Gourmet Guide to Paris
A
Culinary Guide to Paris
It’s
a well-known fact people go to Paris to eat and, unless you are a bit
of a foodie, it can be considered daunting due to the complex rituals
of the markets, the enormous varieties of wine, choosing a restaurant
to dine in, and their almost clandestine and esoteric rules regarding
food. This article is an aid to cracking the Parisian code, a guide
for all types of restaurants and all things food in the city of love.
We start with the top end of culinary dining, the gourmet restaurants
renowned for excellent wines and multi-winner Michelin-star chefs.
Restaurant
le Meurice
This
extravagant restaurant is the crème de la crème of dining out –
their 3 Michelin-star awards speak a thousand words. Chef Yannick
Alléno offers a varied and rich menu, the cuisine audacious and
modern. Restaurant Le Meurice is a gastronomic heaven, exuding
opulence from every corner. Your palate will be delighted
and overwhelmed by Yannick Alléno’s outstanding fare, and all
this surrounded in 17th Century style luxury. Not only designing
amazing menus, Yannick’s new concept of tableware called Ondes
is featured there, his unseen collection of plates. If you take
a tour you’ll also get to see their refrigerated wine cellar at the
champagne bar, which holds the 616 bottles on view. This is more than
a restaurant; it’s a gastronomic tour de force.
Now
for the middle restaurants, the good restaurants that still offer
incredible menus and fine wines, but come at a cheaper price. Most of
these have actually won the odd Michelin-star, so the food is going
to be amazing. The one I’ve selected is a great representation of a
good restaurant in Paris.
Restaurant
Laurent
Some
truly great masters trained Restaurant Laurent’s chef Alain
Pégouret – Christian Constant and Joël Robuchon to name drop. In
2001, he took to the helm of the Restaurant Laurent’s kitchens, and
ever since, he’s incessantly striven for excellence. His menus
follow the changing seasons, providing tantalising tastes that change
30 times throughout the year, something the foodie will really
appreciate. Restaurant Laurent is made up of five stylish salons,
accommodating up to 60 people. These salons are located on the first
floor, some boasting wonderful terraces or balconies. Renowned in
Paris, Restaurant Laurent’s wine cellar holds a staggering 30,000
bottles – if you like a nice vino with your food, this is the
obvious choice.
If
you are looking to spend less, either self-catering or simply don’t
go for the fine-dining restaurants, there are many choices that still
offer a good standard of dining with great good.
L'Ebauchoir
The Quartier
d'Aligre is gaining reputation as one of the trendiest parts of
Paris, and L'Ebauchoir was one of the earliest neo bistros to open
there. There’s a fantastic bargain menu, comprised of a set lunch
in which you'll experience traditional dishes such as roast guinea
fowl, braised pork ribs and crème caramel. In the evening there is
the option of the à la Carte menu, where chef Thomas Dufour shows
off his magic with his gourmet dishes. L'Ebauchoir is a great
all-rounder, perfect for every occasion.
Markets
Most
Parisians avoid from buying produce from their supermarkets; instead
they head for the traditional food markets, most open one or more
days a week in every neighbourhood.
Market produce is often fresher,
a lot more flavourful, and less expensive than buying from a
supermarket. Most of the produce comes from local farms, so it also
benefits the local economy. It’s a colourful and friendly
experience where fruit sellers call out their latest prices, teasing
you to try what he has on offer. Renowned for their wonderful
cheeses, Paris markets allow you to ask an expert opinion on which
cheese is the best compliment to a particular wine you bought, making
hosting a party that much easier. You’ll also quickly learn the
Parisian delicacies, such as Tarte Tatin (caramelised apple tart with
a dollop of cream), Chouquettes (sugared chou pastry balls) and
Boulette d'Avesnes (a red and very strong cheese).
If
you’ve never experienced it before, a Parisian market is the best
way to find out about food and wine, so why not make a day of it and
buy fresh produce and superb wines?
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