Paris! The city of love, lights, and…summer holidays? For months, I meticulously planned our Parisian adventure, keeping a keen eye on the impact of the Summer Olympics on the city’s culinary landscape. The French government encouraged restaurants to remain open throughout the games, but alas! Like a domino effect, a wave of closures swept over the city on August 11th, the day the Olympics concluded. My carefully crafted dining schedule, like a house of cards, began to crumble. We arrived on August 16th, smack dab in the middle of this culinary blackout. Out of ten three-Michelin-starred restaurants, only three remained open!
Le Tout Paris: A Culinary Escape
Undeterred, I embarked on a quest to salvage our fine-dining experience. After extensive research, Restaurant Le Tout Paris at Hotel Cheval Blanc emerged as our first stop. This elegant establishment, sharing an address with the acclaimed Plénitude (another Michelin-starred gem on summer break), offered a captivating view of the Seine River from its rooftop terrace.
The casual yet refined ambiance of Le Tout Paris was as alluring as its location. Before diving into the menu, I stepped onto the terrace, captivated by the breathtaking cityscape, with the iconic Eiffel Tower shimmering in the distance.
A Taste of Paris: From Prawn Tartare to Pigeon
Our culinary journey began with a delightful amuse-bouche: red prawn tartare nestled beneath a cloud of lime foam and caviar. The zesty lime elevated the sweetness of the prawn, but its sharpness, combined with my jet-lagged state, made it a bit challenging to chew.
Next came potato croquettes, infused with a tantalizing kick of herbs. The perfectly cooked langoustines were served with a “woody broth” infused with rosemary, which, to my palate, tasted more like a traditional shellfish bisque.
The delicate flavors of the bisque allowed the natural essence of the ingredients to shine. We also indulged in a colorful side dish of assorted mushrooms, zucchini, crunchy baby turnips, and onions. This delightful medley offered a clean, crisp symphony of tastes.
The star of the show, however, was the rosemary-smoked pigeon. A Parisian classic, it was perfectly cooked, boasting a tender rosé interior and a crispy skin.
We savored every bite, our appetites unfortunately too full for dessert. A few mignardises and a passion fruit-infused panna cotta concluded our culinary journey.
A Parisian Interlude: Weather and a First-Flight Jitters
While the meal was a success, with flawless service and a view that lived up to its reputation, a couple of minor blemishes marred the experience. The unusually cool Parisian summer dashed our hopes of dining on the terrace, as the wind whipped through the air. And, feeling a bit off after my first long-haul flight in five years, I wasn’t at my culinary best.
Despite these minor hiccups, Le Tout Paris offered a delightful introduction to Parisian fine dining. We eagerly anticipated the culinary adventures that awaited us, ready to embrace the city’s charm and savor its gastronomic treasures.
