the Murano's Valentine's day menu swindle Too little is not enough ...

I usually do not like posting nasty restaurant revues in this blog, but too much is enough...

I took my girlfriend yesterday evening (Valentine's day) to the Murano 30 bd du temple. It's a place I've been 2 years ago when they opened and my recollection of the diner was rather good. Yesterday was anoter story.

First of all, the reservation desk forces you to give your credit card numbers over the web (or the phone if you're clever enough not to send your card details in an email), and your email to confirm the reservation. Then, for Valentine's day, they offer a fixed menu set @ 130€ per head which is not exactly my idea of cheap, but the place is trendy and I wanted to show my only love some attention.

Here comes the painful bit. The Murano restaurant is part of the hotel Murano Urban Resort, a new international stop over. Dedicated to a 21st century art de vivre, this hotel "resort" subtly mixes luxury with relaxation, classicism with modernity. the design is realy good if you like white and the staff was very nice...

Too bad the menu was a HUGE disapointment. A modern appetizer made of sugar frosted rose's petal with a Foie gras lollypop (not 100% real foie gras if you ask me) then after waiting for 15 minutes the entree: on the menu it stated "poached oysterS with ginger beads" I emphatized the final S to OysterS as we only received 2 oysters (one for each of us) not really tasty but way too little in our stomach anyway. both tables around our had very nice couples going through the same disappointement... After waiting another 20 minutes the scallops ( 2 scallops in 1 shell for each of us - a real feast) another wait for a glass of vodka with rasperry jelly as a "trou normand" which wasn't really necessary considerig the amount of food we had since then. Another 20 minutes to receive our main course (the couple on our right waited over 45 minutes for the same course) consisting of 2 "ping-pong" size balls of Quail and Lamb (very nicely cooked) and a dash of some vegetable I wasn't able to recognize (when I say dash it means a little finger long streak of veggies in the middle of your plate). To conclude this gargantuesk feast of food the "love apple" which was nearly the most enjoyable and consisitent piece of the all evening accompanied by a glass of champagne.

To make a long story short, Avoid the Murano restaurant or have a drink at the bar to enjoy some nice design and stare at some trendy parisians. Stay away from the restaurant unless you're on a serious diet (the only very consistent piece was the bill = 494€ for 2 incuding wine (Very nice Chassagne Montrachet 2005)

There are plenty of grat place in Paris and this one isn't really worth a visit.

Likafo Cantonese "best kept secret" restaurant in Paris

This adress I'm about to disclose is one of my secret adresses in Paris. It took me a while to share it with you guys but let me tell you why it was worth the wait...

I live in the 13th borough of Paris, known as the Paris' chinatown, for about 15 years and it took me nearly the very same 15 years to discover a genuine cantonese restaurant. I'm not talking about the chinese tourist outlet (usually a vietnamese one) you'll find every 10 meters on avenue d'Ivry or de Choisy. I'm talking about the real thing...

A traditionnal chinese cuisine restaurant that doesn't cost an arm and deliver on its promises. Do not expect to find a trendy sophisticated spot though... it doesn't look a tenth good as it taste but I've been there twice since and every time, diner was pretty damn good. A friend of a friend told me about this brilliant Cantonese restaurant and he was right. He told me his parents (chinese living in Beijin) said this place was OK which was a fantastic compliment considering the fact that they believe every chinese restaurant in Paris were crap!

The cooks know what they are doing in the kitchen, and the food is dished out on aged melamine plate, served on paper-covered tables- no brushed plastic Ikea chairs, chandeliers or quirky flatware or gasp, the little stand for chopsticks, this joint strenuously avoids all unnecessary frills. And still manages to pack in the crowds. This is as good as it gets if one hankers for anything resembling decent Chinese food in Paris.


They do staples like noodles, tofu and roasted meats well but what made me really happy was to see claypot dishes on their menu. Dishes like the claypot rice with minced pork patty and salted fish not to mention the house tripes are awesome.
This dish requires a 15 minute wait, which is a good thing because it means they cook the dish from scratch like it should be made. Add some chilli oil and you got yourselves a homely comfort dish, good to the last grain of charred salty rice.

Likafo
39, avenue de Choisy
75013 Paris
Phone : 01 45 84 20 45

the Best Paris Twelfth Night cake to celebrate the Epiphany on January 6th, 2008

Here is our TOP 10 best Twelfth Night cake adresses for 2008 :

Régis Colin' Twelfth Night cake is the big winner of the almond pancake : decors, cooking, flaky pastry, creaming, every aspect of the cake has been discussed and voted upon by a professional jury...



