Restaurant News
May 2012 online now!
Dreaming of a fabulous summer vacation drifting quietly along the canals of Burgundy on a delightful barge trip? So were we. Check out our latest issue of La Belle France to read more about this, and:
-Les Enfants Terribles
-Bread & Roses: the perfect shopping break
-Paris’s Ecole Ferrandi cooking school
-The Ritz & the Crillon: renovations coming soon (some have already started)
-The Provinces Museum Calendar Summer 2012 (don’t go to France this summer without our cultural calendar on-hand!)
Login to access the issue at www.labellefrance.com, or subscribe.
Terroir Parisien: Yannick Alléno plants his flag on the Left Bank
Something old and something new. That’s what’s going on – on many levels – at the corner of the rue Saint Victor and the rue Monge in the Latin Quarter.
First of all, it’s architectural. The 1930s Maison de la Mutualité – a site reserved mostly for conferences – has just re-opened with an updated Art Deco decor by Jean-Michel Wilmotte (Guy Savoy; Musée d’Orsay; Paris Mandarin Oriental.)
The other ‘new/old’ duality is All About Food. Yannick Alléno, three-starred chef at the Meurice, took over the Mutualité’s 74-seat dining concession and opened a brand-new (Wilmotte-decorated) bistro on March 2nd.
To read more of this cover article from our April issue of La Belle France, login or subscribe!
March 2012 online now!
Our March issue is online now… and if you’re a print subscriber, it’s in the mail! It features a cover article on Oscar Wilde’s final digs, L’Hôtel, as well as reviews of other favorite Paris hotels: Le San Régis and Le Saint James. In this same article we take a look at the new Paris “W” as well. Cast your vote on this one on our Facebook page. And there’s no time like springtime to take a look at what’s new (and gone) in Michelin.
As for Paris restaurants… L’Hédoniste quickly garnered much press as well as two toques from Gault-Millau. Do we agree? You’ll have to read it to find out.
Rounding out our March issue, we have a complete listing of the Paris Cultural Calendar for Spring 2012. Don’t go to Paris without checking it!
For all this and more, every month, make sure you are a current subscriber to La Belle France!
Valentine’s at Le Meurice
What’s three-star Yannick Alléno got on the Valentine menu in the glamourous Dali salon at Le Meurice? A “mosaïque” of scallops and lobster, filets de rouget barbet with confit tomatos and black truffles, a delicate “Froment du Léon” veal blanquette and a sabayon au vin de paille, garniture maraîchère plus a mandarin vacherin from the Pyrénées for dessert. 210€/person. Reservations and information: www.lemeurice.com
Cross the Rhine at the Plaza!
Get a side-trip to Bavaria via metro on March 15, 16, and 17 when German-born Werner Küchler, director of the Relais Plaza, hosts home-town chef Walter Leufen for a menu that includes Geräuchentes Forellenfilet von Tegernsee, mit Gurken in Meerrettichcreme (Tegernsee Lake smoked trout with cucumber/horse-radish cream), Schweinshaxe mit Bierjus und Speckwirsing (pork knuckle cooked in beer with cabbage and bacon) or apple streudl with vanilla sauce. The wait-staff will wear dirndls and lederhosen (but you don’t) and live bavarian folk music is promised as well. www.plaza-athenee-paris.com — Corinne LaBalme
DIM-SUM… DELUXE!
