Seared Duck Breast, Gingered Mascarpone, Banana Spice Cake ~or~ North by Northwest Smoked Salmon and Boursin Cheese Roulade Garam Masala, Honeycomb, Lemon-Black Pepper Glaze “I have never known birds of different species to flock together. The very concept is unimaginable. Why, if that happened, we wouldn't stand a chance!” Act Two Vertigo Black Currant Granita “Drama is life with the dull bits left out.” Act Three Lifeboat Louisiana Bouillabaisse Gulf Fish, Shrimp, and Oysters Poached in a Saffron-Tomato Fumet ~or~ Rear Window Chargrilled Beef Tenderloin Sweet Potato Puree, Roasted Haricot Verts, Marchand de Vin, Potato Window Garnish “There is nothing quite so good as burial at sea. It is simple, tidy, and not very incriminating” Act Four Suspicion Pumpkin Pie Saffron Ice Cream, Caramel Lady Apple ~or~ Psycho Royal Sonesta Chocolate Cake Raspberry Coulis, Blood Orange Sorbet “For me cinema is not a slice of life but a piece of cake.” Validated free parking in the hotel is available. (Sometimes the garage fills up, in which cas you have to find another spot--but that's not too hard.) Reservations (at the number below) are essential. Begue’s. In the Royal Sonesta Hotel. 300 Bourbon. 553-2278. © 2007 Tom Fitzmorris. All rights reserved. news@nomenu.com