Régis Colin
53 rue Montmartre
75002 Paris
Tel : 01 42 36 02 80
Open : everyday from 08am to 08pm
Price : 18 € for 6 people - from January 2nd

Arnaud Delmontel created a "thousand and one nights" cake full of oriental flavours : almond cream with an orange flower flavour, honey crumbled pistachio. You'll also find there 4 Twelfth Night cakes made with AOC Charente Poitou butter, the classic frangipane, the greedy chocolate, the acid lemon cake and the salt flowered caramel one. Available from January 2nd.

Arnaud Delmontel
www.arnaud-delmontel.com
39 rue des Martyrs
75009 Paris
and
57 rue Damrémont
75018 Paris
Tel : 01 48 78 29 33 / 01 42 64 59 63
Open: 07am to 08:30pm but Tuesdays
Price : 4,80 € per personne

Pierre Hermé - This year the pastry chef star offers a choice of 3 Twelfth Night cakes : "Carrément chocolat" (flaky pastry, bitter chocolate ganache, crusty chocolate), "aux amandes" (flaky pastry, Almond cream) and of course the famous "Ispahan", with its oriental flavours. this rose flavoured macaroon biscuit, stuffed with rose flavoured almond cream, litchis and rasp, should make a big buzz !

Pierre Hermé
www.pierreherme.com
72 rue Bonaparte
75006 Paris
Tel : 01 43 54 47 77
Open : Monday to Sunday from 10am to 07pm, Saturday until 07:30pm
Price : "Ispahan" 3/4 persons 32 €, 6/8 persons 52 €, 10/12 persons 68 €

Macha tea Twelfth Night cake by Sadaharu Aoki
The most parisian of all Japanese pastry chef designed a cake mixing the french and japanese flavours : a flaky tea flavoured pastry, an Almond cream on an Azuki red bean paste, the all thing splashed with black sesame seeds.

Sadaharu Aoki
www.sadaharuaoki.com
35 rue de Vaugirard
75006 Paris
Tel : 01 45 35 36 80
Open : Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 07pm & Sundays from 10am to 06pm
Price : 4 pers 21.50 €, 6 pers 32.00 €, 8 pers 42.50 €

Spiced at Ladurée
This year, Ladurée Twelfth Night cake is a Gingerbread cake. For the amateurs, Ladurée offers a choice of very original charms : musical instrument miniatures - cithare, violin ou tambourin -, in very nice boxsets.


Ladurée
www.laduree.com
21 rue Bonaparte
75006 Paris
Tel : 01 44 07 64 87
Open: 08:30am to 07:30pm
Price : 4,90 € a slice

Simplicity & tradition at Paul
“pure butter” flaky pastry, frangipane with generous almonds : Paul's Twelfth Night cake is simple and tasty !





Paul
www.paul.fr
25 avenue de l'Opéra
75001 Paris
Tel : 01 42 60 78 22
Open : from 07:30am to 08pm from Monday to Saturday, 10am to 08pm on Sundays
Price : 10 € for 4/6 persons

Pistaccio flavoured cake at Gérard Mulot
The St Germain's famous pastry chef has created a frangipane na Pistaccio cream Twelfth Night cake. Its name ? "Melchior", like one of the 3 wise men.
You can also chose his Apple & Chocolate Twelfth Night cake but you'll have to order it first.

Gérard Mulot
www.gerard-mulot.com
76, rue de Seine
75006 Paris
Tel : 01 43 26 85 77
Price : 5 € per person

New flavours at Eric Kayser
A new triple flavour Twelfth Night cake, as an hommage to the Three wise men : Honey roasted apricots, Almond cream and 4 spices. A " special" very flavoured under a pure butter flaky pastry.


Eric Kayser
www.maison-kayser.com
14 rue Monge 75005 Paris
Tel : 01 44 07 17 81
Ouvert : de 8h à 20h15 sauf le lundi
Price : 21,50 € for 6 persons

Epiphanie 2008, "Lenôtre Jubilee Twelfth Night cake"
Last and not Least Lenôtre and its pastry Chef, Guy Krenzer, imagined to celebrate the Lenotre 50 years anniversary a solar and very original Twelfth Night cake.
Smashing codes and conventions, he designed the first solar shaped cake to ply the Sun king with jubilation !
Elegant, astonishing, the Jubilee cake has to be tasted like a ritual.
Lets start with the heart divine - mix of melting perfumed apples, Aix en Provence' Almond Calisson with a touch of Orange crystallized fruit to pinnacle with a stunning passion fruit exotism.

