paris | Sugared & Spiced

2012/10/312015/08/05

[Paris] Le Dauphin

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Le Dauphin

Add: 131 avenue Parmentier Paris 75011
Tel: 01 55 28 78 88
Hours: [Tues-Fri] 12-2pm, 7-11pm [Sat] 7-11pm
Price: €35~60
Visited on: 2012/10

Want a taste of Inaki Aizpitarte’s cuisine without going through the ordeal of scoring a table at Le Chateaubriand? Head to Le Dauphin, a neighboring wine bar run by the same folks, featuring organic wines and quick bites designed by Aizpitarte himself. The place didn’t look like much when I first arrived (the acclaimed marble and mirror design by Rem Koolhaas and Clement Blanchet appeared cold and bare before the crowd set in), but throughout the evening I was pleasantly surprised by a few of the dishes that flowed through our table.

A glass of Alexandre Bain from Loire Valley (€7), and a glass of Fred Cossard from Burgundy (€12).

Mozzarella fumé (€5), very smoky indeed.

Encornet à la plancha (€9), grilled squid. So simple, so good.

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2012/10/292015/08/05

[Paris] Akrame

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Akrame

Add: 19 rue Lauriston 75016 Paris
Tel: 01 40 67 11 16
Hours: 12~2:30pm, 7~10:30pm (closed on Sunday)
Website: www.akrame.com
Price: [lunch] €35 [dinner] €60~80 [dinner with wine pairing] €90~120
Visited on: 2012/10

Akrame Benallal’s small dining room in the 16th is known to be spontaneous – there’s no menu, guests only have a choice between 3 courses (lunch only, €35), 4 courses (€60/$90 with wine pairing), or 6 courses (€80/€120 with wine pairing). I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant after hearing so many good things from both friends and online reviews, but in the end my personal experience turned out to be less than impressive. The dishes were indeed quite intriguing, but didn’t exactly taste all that delicious.

On another note, I’m also not a fan of the tattooed women on the walls…

Sourdough served with house-made lime tarragon butter.

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2012/10/182015/10/17

[Paris] La Régalade Saint-Honoré

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La Régalade Saint-Honoré

Add: 123 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
Tel: 01 42 21 92 40
Hours: 12~2:30pm, 7~11pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
Price: prix-fixe €35
Visited: Sep 2012

I had high expectations for La Régalade Saint-Honoré. From what I had gathered, chef owner Bruno Doucet’s second establishment in the 1st arrondissement is just as fabulous as his original restaurant in the 14th (which is supposedly excellent, if you haven’t heard). The evening turned out to be pleasant but not especially impressive, though for a prix-fixe of €35, I’d have to agree that dining here is very good value for money.

The meal started on a high note with a complimentary (and huge) serving of terrine. It was difficult to resist the temptation to chow down another slice of baguette laden with this good stuff…

Among the entrées my friends and I ordered, my risotto crémeux à l’encre de seiche, poêlée de calamars façon pibales (basically, squid ink risotto with calamari) was undoubtedly the best. Strong flavors, a melange of textures.

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2012/10/152015/08/05

[Paris] Brasserie Thoumieux

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Brasserie Thoumieux

Add: 79 Rue Saint-Dominique 75007 Paris
Tel: 01 47 05 49 75
Hours: 12pm~12am (open daily)
Website: www.thoumieux.fr
Price: €40~70/person
Visited on: 2012/10

Thoumieux, an old-school brasserie that’s been around since the 20’s, was revived by the joint efforts of Jean-François Piège (who runs a 2 Michelin star restaurant that bears his name, located right upstairs of Thoumieux) and Thierry Costes (part of the group that created a series of chic restaurants including Café Marly and Le Georges). The menu? Classic French – very in sync with its vintage decor of brass, globe lights, and etched mirrors – subtly infused with a bit of Piège creativity. Let’s take a look at the dishes were on our table…

Bonite de Saint-Jean de Luz, marinée, pommes nouvelles fumées au foin, crème acidulée ciboulette, soja (€17) – marinated Saint-Jean de Luz bonito with smoked new potato, chive sour cream, and soy sauce.

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2012/10/152015/08/05

[Paris] Sanukiya

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Sanukiya

Add: 9 Rue d’Argenteuil, 75001 Paris
Tel: 01 42 60 52 61
Hours: 11:30am~10pm (open daily)
Price: €15~20/person
Visited on: 2012/10

They say the best way to judge whether a Japanese restaurant is authentic or not is to check if the staff and the clientele are both Japanese (though I suppose this is true for any cuisine). In the case of Sanukiya, a small udon and rice bowl shop near metro Pyramides, the answer is yes and yes!

