Passage 53 - menu degustation

Last night took the occasion to try out the new degustation menu at one of my favourite tables. For those of you who have been living in a cave for the last few months, the Passage 53 is one of Paris' most interesting new restaurants: located in the city's oldest covered passageway, run by Guillaume (whose father-in-law is France's most famous and coveted butcher de luxe, Hugo Desnoyer), and orchestrated by Mr. Sato, former chef of Paris' only Michelin-starred Japanese, Aida. (who also did a stint at the three-star Astrance). The restaurant was boiling inside, so luckily we had a table on the terrace, where we enjoyed nine dishes from the chef's surprise menu, which at 60€ is reasonable and worth the detour.


Broccoli emulsion with crunchy broccoli bits


Veal tartar from Hugo Desnoyer on a bed of Gillardeau oysters


Grilled calamari with cabbage and cauliflower cream


Foie gras with strawberries


Cod with white radish cream


Turbot


Veal filet with noirmoutier potatoes and mushrooms


Rhubarb jelly with rhubarb cubes


Green tea sorbet with red fruit and puffed rice

Ca a bougé au Bourget

Question: What could be more pleasant way to start off a Sunday morning than with the smell of jet fuel in one's nostrils?

Answer: The smell of jet fuel in one's nostrils, in a private loge, invited by the world's top private airline company , at the end of a runway at the Bourget private airport, watching the créme de la créme of the world's aerospace industry take off, the air vibrating with 60,000 pounds of thrust while downing, in rapid succession, six of Dom Ruinart's best champagnes, accompanied by stellar canapés, and surrounded by hot air stewardesses. Then doing it all over again.


Dom Ruinart 1996


Yummy snacks

Me and Roger Clemens (or Rogering Clemens)

This is so cool!. Not only am I Paris' hottest food blogger, but I'm also a skanky stripper doing geriatric ex-ball player Roger Clemens! This should get me that extra blog traffic I need!

Camera Obscura

Total chillout mode. Wearing lightweight "Domino" t-shirt (limited not for sale edition) given to me by the film producer who gave me a bunch of promo stuff because he liked me. Typing this all on my MacBook Pro, next to the open window of my industrial white minimalist cuisine looking out over the oldest covered swimming pool in Paris and a ground level, duplex loft housing a photography studio, which, when in full swing degorges one young Scandinavian/former Eastern bloc model after another, drinking a cold can of 1664 , which could easily be a Kirin, glass of Red Bull/Stoli, artisinal absinthe, or Wattwiller, just popped a diantalvic for dull muscle pain, probably going to listen to songs from DM, David Gahan, The Eels, Motley Crue, Smokey, MGMT, 2livecrew, whatever else comes to mind. Now to writing. Then to sleeping. Then, sweet weekend. Then another week of abandon, perdition, no absolution.

Quentin invited me for brunch. Carpaccio of scallops with pistachio oil, salmon, three ways: tartar, rilletes and 'taxi brousse', then Johann's cheesecake. Pints at Kevin's and hanging with Trish, culinary superdiva. Guinness in a champagne glass!

A few pints at Kevin's. Random visit to Cantine de Quentin ends up mini-party on terrace with a Croatian and Romanian model! Chilled wine, sun, breeze, ciggies, good humored conversation, sweet karma.

Thanks Alison. They contacted me today. Can't wait to see how this turns out. One thing is for sure- I will give a very realistic portrayal of what it is to be me. I think that aprés moi will be the déluge. Meaning media success, future projects,hot chicks and free booze.

Bob's Juice Bar and Kitchen

Nice surprise today at the recently opened BOB'S JUICE BAR AND KITCHEN. Veggie stew with lentils, fennel,potatoes, beetroots, followed by organic banana pancakes, a detox juice, ginger tea and lemon muffins. And being taken care of by Rachel, the most gorgeous foodinista around put a smile on my face.

MILF Brunch Destiny

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Rainy night/ Chez Paul

Nothing like being the only people in that quintissentially old school French bistro Chez Paul at 1am , while the rain falls outside, with people scurrying about, and a nice bottle,fillet of beef with roast potatoes, followed by a tarte tatin and fresh Normandy cream, and lightening and thunder rattling the thin turn of the century windows.