Jubilee Twelfth Night cake
6/8 pers.
Price : 45 €

The 2008 charms - « Passion », « Pleasure », « Love», « Delice » - as many emotion and sharing messages to celebrate 50 years of high greed.
The Jubilee Boxset
Hat box, surpise box ? a "Sparkling" set decorated with golden bubbles with the Jubilee 5 charms.
Price : 35 €

Lenôtre
http://www.lenotre.fr
Le Café Lenôtre Odyssey
110 avenue de France
75013 Paris
Tel 01 44 97 01 39

Restaurants with a view for the New Year

The closest to the stars - Le Ciel de Paris
http://www.cieldeparis.com
33, ave du Maine Tour Montparnasse
75015 Paris XVème
Téléphone : 01 40 64 77 64

Located at the 56th floor of the Montparnasse Tower, the restaurant Le Ciel de Paris offers one of the most beautiful views of the capital. From the Eiffel Tower to the Invalides, via La Défense, you can see all the major sights of Paris, while sitting at your table. For New year's Eve, an orchestra will accompany the dinner before carrying on for the rest of the dancing night. Menu is € 295 with drinks (champagne Jacquart "Brut de nominée", Saint-Julien Connétable de Talbot et champagne Jacquart "Brut rosé").

View on the roofs of Paris - La maison Blanche (the white house)
http://www.maison-blanche.fr
15, ave Montaigne
75008 Paris VIIIème
Téléphone : 01 47 23 55 99

Located above the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, avenue Montaigne, the White House (la maison blanche) is overlooking the rooftops of Paris and offers a magical view. Between romance, glamour and cuisine, the restaurant offers an elegant evening punctuated by an orchestra with a Brazilian singer, musicians and dancers to celebrate the new year. As a bonus, you'll be able to admire the fireworks show shot by the City of Paris. Menu is € 250 per person (excluding drinks).

With a view on the Eiffel Tower and the Seine - Les ombres (The shadows)
http://www.lesombres-restaurant.com
220, rue de l’Université
75007 Paris VIIème
Téléphone : 01 47 53 68 00

This restaurant has a panoramic view over the whole city as it is located on the 5th floor of the Quai Branly Museum. It's enough to say that dinner, overlooking the Eiffel Tower and the Seine is unforgettable. For Eve, December 31st, the restaurant offers a special evening in a warm and Soul Jazz ambiance with the Pierre Sibille Quartet. The Chef Arno Busquet has designed a gourmet menu with wines and champagnes selected by sommelier Christophe Journé. Evening is € 298 including drinks.

Sushi Gourmet Japanese restaurant of the week by Martin ROULLEAUX DUGAGE

Right across the France's Radio house, a very small sushi bar with only room for 20 people to the max. But come in the evening and you'll notice a queue to get in, and in the queue almost everyone speaks japanese.... why ? Probably because here you'll find the best sushis of Paris.(it's only Martin P.O.V. - editor's note.), anyway compared to the other sushi places of the neighbourood it is the very best... and by the way it's also one of the cheapest one !

Sushi Gourmet
1, rue de l'Assomption
75016 Paris

Tel: 01 45 27 09 02
Tuesay to Saturday
Noon – 02:30pm
07pm – 10pm

Le Petit Marguery ! the traditionnal French gourmet cuisine restaurant (75013)

Some believe this restaurant is hidding withing a time free zone in the heart of the Paris 13th borrough. It is so «like it used to be» it's frightening... But there is a mistery indeed as evrything changes (Chef, management) , but... Nothing changes (decor, cuisine, audience, service)! .

Years ago, the Cousin brothers were distillating the cream of the cream of the french traditionnal cuisine to the big mouth gourmets of Paris. Whatever happened in the history of French cuisine, their menu would remain "ultra traditional" full of calories and tastefull recipes. decade after decade, the Cousin and their successors kept their battleship at the edge of the french traditionnal gourmet cuisine. Lately a new team took over and tidied the place up, putted an extra shine on the 1900's decor but thanks god for that didn't change the fundamental of the house.... the only news is that there is no news and all is good ! The very same terrines de faisan, foie gras on toast, cassolettes of snails, gras-double, ris de veau, rognons à la graine de moutarde, gravy with all the disihes, strong on cream, butter and more gravy, you'll need Burt Lancaster's jaws to get through it served by some Inspecteur Clouseau like waiters ;-) You're still reading ? great... there is more to come, like game on season, and will you dare for the soufflé Grand Marnier ? It is a monument indeed.

