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Heat a small non-stick sauté pan over medium-high heat. Coat the pan with a thin layer of the batter and cook for about a minute or until golden brown, then flip the crepe and cook the other side until done. Repeat until all of the crepe batter has been cooked and set aside crepes until needed.

For the filling, return the sauté pan to medium heat. Melt the butter in the pan and gently warm the crab, fennel and roasted tomatoes. Add the shrimp stock and bring to a boil. Stir in heavy cream and finish with chives.

Spoon a small amount of batter into the center of each crepe. Roll crepes and serve.

For shrimp stock:

1 ounce olive oil

1 pound shrimp shells

1 head fennel, diced

1 carrot, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

2 sprigs tarragon

2 sprigs parsley

1/4 cup tomato paste

1/2 cup brandy

1/2 cup white wine

1/2 gallon cold water

1/3 cup raw basmati rice



Directions:


In a hot saucepot, add oil and shrimp shells. Sauté until all shells have started to lightly brown. Add vegetables and herbs and continue to cook until they brown. Add tomato paste and sauté another five minutes, stirring often.

Deglaze pan with brandy and wine. Reduce alcohol until about 1/4 cup of liquid remains. Add cold water and bring to a simmer. Let cook for 45 minutes, then strain mixture through a fine sieve.

Return liquid to the saucepot, add raw rice and simmer until rice falls apart. Strain again, cool liquid and set aside until needed.

Note: As of Jan. 18, 2011, Carousel Can Can Café was no longer open.

Carousel Can Can Café owner Karim El Sherif has included fanciful Parisian décor in his new CityPlace restaurant. Dancers in traditional cancan costume will be on a stage every night. Meghan McCarthy, The Post

Call it CityPlace à la Francaise.

The popular downtown West Palm Beach dining and shopping complex got a major new addition this past week when Carousel Can Can Café (700 S. Rosemary Ave., Suite 228; 561-833-6001; carouselfl.com) opened its doors. The 8,000-square-foot eatery, which seats up to 300 indoors and outdoors, is the latest venture from restaurateur Karim El Sherif, who was behind the now-closed French bistro Metronome in Palm Beach Gardens.

With Carousel, Sherif is tapping some of the same casual French menu options he offered at Metronome, but he’s considerably upping the fun factor. As its name implies, the elaborately decorated restaurant, which has private dining areas and bars galore, is built around the themes of carousels and cancan entertainment. Dancers in traditional costume will be on a stage in front of the kitchen every night to show off their mastery of the high-kicking art form.

So, is Carousel the French equivalent of the Greek-themed Taverna Opa, the CityPlace restaurant where belly dancers are as much the stars as the grilled fish and lamb shanks?
“You could say that,” responds Sharif.

Carousel Can Can Café is designed around, well, carousels and cancan. Meghan McCarthy, The Post

At the same time, the restaurateur is going for a contemporary “lounge” vibe with a backdrop of recorded music he describes as “a modern version of bossa nova.” He also says he’s paying lots of attention to the menu, which features French classics (coq au vin, steak frites, ratatouille, onion soup) alongside contemporary American and European fare.

Sherif says he’ll put the restaurant’s wood-fired pizzas up against anyone’s. We admit the reasonably priced pies ($12.50 to $14.50), with toppings that include duck confit and truffle oil, do sound intriguing. (The restaurant’s pricing for entrees — $16.50 to $25 — is also relatively modest.)

There’s a fun wine list, too. Instead of categorizing bottles by red or white, Sherif breaks them down as “brunettes” and “blondes.” (And sparkling wines are referred to as “bubbly girls.”) An extensive tapas menu is offered at the bar from 3 to 11 p.m. — for $18, you can have your pick of up to four small plates of everything from lamb sliders to duck spring rolls (individual plates are $4.50 to $6). And cocktail choices include the Marie Antoinette (made with the French liqueur Chambord, $10) and the French Maid (made with blue Curacao, $9.50).

Carousel Can Can Café fits into a larger CityPlace strategy of combining food and entertainment. Taverna Opa was the first example. Still to come: B.B. King’s Blues Club (in the old Legal Sea Foods spot).

Sherif says he’s happy to be aboard at CityPlace. “You can see there’s energy in this place,” he says. But he also hopes to take the Carousel Can Can Café concept national, particularly in locales where high-energy theme dining is very popular (think Vegas).

In the meanwhile, Carousel at CityPlace is already packing them in, especially on the weekends. Sherif is also hosting two preview events, with free food and drinks — one is Wednesday at 5 to 7 and the other is on Aug. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. And, yes, the cancan girls will be on hand for both.

Wining and dining bargain at Boca’s Mizner Park

Heading to Mizner Park (miznerpark. com) anytime soon? You might want to take advantage of a special dining promotion. From now through Oct. 31, select restaurants at the popular Boca Raton destination — Max’s Grille, Truluck’s, ZED451, Pranzo, The Dubliner, Soba Sushi and Villagio — will be selling the Tastemakers at Mizner Park VIP Card for $25.

It entitles patrons to discounts at all those eateries during that time period. Plus, it also serves as admission to a progressive Tastemakers party on Sept. 15 or Sept. 16 (you pick the date you want to attend), where you can enjoy complimentary tastings and cocktails at the same restaurants. A portion of all VIP card sales will benefit the Kids in Distress organization.

A new French bistro is opening this summer at CityPlace, featuring traditional French dishes such as coq au vin, as well as continental favorites.

Carousel Can Can Café’s waitresses will be dressed as French maids, bartenders will wear corsets, and Can Can dancers will feature powdered wigs à la Marie Antoinette. The atmosphere will be Paris 1908.

Local illustrator and former Post employee Pat Crowley designed most of the graphics, and is creating an imaginative sculpture of a Can Can girl on a horse for new 8,000-square-foot restaurant and club, which will open in July on the upper level near City Cellar.

Celebrity DJ Jean Marc is handling music, which will have a European lounge vibe and extend into after-hours, when the restaurant will offer dancing and a late-night menu.