Le Chateaubriand

Ok everyone...

First, I am sorry for the delay in my posting the second part of my trip. Life, including a new part-time gig, trip to Portland (yes, to eat...will post), and general holiday stuff got in the way. I am not trying to elicit a ton of sympathy, but suffice it to say I was stuck in a lot of adverse weather with the accompanying ruined shoes, etc..

Second, I just want to prepare you guys for what turned out to be some amazing eating. Paris is really all that! I would also like to shamelessly plug the guys at Le Fooding in France for really taking a stand against Michelin and all things elitist in the world of dining. They are promoting the guy, who may not have a white table cloth and ten different styles of silverware, but will knock your socks off with their food and small production wine list. This is not to say that I did not force David into another experience at high-brow, Taillevent where he had to actually borrow a jacket from the sweet hostess (please try and picture a french-style jacket on my broad shouldered bf:). But overall, we stuck with the up and comers or generally accepted around the block kind of spots...so once again, without further ado:

Le Chateaubriand is kind of out of the way for the typical tourist. Our hotel happened to be in the Bastille...making this place only 30 minutes by foot (I didn't ride the metro unless the walk was 1.5 hours plus). I originally thought I could sneak in at lunch, but quickly realized it was closed, when I walked through the front door, right into staff meeting. Luckily, I looked serious about scoring a spot and the manager asked if I was ok sitting at the bar in a far corner single seat...which of course was fine with me.

So at around 7ish, after a glass of wine and shower at my hotel, I set off to walk over and up Avenue Parmentier. I arrived a bit late and was seated at my single seat bar throne. I was presented with the 50 Euro 5 course menu and set to requesting a never ending stream of wines paired to each course (including a few more at the end as I basically closed the place down with a sweet gourmand from Stockholm).

Here is what it looked like:

1. Amuse Bouche: Fish Ceviche & Bread-crumbed Frog Leg & Celery Soup (me=ow!)
1.5 Encornet, persil, trompettes, pommes de terre
2. Dorade royale de Sanit Jean, courges, oignons, graines
3. Boeuf, pickles, buerre noisette
4. Glace de Sarrasin, pamplemousse
5. Poires, betteraves, mahaleb (too inebriated to spell so unsure about this last ingredient)

Now, my fondest memory of the night is all the amazing wine, company, energy, and plain awesome food. This place has that magic about it...A sexy-wild, madman in the kitchen, Iñaki Aizpitarte and equally charming waitstaff. Cool clientele, including a young french couple that spotted me in the Marais a few days later at a coffee shop, who were headed to Trio in Malmo! And...a space that echos all this energy!

I could go on about the food, but I think it best that I believe no matter what your food preferences are, you will absolutely love your meal at Le Chateaubriand. You will also fall in love with the space, the people and Paris in general. Watch out LC...If I move to Paris, I may need to be looking for some permanent employment!