LE PETIT MARGUERY
9, bd de Port-Royal
75013 Paris
Tél. : 01 43 31 58 59. Tlj. sf. dim. et lun.
Métro : Les Gobelins.

30 & 36 € set menu. 23 et 26 € lunch Menus

The good spot: table n°25. Serviced by «Môssieur» Yannick !

Le J'Go Premières Tranches is open 3 rue Clément in the Saint Germain marketplace.

A restaurant worth a try in the borrough of Saint Germain.
Second J' Go in Paris (France third... nearly a restaurant chain ;-) but this time on the left bank, in an aisle of the Saint-Germain market. A good Southwest volubility, Full black Bigorre pork, bottles with temperament and appetites ready for deathblow. The service is very friendly with its provincial tone (not this is not an insult). On the menu: Black Bigorre ham, pastifret, Foie Gras ... And the wines of Greater South West ... [FYI J go is a bad pun for Gigot and a french version of "I'm going there" (j'y go)]

Bill: 25-40 €
Pâté lou pastifret: marked taste as well as textured.
Hearts goose sautéed with garlic mashed pumpkin: musketeer.
Grilled Black Pudding: comfortable.
Cabecou: perfect.

J'GO SAINT
www.lejgo.com/
14 Rue Lobineau
75006 Paris
Tel. : 01 43 26 19 02
Open Daily
Metro: Saint-Germain-des-Pres

Il Vino In vino veritas!

"Il Vino" is the latest creation of Enrico Bernardo, the 2004 best "sommelier" (wine waiter) of the world. The restaurant is the pinnacle of a quest pursued by a man whom devoted his entire life to the perfect wine-meal harmony. True link between men and their cultures, this restaurant offers, in the middle of the 7th Borrough of Paris, 700+ wine references all from outstanding wineyards. The best vintage wines, selected by... Enrico Bernardo.

This short pitch for "Il Vino" doesn't really give it justice... the restaurant offers a really innovative concept well worth a visit.

The concept: The wine waiter gives you the card, surprise... there's only wine on it!! about 15 references from France to Italy, from Spain to Austria. The wine waiter delivers his pitch... " You pick the glass of wine you like, we (Il Vino) will bring you the meal that goes along best" surprising indeed but really exciting too ! Prices ranges between a Cos d'Estournel (80 € with the meal and 50 € for the following glass) and a Crozes Hermitage d'Alain Graillot (20 € with the meal and 10 € for the following glass),

If you are not in a gambling mood, the waiter will detail the meal associated to your choice of wine. And if there is anything you do not like, no worries, the chef will always comes up with an alternative.
3 "set" menus are available for lunch : "En vitesse" (High speed) at 50 € (starter, main course, desert with a glass of wine for every step), "A l'aveugle" (Blind test) at 75 € (starter, main course, desert with a glass of wine for every meal blind-served in black glasses) and "Grands terroirs de France" (Major French tang of the soil) at 1 000 € (tasting of 5 vintage, Yquem, Pétrus...). For diner the 50 €, 100 € and 1 000 € set menus are also available. As the menu changes nearly every week, you can share the experience over and over again ;-)

The restaurant setting is very cosy with its manly design, black carpet, burgundy seatting, grey table sets... but no one will complain. The team led by Enrico is only made of wine waiters trained by the maestro himself...

In your plate, you'll find a delicious "mediterranean" inspired cuisine... simple but well made and technically irreprochable! the man behind it all is David Barilone. A name to remember!
60 € pour the high speed set menu including half a bottle of still water and a coffe isn't really cheap but not bad for the neighbourhood... and for 2 "à la carte" courses and 2 glass of wine you'll get away with a 40€ tag each which is rather a bargain!

Il Vino
Enrico Bernardo
13, boulevard de la Tour Maubourg 75016 Paris
Reservation : 01 44 11 72 00

Budget : 30-60€
Services : Valet parking outstanding wine card
Nd of seats : 40
Hours: everyday from Noon to Midnight
Chef : Davide Barilone

Chic Halloween ! at the club de l'Etoile on Wednesday 31 octobre 2007

The very chic club de l'Etoile dedicate a whole evening and night to Halloween. Teh restaurant will welcome you from 08:00pm and you'll be able to enjoy an fantastic sightseeing of the Arc de Triomphe while tasting a Halloween menu designed for the occasion. The second half of the evening will take place downstairs where a scary ambiance is waiting for you from 11:00pm.
Make-up artist will be at your disposal to bring out your halloween-self and you'll soon be able to storm the dance floor together with some creatures of the night...