DIM-SUM… DELUXE! The Shang Palace — the Cantonese-ish Chinese Restaurant in Paris’s brand-new and super-elegant Shangri-La Hotel — opened its decorative laquered doors on September 8th. In a stylish Mandarin dining room with hand-carved green onyx columns, thrill to culinary specialties like fragrant, herb-laced conch soup (‘Buddha jumping over the wall’) and ‘Lion’s head’ pork… accompanied by a Château Latour or super-exotic Mou-Tai rice brandy. www.shangri-la.com or shangpalace.slpr@shangri-la.com Corinne LaBalme
Les Etoiles de Mougins
Chef d’Oeuvre ou Oeuvre de Chef…? That’s the theme of this year’s “Etoiles de Mougins,” a yearly food festival that attracts over 25,000 visitors to this quiet Riviera town. From September 16 to 18, Guest of Honor Eric Frechon presides over indoor-and-outdoor cooking classes, tastings, demonstrations, and street food galore. Signature chefs from around the world make Mougins ‘the’ place to rub shoulders with international Michelin stars for 48 hours. Frédéric Anton, Thierry Marx and Yves Camdeborde are coming from Paris… and there are even a few US chefs (like David Kinch from Manresa in Los Gatos, Ca). For all the details: www.lesetoilesdemougins.com Corinne LaBalme
It’s “Mohito-Ville” at Le Meurice
Wastin’ Away in “Mohito-Ville” at Le Meurice! From September 12th to 25th, three-star chef Yannick Alléno welcomes Brazilian cooking sensation Samantha Aquim to his kitchens at Le Meurice for fusion-feasts that will feature Franco-Carioca delicacies like brick de banane et brie, salade mesclun, vinaigrette à la mélasse de canne et noix du Brésil. (You’ll also find Rio-style tapas and high-octane caïpirinha cocktails in the bar.) Reservations: 01.44 58 10 44. Corinne LaBalme
Summer Sale at Au Gourmand
Not quite a free lunch, but there’s 20% off on mid-day meals on weekdays through August 31st at this stylish bistro near the Garnier Opéra. Places are limited so make sure to mention the special promotion “20% sur toute l’addition au déjeuner” when making reservations. www.augourmand.fr Corinne LaBalme
Opera Restaurant
Garnier au gratin… It’s almost here! The long-awaited, long-delayed restaurant in Paris’s Opéra Garnier makes its debut on June 27th. Chef Christophe Aribert, who won two stars at Les Terrasses in Uriage-les-Bains near Grenoble, will be in charge of the kitchen. Corinne LaBalme
Dom Perignon ’02 … on tap!
Dom Perignon ’02 on tap? Well, almost… On May 12, Barman Mikael Rodriguez at Le Dokhan’s Champagne Bar in Paris is presenting 2002 Dom Perignon by the glass! A rare treat that he’ll continue to pour all year long. Find out what nights you can combine the vintage bubbles with live jazz at www.radissonblu.com/dokhanhotel-paristrocadero. Corinne LaBalme
Bargain in Bordeaux
A Bargain in Bordeaux! Celebrate the summer weather with the new “5.5″ weekday lunch at Michel Portos’s two-starred Le Saint James in the outskirts of Bordeaux. The 45€ prix fixe includes three courses, mineral water, a 1/2 bottle of wine, coffee and mignardises. For more details, check: www.saintjames-bouliac.com Corinne LaBalme
Marc de Passorio: Tops in Provence
A revelation on our recent trip to the south of France: Chef Marc de Passorio who has revved up both the gastronomic restaurant (1 star) and the gourmet bistro at the Vallon de Valrugues in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. A must in the Bouches-du-Rhône. More details in our May issue. Corinne LaBalme
Bocuse honored as “Chef of the Century”
The Culinary Institute of America held it’s fifth annual leadership awards in NYC and gave top honors to Lyonnais chef Paul Bocuse. The master was lauded as having spearheaded the nouvelle cuisine movement and turning chefs from “slaves” to “owners.” Bocuse is known not only for his culinary prowess, but for his business and marketing acumen. His vast empire begins outside of Lyon at his three-star L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges, and extends to numerous bistros, brasseries, and restaurants. He is also the founder of the prestigious Bocuse d’Or international culinary competition.
Also honored at the event, CIA alumni Michael Chiarello and Jerome Bocuse (Paul’s son), and Daniel Boulud won chef of the year.
Ashley Williams
Les Crayères: Pastry Chef of the Year in Reims!
The 21-year-old Arthur Fèvre at Les Crayères was crowned “Champion de France du Dessert 2011″ last week by the Centre d’Etudes et de Documentation du Sucre. Fèvre, the youngest winner in the contest’s 37-year history, swept the professional category with his “Caramel et Citron en Fines Vagues Croustillantes”. Want to try it? Contact: www.lescrayeres.com Corinne LaBalme