On my first visit, I tested the water with a 天ぷらうどん tempura udon (€15). Chewy noodles, light broth, with two pieces of tempura shrimps. Simple, but very comforting.

Here’s a friend’s カツ丼 katsudon (€14), rice topped with fried pork cutlet and eggs. Didn’t steal a bite this time, but it certainly looked very appetizing.

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2012/10/142015/08/05

[Paris] Patrick Roger

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Patrick Roger

Add: 91 rue de Rennes 75006 Paris*
Tel: 01 45 44 66 13
Hours: [Mon-Sat] 10:30am~7:30pm
Website: www.patrickroger.com
Price: single origin chocolates €7/box
Visited on: 2012/10

On my way home from La Maison du Chocolat, a tasse de chocolat in hand and ready to spend the night sipping hot chocolate while wrapped up in blankets, I happened to pass by a boutique by Patrick Roger, one of the top chocolatiers in France. Ah well, a few more blocks of chocolates won’t hurt, will they?

*Various locations available, check website for full listing.

So who is Patrick Roger? A chocolate madman who is especially well-known of transforming chocolates into majestic sculptures, and for his innovative yet refined combinations of flavors and textures. He has earned the title of Un des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (shortened to MOF), a unique award in France according to category of trades in a contest between professionals. Oh yes, It is a big deal.

In his minimalist boutique, chocolates and their variations are displayed in signature green boxes.

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2012/10/142015/08/05

[Paris] Tasse de Chocolat by Maison du Chocolat

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Maison du Chocolat

Add: 19 Rue de Sèvres, 75006 Paris*
Tel: 01 45 44 20 40
Hours: [Mon-Sat] 10am~7:30pm [Sun] 10am~1pm
Website: www.lamaisonduchocolat.com
Price: tasse de chocolat €13
Visited on: 2012/10

On a miserably cold and wet day in Paris, a friend and I trekked through the rain to Maison du Chocolat for some intense chocolate therapy. On days like this, there’s not much better than a cup of freshly boiled hot chocolate in the comfort of one’s bed!

*Various boutiques available, check website for full listing.

The small boutique on Rue de Sèvres displays rows and rows of beautiful chocolates and related desserts, but on this particular day there was only one thing on our mind – la tasse de chocolat.

So here it is, la tasse de chocolat (€13), a tube of dark chocolate pearls that make an intense chocolate drink to be enjoyed hot or cold.

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2012/10/142015/10/17

[Paris] Terroir Parisien

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Terroir Parisien

Add: 20 Rue Saint-Victor 75005 Paris
Tel: 01 44 31 54 54
Hours: 12pm~11pm (everyday)
Website: www.yannick-alleno.com/carnet/terroir-parisien
Price: [lunch] €25~35 [dinner] €35~50
Visited: Oct 2012

Yannick Alleno (of Le Meurice)’s recently opened bistro Terroir Parisien is, as its name suggests, a showcase for traditional Parisian recipes made with local produce. The menu lists many historic dishes, tracing back to the days when Parisians ate from their city’s surroundings. The best part? It’s open 7 days a week with continuous service throughout the day. Come for lunch, afternoon snack, or dinner.

Going along with the locavore theme, Terrior Parisien’s interior design incorporates displays of local produce and a list of their sources.

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2012/10/112015/08/05

[Paris] Auberge Flora

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Auberge Flora

Add: 44 Boulevard Richard-Lenoir 75011 Paris
Tel: 01 47 00 52 77
Hours: lunch & dinner
Website: www.aubergeflora.fr
Price: brunch €28/person
Visited on: 2012/09

For a light-hearted brunch in Paris, try hotel/restaurant Auberge Flora. Its €28 brunch set starts bubbly with a glass of cidre rosé ecusson, followed by entrées in small plates and hearty portions of main courses to share among the table, ending with a few delightful dessert bites. Bright and airy, with friendly service.

Brunch menu, and a glass of cidre rosé ecusson.

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2012/10/092015/08/05

[Paris] Pershing Hall

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Pershing Hall

Add: 49 Rue Pierre Charron 75008 Paris
Tel: 01 58 36 58 00
Price: [standard room] €292 and up
Website: www.pershinghall.com
Visited on: 2012-09

Pershing Hall, just steps from luxury boutiques and trendy clubs in the Champs Elysées /Avenue Montaigne neighborhood, is a 26-room hotel with a chic design and a chic clientele to match. Behind its discreet 18 century townhouse façade is a magificent vertical garden composed of more than 300 plant species from the Philippines, the Himalayas and the Amazon…and the rest all spirals out from there on.

The vertical garden, towering over 30 meters high, is the back wall of a magnificent atrium. Ambience and light change throughout the day.

The bar, located on the 2nd floor, is well-known amongst locals for its hip decor and top notch DJs.

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