6.2 Le Casse Noix, 56, rue de la Fédération in the 15th, (Metro: Bir-Hakeim or Dupleix), 01.45.66.09.01, closed weekends, has a variety of formulas, menu-cartes and specials that run one anywhere from 16 to 35 € for a meal and is, as Grégoire Maurel of Le Fooding noted earlier this week, chef’d by Pierre-Olivier Lenormand who comes well-provenanced - 6 years at La Régalade and time well-spent at Camelot, Jamin & the Crillon.
Maurel said that folks want to know where to get traditional French food and this place, which opened around the time UNESCSO declared French (and Mexican) foods international treasures (my interpretation), gives an answer. I couldn't agree more and suspect this place will be over-run in a few months when the word gets out there's another great resto near the Eiffel Tower (the Concert de la Cuisine being a bit its senior.)
The decor spells out the tone they're setting right away: old Michelin's on a shelf over the kitchen door, faux-stained glass on the door to the kitchen, beautiful but unmatched light fixtures, old coat hooks on the walls, a collection of old cooking equipment in addition to metallic and wall-painted adverts for old products. Plus several chalkboards and a typed-up wine list and menu for the day.
As an amuse bouche, we were served a chicken liver paste with two types of superb bread and that and a delicious piece of sauteed foie gras with wonderful salad and quince slices disappeared before a proper photo could be taken. No matter, given the Arctic conditions, better our tummies are full than your eyes satisfied.
Colette had a main of line-caught bar with a sauteed, chopped endive base and an intriguing sauce. I had what was supposed to be the scallops starter but it arrived with four pretty big St Jacques (surely it was a main course served out of comprehension or compassion). The scallops were accompanied by a heap of very flavorful salad and shaved cheese; both mains were very good.
Colette had spied the floating island on the ardoise outside and eagerly ordered, enjoyed and ate it - sharing it liberally with me.
Our bill, with a bottle of wine, no apero but a digestif as advised by Maurel and UNESCO, with 9 E in supplements, was 84 E. The bottom line is that, like at Ze, one orders what one wants of whatever item from whatever menu seizes one, and they figure out a reasonable bill at the end.
Go? If you reserve for December 30th, we'll see you there.
Oh my god. They look delicious. I'm drooling here. The chicken liver recipe is my favorite.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrSTQDVc0tc The other main looks good and the dessert is amazing. Reasonable bill too. Will remember to give a visit.
Posted by: French Cuisine | December 03, 2010 at 10:40 AM