a little bite of everything

A meal around a glass of wine

 
Here's the concept: choose your wine and the chef will create a meal around it. I ordered a glass of somptuous Chateau Pape Clement - Pessac Leognan 1995 and the chef surprised me with this delicate roast lamb shoulder. Needless to say, the pairing was absolutely sensational. The best world sommelier 2004’s concept works! Il Vino is a great place to go to for a special occasion, like, say, when you want to treat someone (a wine-lover!) who’s made your life really, really easier when you least expected it.

Il Vino by Enrico Bernardo

Paris, France

A pumpkin soup

 
La Regalade is one of the last places in Paris where you can get the good old stuff, the French food of Ratatouille movie, a selection of dishes so unpretentious, so out of fashion –and in an environment untouched by time. Since the appointment of the brilliant, (not-so-) new Chef, it has not lost  its magic, despite its well-deserved popularity among locals and tourists. The pumpkin soup, should you choose it, is exquisite. It speaks volumes that my Florentine gourmet friends, who know a great deal about good food and whose restaurants have nothing to envy Paris for, still mention it everytime we meet!

La Regalade

Paris, France

A raspberry tart

What about this lovely raspberry tart? You’re probably thinking those raspberries are encircling some sweet cream and that that dollop hides another layer of raspberry and crème all within a sweet tarte shell. Wrong. It’s actually a raspberry and red pepper tarte with parmesan cheese crème in a sweet sesame seed sablé shell. This is not a cruel joke. This is one of Pierre Herme’s genial creations. The raspberries themselves are pretty tasty. The red pepper was barely discernable. Not that I invite anyone to put red pepper into my desserts, but if you must, then I’d like to have it be slightly more pronounced. The parmesan cheese crème was… surprising. I didn’t find it salty at all, and there was not a strong flavor present either. Despite what you might be thinking, this bizarre association of aromas and textures was actually very, very pleasant.

 

Pierre Herme

72 rue Bonaparte

Paris, France

A plate of antipasti da Calabria

All the ingredients composing this plate come from Alfredo’s hometown except the pecorino al peppe that comes from Parma, specifies Alfredo. He produces his own extra-virgin olive oil, while the cheeses and prosciutto are produced by his cousins in Calabria and the lot is transported to France by his brother. When all is said and done, food experience is a matter of people, geography and reminiscence. All you need to know is: “Who cooked?” and “Where do the products come from?”. And most probably the meal will remind you of something you have already tasted and enjoyed. This plate reminded me of Italy. An outrageously beautiful country, full of warm people and fantastic food. In one unexpectedly wonderful moment, I had the impression I was back there. Magic!

 

La bettola d’Alfredo

77, rue des Morillons

Paris, France

A Brazilian & Lebanese brunch

This is an unsual place, owned by an unsual couple, full of unusual people. First, the place. The restaurant is decorated with style: an imposing bar, neo-baroque chairs, colourful walls and adjacent tables. It's famous for its wild ambience on soccer games nights, as much as for its hype Saturday night parties. Now the couple. Lydie from France and Edouard from Lebanon met in Brazil and combined their respective cooking talent and people skills to open the only restaurant in Paris that dares to offer a double menu (Brazilian dishes on one side and Lebanese on the other side of the menu). Finally chances are, you're going to be seated next to Brazilian journalists, artists, film makers or French models and actors. All of them are friends or relatives of the couple. Even on your first visit, you'll be treated as a friend. Then you'll go back again and you'll surely become a fan, and a friend. On top of that, the magnificent all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch (including orange juice and mint tea) only costs 24 euros.

L’Area

10 rue des Tournelles

Paris, France

A tamago sushi

Paris is very neighborhoody, so you have your favorite little places on your patch. As a matter of fact, I tend to go shopping and dining in my district exclusively: I’d go to l’Enoteca for fabulous wines, Mariage Frères for fine tea, Aux Delices de Manon for their delicious pain au chocolat, Verger Saint Paul for their incredible choice of quality hand-picked fruits –and friendliness. However, I do take a 24  minute-subway trip for those incredible tamago sushis (sweet egg omelette). You know why? Because they're so... true. The simple decor, the authentic menu, the lovely Japanese staff, the perfect shape, taste and consistence of the nighiri sushi make me feel as if I were back to a noisy eatery in a small street close to Ueno station in Tokyo, where I used to live. Toritcho is the place where I go when I’m in Paris and I get lonely and I want to have real sushis prepared in the traditional way by Japanese sushi masters. And I love their counter too, where the watching of sushimen’ hands preparing sushis is a delight.

 

Toritcho

47, rue du Montparnasse

75014 Paris

tel +33 1 43 21 29 97