Centre Pompidou
Georges was amazing, if a little touristy. But whatever, we sat at the window with a view of the twinkling Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and Hotel de Ville, in a room that looked vaguely Frank Gehry, with under-lit tables each sporting a ” foot tall rose. What 2 or 3 star can say that? Plus, the service was lovely. I’d rather eat somewhere they were happy to have me than somewhere that tried to keep reminding me I should be happy to just have a table. I hate Disneyland dining, and you know how I feel about designer labels. I kinda see these Michelin-starred places the same way. Just places for haughty Brits and nouveau-riche American Boomers to go to say they went, you know? I need more.
So fuck Alain Ducasse. For under 200 euros we ate our derrieres off, foie gras for two, lobster, cote de veau that was every bit the best cut of baby cow I’ve ever had, and a dish called, “le tigre qui pleure.” My husband ordered it on name alone: the tiger who cries. Filet of bouef sauted in cognac and a sort of St. Jacques sauce…everything perfect. Les boules de chevres, and the strangest not-quite-a-cheesecake that was part mousse and part macaron, all with aperitifs, killer Pouilly-Fumé, café, and digestifs.
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon can suck it. If you wanted to have one tres élégante dinner in Paris, this is the place. Great food and just the right amount of circuses.
October 21st, 2006 at 3:33 pm
Yeah! Glad to hear you guys are having a great time. How could you not order a dish called ‘le tigre qui pleure’.
Just to spread my jealous-ness around a bit, I made ice cream for everyone at work the other day… the star was Egg & Bacon Ice Cream with a Maple swirl!
k
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:15 pm
I will be in Paris in 2 days. I will now be going to Georges! Thanks for the tip.
William
October 25th, 2006 at 9:50 pm
Hi there M,
You may already have your dining dance card all filled out (or maybe you’re back home!) but after honeymooning in Paris last fall, I had two memorable lunches that were easy on the wallet & delicious…
Le Pre Verre
8 rue Thenard, 5e
(Latin Quarter)
A bistro du vin, their set menu is a STEAL & the place is packed elbow-to-elbow for lunch. By no means Pan-Asian, the chef does incorporate some interesting spices into traditional fare. I have no idea how we learned about it (not in Michelin or the likes) but locals love it…
Sardegna a Tavola
1 rue de Cotte,
(Bastille/Nation)
After wandering through the market, I wanted to check out their posted menu & walked away thinking, “do I really want to eat Italian on my last day in Paris?) About a block away, I stopped in my tracks & thought about it…
Ken looked at me & said, “On a scale from 1 to 10, how much are you going to regret not going to this place?” I turned around & headed right back to reread the menu. “10,” I said, & the deal was done.
The place transports you… A large group of blue-eyed Italians were sitting at a table, slurping pasta & giant crustaceans out of a communal wooden bowl. Etheral folk music played on the stereo, & I placed our order in Italian. Was this Paris, or the islands?
Then an Italian film director came in & papparazi pictures were snapped–it was all too much to even believe where outside there was construction on a drab block of Paris.
The flavors were exotic, mint & orange mixed with ricotta, as were the pastas (Ken couldn’t get through his as Sardinian gnocchi look a little like a pile of maggots, but I could!)
The “amuse bouche” was a full basket of deliciousness–spiced olives, polenta squares, savory potatoes, and a full plate of carta de musica drizzled with delicious oil. A meal I will never forget!
AND if you’ve got room in your bags, see if you can find some moutarde piment d’esplette (mustard with Basque peppers…) It makes the most amazing vinaigrette & is divine on sandwiches… I wish I had brought back a case!!!
Sorry, think I just did a whole blog entry here
Bon appetit!
Catherine
March 9th, 2007 at 7:23 am
5good blog is dead blog:-) long live!…
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