Club de l'Etoile
letoileparis.com
12 rue de Presbourg
75016 Paris

Metro: Charles de Gaulle-Etoile
Tel : 01 45 00 78 70
Prices : 60 € special menu, Drink from 10€ at the club.
Info : valet parking available

Black Wednesday, Halloween surprise diner @ Dans le Noir...

Dans le Noir ?... A unique human and sensory experience with a dinner in a pitch dark… this year again , the restaurant is celebrating Halloween with its "dark wednesday" surprise diner!
You've heard of it, but Halloween maybe be the trigger to a all new sensory world... In a pitch black restaurant, let your emotion run wild on this very sepcial night... A magic drink will be offered to all costumed guest, blind waiters and waitresses will let you guess the surprise menu designed for halloween: will you taste the witch fingers or dare to try the spider broth?
Animations and contest will give the night its beat... A gift will be given away for the best costume of the night. What about the scariest shout of the night contest?

Sensory experience
Dans le Noir? allows you to completely re-evaluate the notion of taste.
Without sight, other senses are offered a new sensation and emotions.
Darkness leads to truthfulness about taste, kills preconceptions and let you face the realities of ingredients and cuisine. Our chef elaborates a refined and sensorial cuisine with fresh ingredients to help our senses to enjoy the “truth” taste of food.
True conviviality
Dining in the total darkness represents a very unusual social experience. How many times have you ever had the chance to talk to people without any preconception that sight implies?
At Dans le Noir? there is no more pressure of other people’s visual judgment. You talk more freely and spontaneously. The absence of vision changes completely the way you act and react, both emotionally and socially. That’s why Dans le Noir? is far more than just a restaurant: it offers a social and convivial experience. Dans le Noir ? raises some questions such as the role of sight in the way we relate to others.
Empathy
In the dark room, you are guided and served by our blind staff.
A magic switch between sighted and blind people happens. For once, blind people actually become your eyes.
This reversal of roles implies a transfer of trust from the sighted person to the blind guide because without him we are just lost. Who actually feels the most Dans le Noir??
The experience is emotionally strong and this empathy really encourages mutual trust and respect.

Restaurant/Bar/Lounge
Dans le Noir
www.danslenoir.com
51 rue Quincampoix
75004 PARIS
Tel : 01 42 77 98 04

How much? : 2 special menus at 33 € & 41 €
Schedule: 07:45pm (diner last 4 hours)

Metro : Rambuteau, Etienne Marcel
Information : reservations àresa@danslenoir.com
No table access more than 30 min. after reservation schedule.

Halloween chilling ! @ the Frog & Princess on Wednesday, October 31st

Year after year, the Frog & Princess pub organize a Halloween special night for its patrons. Limited edition cocktails, blank and orange setting, cheerfull ambiance, costume playing recommended, free entrance… All the ingredients for a night to remember. You can also wander around the "rue princess", this street is not short on bars and friendly pubs, after a ride come back to the frog &princess and have more fun.
Frog & Princess
www.frogpubs.com
9 rue Princesse
75006 Paris

Tel : 01 40 51 77 38
Free entrance
from 05:30pm to 02:00am
Metro : Saint-Germain des Pres, Mabillon

Viva Afaria ! the holiday returm surprise

Paris, XVth borrough, the average as usual Paris, a street like every other street, another façade, not worse, not any better, a door you push, a table waiting for you and this special moment when the first dish sits in front of you... looks like an ordinary black pudding with a mustard crust. Sincerely, reading the menu you'd expect nothing more, nothing less but, suddenly your plate experience a big bang, a strike of lightning, a boomerang. You feared for something heavy? it's light, you expected a starter? it's a dessert! This apple black pudding is better than re-invented! it's one of the best dish of the season, an angel passing by, already an emotion, soon a great memory. Later? some other dishes, some other pleasures, a charming setting by trying so hard to please you, An exctatic audience, et the revelation of this stunning young couple. The best table of the holiday returm.

This paper is freely translated from a chronic by Emmanuel Rubin in the Figaroscope.
C'est nouveau

AFARIA
15, rue Desnouettes, 75015 Paris
Tél. : 01 48 56 15 36
Everyday but Sunday and Monday (lunch)
Metro : Convention