Ms. Glaze's Pommes d'Amour

Spring!

It's Springtime! And what better time to book a table at the Restaurant Spring in Paris?

marinated mackerel garnished with, zucchini blossom and orange sauce

I'm sure you've heard of this chic bistro because the American Chef, Daniel Rose, has been featured in just about every foodie magazine including Gourmet.

What really makes his restaurant special (besides the fact that he's an American Chef in Paris) is that he cooks right in front of you, just for you.

He goes every morning to the farmer's market and picks out only the freshest ingredients and then plans a three course meal only for the people that have reserved for the evening. So you know that everything is top quality and truly seasonal.

No use showing up at the door unannounced. Because first of all, there probably won't be a table available. And secondly he only prepares food for the customers that have called. So book your table at least a month in advance.

velvety rich pumpkin soup with pan seared foie gras

And what a beautiful and creative meal it is! Chef Rose brings his American know-how to French cuisine with style. Check out his blog for menu updates, recipes, private cooking classes, and even live TV footage from the kitchen.

Lamb prepared three ways with rich jus and spinach to garnish

Unfortunately for me, I don't get the opportunity to eat at his restaurant often because when he's cooking I'm cooking too. That's the breaks for cooks in Paris – we all have the same days off. But, I did get the opportunity to meet him and taste his food this last Fall. I only wish I got around to posting my experience earlier.

How can you not love a restaurant that sends you home with breakfast for the next morning?

Restaurant Spring
28 rue de la Tour d'Auverge 75009
Reservations +33 (0)1 45 96 05 72

Technorati Tags: bistros, paris, Paris restaurants, restaurant Spring

Pho 67 in Paris

If I tell you about this restaurant then you must promise me you won't go. Seriously. There's just not enough room for you and me both unless we go together – the restaurant is too tiny! They only have sixteen seats and so far I haven't had to make a reservation or wait long for a table. But, if that changes, and I can't get my pho when I need it, then there's going to be some trouble in Seine City!

I'm a pho addict. And when I need my fix I normally trek out to the 13th arrondisement for a big bowl of steamy beef broth filled with thick rice noodles, beef slices, onions, spicy basil, and cilantro. Since the weather has turned cold, I'm finding my cravings for this Vietnamese speciality have increased.

Now that I've moved from the stuffy 17th to jazzy St. Michel I have discovered a whole new world. Right across from me (and all the raucous Greek Latin Quarter restaurants) is a quiet hidden street that has several Vietnamese restaurants and markets brimming with Asian produce and products. Apparently this was one of the original areas that the Vietnamese immigrated to in Paris! Who knew?

Pho 67 is a Mom & Son establishment from what I've sussed out. The mom is the chef and the son takes care of the service with grace and professionalism. Sometimes you have to wait a little for your soup or main dish because she cuts and chops everything to order. But it's worth the wait. And everything is super fresh!

I discovered this restaurant on a rainy Paris afternoon with my friend Carol from the beautiful blog Paris Breakfasts. And we just sat over our big bowls of steamy pho inhaling and slurping up the intoxicating mix of herbs, spices, noodles, and rich beef broth wishing the conversation and the meal would never end.

Pho 67
59, Rue Galande
75005 Paris, France
+33 1 43 25 56 69

Technorati Tags: Paris restaurants, pho, soup, vietnamese food

Paris Picks: Restaurants & Bistros

I receive tons of emails requesting good restaurants in Paris. And it's no surprise because there are a lot of mediocre eateries here! Here's a short list of my favorites. If you've got one please add it along with the contact info. All restaurants listed below require a reservation!

3 Michelin Star French Cuisine:
Guy Savoy: Traditional French cuisine transformed into contemporary elegance. Ask for the 100 euro lunch tasting menu if looking for a fine dining experience without breaking the bank. Guy Savoy is favored by international stars, French politicians, business men, and chic clientele that desire a private secluded atmosphere without all the fussy gold glitz. Service is impeccable, professional, and friendly. Besides, Monsieur Guy Savoy is an international film star now, having played one of the characters in Pixar's Ratatouille! Do you know which part?
8, rue Troyon, 75008, tel: +33 (0)1 43 80 40 61

Le Meurice A newcomer into the 3-star arena. The très sexe chef Yannick uses traditional and modern cooking techniques to elevate French traditional cuisine to new heights. Set within the beautiful and historic Hotel Meurice, the decor is reminiscent of a more opulent and decadent era. Great service and beautiful sensual food plated with a nod to Japanese presentation. Reserve a table through their website.

