Holiday season is upon us and it’s a wonderful time to be in Paris. For foodies and gourmands, it’s the time to experience excellent dining in Paris.
Read on. We’ve got 3 excellent holiday season dining choices for you.
True, December is chilly in Paris. Although right now, the sun is shining and the sky clear blue.
Hot chestnuts roast ready to eat on Paris streets. Warm wine and hot drinking chocolate, too, cheer the spirits.
Paris is in its festive mood. Boutique windows display chic Christmas offerings. Spectacular Christmas decorations and lighting displays show the streets with sparkles and warm glow.
Take an evening stroll. It’s a Paris must. You’ll soak up the holiday season atmosphere everywhere. Naturally, the Champs Élysées and Avenue Montaigne are the highlight.
And as you meander through the streets and avenues, you’ll build up a great appetite.
Perfect! Time to move indoors where it’s warm … ready for a hearty French meal.
For a taste of Burgundy in Paris, dine at Au Bourguignon du Marais
Winter is a wonderful time for dining in France. And it’s the perfect moment to experience the best of Bourgogne (Burgundy).
For that, you can’t go wrong at Au Bourguignon du Marias. It has championed the culinary patrimony of this famous French region for two decades.
There’s a spacious heated terrace and a warm atmosphere indoors. Polished tables and leather seating makes for comfortable dining.
Au Bourguignon du Marais respects the tradition of the region it represents, Burgundy. The menu offers many traditional dishes that have made Burgundy famous the world over.
Try one of these delicious dishes:
Oeuf meurette, a traditional dish from Burgundian cuisine based on poached eggs and meurette sauce. The sauce is made with red wine cooked with bacon bits, onions, shallots, mushrooms and diverse spices.
Escargots a la Bourguignonne (Burgundy Snails): An absolute must! Fresh Burgundy snails are larger than the petit gris typically found in Provence. They’re plump and meaty, making for a delicious dish, especially for fans of melted garlic butter and parsley. The garlicky sauce in this dish is almost as delicious as the snails themselves. Dig in and scoop it up with crusty bread after you’ve devoured one of the tender, woodsy flavored snails.
Andouillette au chablis: Definitely one of my favorites. This course-grained sausage is made with pork, intestines or chitterlinks, with pepper, wine, onions and seasoning. Perfect for the colder weather.
And, naturally, Au Bourguignon du Marais is the perfect place to regale in the most famous dish of all, a Burgundy Beef (Boeuf bourguignon). This is a wonderful winter dish, prepared in the traditional way. It’s sumptuously stewed slowly and served in a hot casserole dish. Taste the beef braised in red wine (traditionally a Burgundy red) and beef broth. It’s generally flavored with garlic, onions and a bouquet garni with pearl onions. Mushrooms are added towards the end of cooking.
There’s an excellent wine list that’s 100% Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Address: 52, rue François Miron, 75004 Paris
Telephone: +33 (0)1 48 87 15 40
Manager: Philippe Lalot
Chef: Yann Lecourt
Open every day, serving until 23h00 (23h30 on Friday and Saturday)
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Experience Parisian Bistronomy at its best by dining at Le Marloe
Now we have written about Le Marloe before and it deserves a mention time and again.
Le Marloe is a great choice for anyone who wants to discover the best of French bistronomy. It’s a chic bistro with high pedigree with Eric Martin and Thomas Boullault managing it.
Inside, discover its elegant deco style. Warm wood trimmings, soft lighting and thick cushioned seating make for extra comfort.
Chef Jérôme Salmagne features the best seasonal produce in his developed and refined dishes. He’s a Parisian chef in vogue offering fine fusion of tradition, creativity and passion.
Right now you can try Jérôme’s own velvety butternut creme. There’s scallop ministrone in a sauce of crustacians and pesto.
Wild cod in sweat chestnut foam with green chartreuse is a surefire choice.
Or perhaps you’ll opt for the bass fillet with pear and clementines. There’s also a lacquered veal with lemon and vanilla marmalade.
The tender beef with mousseline of celery, carrot and sesame-wasabi is my personal favorite.
They’re all divine dishes.
And for a sweet finish, you can’t do better than Jérôme’s homemade Tarte Tartin. It’s made fresh with golden delicious apples. He first cooks them with butter before caramelizing in the oven. It’s served with a double cream from Made Dubois.
Address: 10 Rue d’Artois, 75008 Paris
Telephone:+33 1 53 76 44 44
Managers: Eric Martin and Thomas Boullault
Chef: Jérôme Salmagne
Closed Saturday and Sunday
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For the carnivore, dine at Le Comptoir Canailles
Also fabulous and yet different in style is Le Comptoir Canailles. It’s interior design and decor will surprise.
The menu will delight with deep colored and masterful creations by chef Nicholas Pando.
Le Comptoir Canailles is for anyone with a penchant for meats. It’s perfect for the confirmed carnivore.
The minute you arrive, you’ll notice the beef aging in the window. There’s a large refrigerated case where Nicholas Pando matures his own meats and poultry.
Le Comptoir Canailles is to try a plate of tender beef, aged for 6 weeks in-house. Also try the charcuterie. Nicholas Pando makes it all himself. There’s a marvelous selection.
Try the terrine de campagne, porchetta de lapin, mousse de foie de volaille, or the fromage de tête. Or better still, try them all!
Also indulge yourself with seasonal dishes like,
- Wild hare à la Royale
- Carpaccio de faux-filet de boeuf in egg yolk and shallot creme
- Foie gras terrine with apple and quince marmalade
- Tartare of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie bream with mushrooms and Piémont hazelnuts and preserved lemon
- Pan-fried Noix de Saint-Jacques (Normandy scallops) with squash and mushrooms
- Faux-filet aged 6 weeks with potatoes, mushrooms and caramelized onions
Le Comptoir Canailles has a good wine list. It’s short, with focus on quality. Many of the wines are organic, including selections from Barge, Foillard, L’Anglore and Milan.
Address: 47, rue Rodier, 75009 Paris
Telephone: +33 (0)1 53 20 95 56
Manager: Marie-Caroline Guillot
Chef: Nicolas Pando
Closed on Sundays and Mondays
On the map:
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