5.1 Fish La Boissonnerie, old coordinates in the 6th, has a new chef, one of my reliable sources tipped me to last week and since I'd had such a wonderful meal there a while back and it was named in a recent Figaroscope list as one of the "Best 15 Bistrots" in Paris, it was natural to return to; also because it's such a friendly place.
It's also one of the few places where English does not seem out of place. And, just after we'd installed ourselves, in walks the genial host from l'Hedoniste, evidently closed today, who gave us both warm greetings.
My dining partner, just returned from her narrow escape from Tasmanian devils, ordered the cauliflower souffle was it?, sort of a cuisinarted mush surrounded by slices of delicious Serrano ham and covered with seaweed, and I had leeks with of all things, groseilles (currents/gooseberries); quite nice.
Then, we did what we never do, we ordered the same thing, although she'd just finished saying "there were so many interesting choices;" I disagreed, the joue de beef was all I hankered for, the rest - magret, daurade, nothing else, appealed. We also disagreed about it: me thinking it was fine; she really offended by its taste. OK, people can differ.
For dessert (the 3-course "menu", even on Sunday, is still 26.50 E) she had Brebis yogurt and I the Ossau-Iraty, both OK but not spectacular.
Our bill, with a pricier wine than I would have chosen (and which she was also not as envigorated by as she expected, but hey she won the wine book award not me), with no coffee or bottled water - was 94.00E
Go? Humm. Her son, whom we went to see afterwards, since he works in a nearby shop, asked her "how was lunch" and she said "Moyen." That's about it, I'd say a tad above average though. About the new chef: the menu lists as chefs: Louis Richard & Matthieu Roche not Mathieu Ong who is in the 2011 guideboks, but whether he or they were there or their minions were, doesn't really matter, does it?
Went on Saturday night. My husband asked after if I would recommend the place and I had to say no. Had the beef cheeks, passed them along to the mister, he had the Dorade which was 'a bit fishy' for him. Dessert was an apple rhubarb crumble withe the stringiest rhubarb grown by man. fast service, quick to turn tables. Very busy.
Posted by: Nancy | December 05, 2011 at 08:59 AM