Papillion in the 17th (not the others): "The best/most innovative meal I've had in 3 weeks."

Papillion in the 17th is a place that I loved exactly 27 days ago and today we took our favorite neighbor with us for her 39th Birthday; She was blown away.  Before not after lunch (it closes at 14h30) we went to the epicerie/boutique next door, where chef Christophe Saintange's significant other runs one hellofa collection of olive oil, soups and salads to go; ideal for a supper or two or three.

We all decided after some negotiation to share among us 2 starters: 6 stalks of green asparagus with melted comte (incredible) and tarragon and a chunk of smoked salmon with a very sweet yellow beet and sour cream sauce (wonderful).

For mains we went with and shared: a lovely young pigeon with microtomed apple slices and a salmis sauce; a piece of brill with an olive tapenade and sour herbs; and a chunk of pork belly with crispy crunchy skin and a roasted parsnip and Utah beach bivalves, Whoa thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

For dessert, we decided to share their signature dish, a chocolate cake which is made in a large pan and produces an exterior like fudge and interior like moelleux; absolutely fabulous.

With a bottle of very good Syrah and glass of CDR, no bottled water but great bread and 3 superb coffees, our bill came to 182 E for three, thus 121,32 E a couple.