Thought I might ring in the New Year with a series of photos from what was undoubtedly one of the best meals I had in 2010 at Paris' best unknown Italian. Located at the far end of the residential quinzieme , this family run restaurant (for thirty years the ever present matron Anne Piprel has been keeping watch) , patronized almost exclusively by well heeled locals , provides (for a price) a veritable deluge of exceptional home cooked fare that literally covers the entire table and for which you'd be hard pressed to find an equivalent in Italy. Although the dining room might be a bit kitchy, I challenge you to find better, warmer service, and more of a table show any where else in the city. Think: chilled champagne cocktails, crudités, hot toasted bread and Normany butter, the house olive oils, marscapone and gorgonzola, endless platters of salads: lentils, mushrooms, mussels in cream with lime, white beans, marinated peppers, mortadella, coppa, salami, Jambon de Parma, deep fried langoustines, all manner of delicious and varied pastas, followed by a must try, gargantuan caramel ice cream. A warning to penny pinchers and last minute bookers: forget it.
