Category: French

L’Arpege, Paris : June 2016

Other meals : March 2016 I returned to Arpege for another lunch in early June 2016 during the week of the Euros launch. If you remember this was also the week of the floods and this sure did affect the output of Passard’s farms. So…

L’Astrance, Paris

I gave it exactly 2 months and rang the moment the lines opened at 9am (over here). Table for 3, 1st Thursday of June, the year 2016. It is a tiny, tiny restaurant, 25 covers and nothing of the incredulous luxury of stereotypical three star…

Neige d’été, Paris

If you are romantic like me, then you also will appreciate the poetic nature of this restaurant’s being and start by asking what is Summer Snow? It could be unfinished haiku, but pay attention to the restaurant’s signage, not unlike Astrance, and you will see…

Six Portland Road

So it seems that the two original makers of Terroirs have stepped out on their own. Ed Wilson branched off to fully own Brawn outright and independently, so I can only assume that it leaves the Terroirs Group (itself backed by Narioo’s Caves de Pyrene)…

Piquet

The last time I savoured the most decorous pithevier in London was at Bistrot de Luxe. Slicing down the middle of the pie revealed a hot foie gras centre positioned in the bosom of juicily pink red-leg partridge. It gave me the biggest of hugs…

L’Arpège, Paris

I did wonder what words I could add to the millions already provided in better prose by better minds across the web. However such is the dream of eating Alain Passard cuisine that perhaps a couple thousand more wouldn’t hurt in this milestone year. The…

Frenchie Covent Garden

Happy Chinese New Year! This year I would like to wish you 猴年大吉, 招财进宝, 和气生财, 恭喜发财. — The Frenchie has arrived in London, or more precisely, the Frenchie is back in London. He spent nearly a decade of his formative chef years cooking at The…

The Ninth

March 2016 Update: I have visited The Ninth another 4 times, and this is quickly becoming one of my favourite restaurants this year. The cooking is assured, and the menu is well-priced, especially during lunch. Some more pictures over on my instagram -> Flamed mackerel,…

Brasserie Chavot (RELOCATING in 2016)

[UPDATE : Immediately after uploading this, Ed told me this is closing down on 31st December. So visit before then!] I love the bombastic opulence about this restaurant. From the beautiful mosaic tiled floors, burgundy banquettes, swing music, fake chandeliers, antique-effect mirrors and dressed up…

Le Chabanais (CLOSED)

10.30pm. Out from Goncourt station to Le Chateaubriand, the coolest bistro in Paris. The mysterious appeal of the quintessential modern bistro. It has those lived-in, well-maintained features from before Inaki’s time like those mosaic tiled floors, wood panels, yellowing white walls taking on a patina…

Tartufo

I remember meeting Alexis in person for the first time at his eponymous Gauthier, brimming with optimism and energy, his love for his profession and his name above the door really coming to fore. I love the cooking, I think deserves to be at the…