Barbecunomique/ Fooding d'été

Always a good time, Le Fooding's charitable yet uber-cool food events attract an interesting crowd, Paris' most cutting edge chefs, in unique settings, and with a great vibe. Today's event in the Domaine de Saint Cloud, with food stands from chefs such as La Bigarrade's one star Michelin rated Christophe Pelé (tender cut of beef marinated and grilled with mild chili and anchovy), Jadis' Guillaume Delage, who prepared a Provincial style grilled veal tongue with spring vegetables, Cyril Lignac who did a Thai style filet of beef that was(more than) a bit tough and my least favorite dish of the day, and the Lao Lanexang's Lamdaun Chinnasri, who did a nice entrecote with lemongrass, bergamot and a caramel/tamarind sauce. Bruno Doucet was a bit of a disappointment, as they ran out of food an hour and a half before the end of the event :( . Desserts by Julie Rothhahn , culinary designer (with the participation of Haagen-Dazs) included a delicious vanilla/grapefruit jelly glace, Marie Quatrehomme did cheesesticks with nuts, Chapoutier provided the vino, and tunes were provided by Ariel Wizman and Teki Latex. And the sun was shining, and pretty girls were everywhere. It was a good day.

Trying to figure out what people find interesting in this blog. Is it cutting edge food intel? My humor? The iconoclastic personage behind the screen? My fuck-all attitude to things? Or just the fact that google sent them to the wrong page after searching for goat sex or something of the like? (oh no!, I said 'goat sex', now I'm going to get a deluge of hits from Afghanistan..)

Next week will begin serious restaurant testing again. Any takers?

Pink Flamingo

A hip, Miami-style eatery in the Marais called the Pink Flamingo should be an instant hit with just the name alone, however, this is probably one of the best pies in the city. Their first outpost was on a tiny side street next to the Canal Saint Martin, and this tiny place, next to happening neo-bistro Glou, and behind the Musée Picasso is in prime Upper Marais real estate. They offer a variety of interesting pizzas, all made with thin crust bio flour, and cooked to perfection with exotic toppings. I tried the "Ho Chi Ming", with chicken and gambas with a coconut milk sauce, coriander, lemongrass and sprinkled with crushed peanuts. I thought Alice Pizza was the best I'd ever had in Paris, but this one made me seriously reconsider. Went down well with a cold biere bio of their own fabrication.

Pink Flamingo
105 rue Vieille du Temple

Another food memory

Once upon a time in a little hick town in NW Pennsylvania, there existed a restaurant called the RED BULL INN. It remains one of my most poignant memories of when I was a child, and I always relished going there to eat. It was a small chain, and the theme was that of a Victorian eating house with buxom maids, pewter beer steins, and hearty food. The ambience was dark, and moody, and although kids loved the place for the crayons and toys, I was equally attracted to the ample cleavage on hand... I especially remember when my grandparents came to visit from Yorkshire, and we brought them there. My grandfather ordered the prime rib. And when the enormous piece of meat was served, he proceeded to cut it up for everyone seated at the table, as he'd never seen a piece of meat that size before, and thought it was to share for everyone!

Really feel like eating DIP tonight..

Voy Alimento

This tiny little shop (formerly a 19th century bar) located on a street just next to the Canal is the most extraordinary plant shop in Paris. Created by Frenchman, Jean-François Hammerle, after having lived in Peru for ten years, they provide equitable plant products produced in their own cooperative farm. Some of the products (especially the Amerindian foods) had never been seen before in France. Everything is cultivated and prepared with respect to keeping the plant molecules intact, and all products come from either alpine microalgae, the dessert, the Andes mountains or the Amazonian basin. More than a shop, this is a place of exchange with people passionate about creating pristine, non-industrial and beneficial plant products. (also energy milkshakes, and Sunday dietary brunch)


Voy Alimento
23 rue des Vinaigriers, 10th

Can't wait to see this

Gillardeau no.2's

I guess you can trust a family that's been farming oysters since the 14th century. Yesterday, they were perfect. And sharing them with someone special for the first time- even better..Icy cold, iodine taste, sea air..

Didn't know a blog could be undeleted! That takes all the fun out of rash, destructive impulses! Damn!

So, here I am, the one that...