Hélène Darroze (two Michelin stars) One of the only female owned restaurants in Paris to receive Michelin rated accolades. Her food is feminine, imaginative, and sensitive drawing upon her native roots in Landes. A very special experience without the self-concious Parisian elite attitude to muck it up. Check it out ASAP before she receives her third star and the prices go higher!
4, rue d’Assas, 75006, Tel: +33 (0)1 45 72 07 14

Bistros:
L'Ami Jean: Basque food in a fun pro-rugby atmosphere. I think it's some of the best food in Paris. If there's one restaurant you must go to, it's this one. For more info click the link, I wrote a post on it a few years back. I always take friends here when visiting in town.
27, rue Malar, 75007 +33 (0)1 47 05 86 89

Le Comptoir: located right off Metro Odeon in the ever-trendy St. Germain area, this resto serves up traditional bistro food offering one tasty menu a night. If you don't believe me, then click the link to read Chez Pim's write-up! Great people watching too! (photo by Moveable Feast)
9, carrefour de l'Odéon, 75006 Tel: +33 (0)1 44 22 07 97

Le Severo: This restaurant is for carnivores and wine lovers. There is much debate over whether this is really a steak-frites bistro or a wine bar with excellent food. Both Patricia Wells and David Lebovitz have given it their blessings so you know it's good. I've linked to Chef Lebovitz's detailed review. Worth the trek to the 14th! (photo by New York Times click link to read their article too!)
8, rue des Plantes, 75014, tel: +33 (0)1 45 40 40 91

Spring: If you can get a reservation at this tiny restaurant (only 16 seats) owned by American Chef Daniel Rose, then take it! He changes the menu daily and serves what he's found to be the freshest. Chef Daniel worked at Le Meurice (mentioned above) before opening his own place. I've linked to his blog here so you can get an up close and personal account.
28 rue de la Tour d'Auvergne, 75009, tel: +33 (0)1 45 96 05 72

Le Soufflé: Totally kitsch, but so much fun and they do have the best soufflé's in Paris at a very reasonable price. It's a fun way to end a vacation in Paris. Ignore the flourescent lighting and the well worn white tableclothes and just enjoy. The servers have been working there probably for half a century and they speak English very well. Seriously, I love this place – it's good fun food in a tourist-friendly environment. Click on the link to read my old blog post and see some pics.
36, rue du Mont-Thabor, 75001, Tel: +33 (0)1 42 60 27 19

Chez Janou: Tucked away in the Marais, this hidden bistro serves classic provençal fare. Their menu boasts seasonal dishes and desserts. They also have one of the largest collections of Pastis, the traditional French anise flavored aperitif. Don’t skip dessert, you’re in for a treat especially if you order the chocolate mousse.
2, Rue Roger-Verlomme 75003 Tel: 01 42 72 28 41

Technorati Tags: 3-star restaurants, best restaurans in Paris, bistros, Guy Savoy, L'Ami Jean, Le Soufflé, Les Bouquinistes, Paris restaurants, Spring, tag, top

Best Basque Cuisine: L'Ami Jean

L'Ami Jean is my top pick in Paris right now. It is so so so so SO good! This restaurant is solid with seasonal delicious Basque food at affordable prices. Choose one of their succulent meat dishes for two (could easily serve four) or a perfectly prepared fish entrée or let one of the waiters choose your menu so you can get an idea of the region. The atmosphere in the restaurant is fun and inviting, but they are very serious when it comes to cooking. Bring your appetite...

The restaurant was orginally opened in 1931 by a Basque nationalist. One would never guess from the strings of garlic, peppers, legs of hanging jambon, Basque rugby player photos, pelote memorabilia, and Basque berets displayed on the wood paneled walls. I wrongfully assumed that Basque food was heavy and was so impressed after my first meal that I've been bringing friends and family back since. (Thanks Carrie & Sylvie for dragging me out that night long ago!). This is a fun restaurant and it is always packed so a reservation is necessaire.

C’était vachement bon!!!!

L’Ami Jean
27 rue Malar, 7th arrondissement
Tel. 01 47 05 86 89
Closed Sunday, Monday

Technorati Tags: Food, Paris, Paris restaurants, Basque

Got Mole? Parisian Mexican Food

I have found two outstanding Mexican restaurants that satisty my desire for enchilades covered in red sauce, mole slow cooked with unsweetened chocolate, and firey soup garnished with shrimp and avocado. Not to mention margaritas– there's nothing like a margarita to transform a smokey cafe into a tropical paradise. Okay, maybe that's going a bit too far but, you get the point.

