Probably the most romanticised city in the world, with a gastronomic reputation to match, Paris boast more than 70 Michelin-starred restaurants. From bustling dining rooms to hip bistros and brasseries filled with Extremely Beautiful People lining bars and street tables, where does one begin?
Le Train Bleu
One of Paris' most refined and picturesque restaurants happens to be located within one of its busiest train stations, Le Train Bleu, an opulent icon of Parisian dining. Michelin Star winning chef Michel Rostang serves only the finest food such as scallops and perfect ravioli …French cuisine at its most elegant. I ate here about 18 years ago and my lasting memory, which was one I became accustomed to as a tried other Michelin starred eateries, was that the menus for ladies didn’t have prices.
Septime
Meals in this warm yet pared-back Scando-inspired space start with beautiful plant and vegetable focused dishes that change every two weeks. This is fine dining without pomp and circumstance... Grébaut is a master at coaxing out the flavors in every ingredient and playing on texture.
Tannat
Fine French dining training with a real emphasis on seasonality and once neglected root vegetables with whatever protein was freshest that day and wine of equal importance. When ordering by the glass, the sommelier will bring the three bottles they're serving in red or white, tell you about each wine and which is most likely to complement your order.
Carbón
Carbon is dedicated to cooking sustainable ingredients simply over fire. Think beef cheek with potato gnocchi, chanterelles and onions; or scallops with cedar, oysters and mushrooms. Down in the basement, you’ll find speakeasy La Mina, with its intimate smoking room, serving classic cocktails and small plates.
Wild and the Moon
Emma Sawko has successfully combined French living style with veganism from Los Angeles in her this couture flagship on Place du Marché Saint-Honoré. A fashionista favourite for small cakes, freshly squeezed juices, fab salads and gluten-free paninis.
One other eating experience that I never miss in Paris is a plate of tuna tartare and a plate of avocado slices on the terrace of Hotel Costes. If you are not seated beside a Gitanes-smoking local, then the atmosphere and people watching are fabulous. And actually after a few glasses of Champagne the smoke doesn’t seem quite so bothersome.
**Regular readers will know that there are quite a few French eateries here on the F Words – France is an F word of course; and the foodie Frenchies are my spirit animals. Check out my review of Alain Ducasse 2 Michelin star at the Plaza Athenee or the wonderous delights of traditional fayre at the Colombe D’Or in Saint Paul deVence in the FOOD section of the blog…