Strangely enough, Paris has tons of Tex-Mex chains that are surprisingly popular. One such place is called Indiana and they serve huge portions even by American standards. My husband and I checked it out during one of those gotta-have-Mexican-food days. My enchilades tasted the same as his burrito. We were kinda like, "hmmmm, this is odd..." but we gobbled it down anyway just for the novelty of it. We felt sick later.

However if you've been living in Paris craving Mexican food then you MUST check out Anuhuacalli. It is owned by a really sweet couple who passionately cook authentic Mexican food. I inhaled my enchilades verdes before I could even snap a photo (sorry) and my amigo opted for a salmon and papaya dish that was equally tempting. The margaritas were the real deal with top shelf tequila. The restaurant is small and moderately decorated with objects and art from Monterey, Mexico. Make a reservation (they speak English, French, and Spanish) and go....

Number two on my list is A La Mexicaine. It's a festive place for a party with live mariachi music and beautiful decor and good authentic food. Their prefix meal is a great deal and includes a margarita. However, my group all had hangovers the next day and we were NOT boozing it (really, I promise). I'm always wary of pre-blended drinks. I ordered the tri color enchilades with an entrée of ceviche and I think between the six of us we ate through half their supply of salsa fresca.

See...three very happy customers :-)

Anuhuacalli
30 rue des Bernadins, 5th (01.43.26.10.20)
metro Maubert-Mutualité

A La Mexicaine
68 rue Quincampoix, 3rd (o1.48.87.99.34)
metro Rambuteau or Les Halles

Technorati Tags: Food, Paris restaurants, Mexican

Le Soufflé

If you only have a few days in Paris this is one of those restuarants that you MUST check out before leaving. The fun white coated waiters, kitsch decor, and delicious soufflé's constitute a thrilling night out without breaking the bank. It's close to Tuilleries and Metro Concorde so why not complete a day of shopping on the Champs Elysees or trekking through Le Louvre with a 29Euro prefix soufflé meal at Le Soufflé?

As the name suggests the menu is all soufflé's and they are delicious and light (well, seemingly light). We opted for the prefix menu which includes three soufflé's of choice: entrée, main course, and dessert. I ordered the fromage, salmon & sorrel, and the framboise combo. All three were delicious.

My girlfriend ordered for dessert the Grand Marnier soufflé and they brought it to her with the bottle – and then left the bottle for her on the table to help herself! Admittedly we all kinda helped ourselves...Framboise souffé is not so bad with Grand Marnier...who knew?

Le Soufflé
36 rue du Mont-Thabor
1st Arrondissement
Tel: 01.42.60.27.19 (They speak English)
Metro: Concorde

Paris restaurants

Paris in SF?

I came home to San Francisco from Paris craving spicy mexican food, sushi, and Bay Area fusion but, instead I keep ending up at French restuarants. I don't know why this keeps happening!

The other night my husband and I booked a table at a new Japanese restaurant. We parked our car a block away and as we were walking to the restuarant we stumbled upon a hidden bistro called Chez Spencer. The little bistro was so inviting with an outdoor heated patio and tables softly lit by candlelight that we decided to go in...just to look. Needless to say, we gave up our sushi reservations. Dinner was perfect. The service was french & friendly (oh la la!), the menu was traditional french haute cuisine with a Japanese twist, and the wine list featured great world wines (including fabulous french wines by the glass).

Photo by Jee Park at www.jeethang.com

The restaurant's head chef Laurent Katgely, is a French transplant to the Bay Area having lived in San Francisco for fifteen years and his sous chef is Japanese. This duo's magic shows in the attention to detail. I was very happy with my dorade (a rarity in the States) and my husband practically sucked the marrow out of his lamb entree. The Hog Oyster starter was out of this world. I nursed a Premier Cru Chablis (by the glass- how nice) while my husband slurped down a few french cocktails (the blood orange lillet cocktail was delicious).

The next day we were invited to lunch at Chez Papa in Potrero Hill. This bistro serves the classic French fare of moules marinere and steak frites but also adds a small plates selection featuring inseason treats. I ordered their butternutsquash soup with parmesan and truffle oil for a starter and followed with a small plate of baby artichokes wrapped in prociutto and filled with herbed goat cheese. Tasty! We splurged on a warm chocolate cake for dessert.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em...

Chez Spencer: 82 14th Street, SF, 94103 tel: 415. 864. 2191
Chez Papa: www.chezpapsf.com
also check out Chez Mama and Pink owned by the same people