Foodle

L’Ambroisie - Paris (France)

There is a saying in soccer that says “a classic is a classic and vice versa”. If that were ever to apply to restaurants, it would probably be referring to @ambroisieparis. Situated in the Place des Vosges, the restaurant has held three Michelin stars for a staggering 37 years.

Ambrosia means food of the gods in Greek mythology, and the name chosen for the restaurant could not reflect any better what it stands for: the food in itself. Without any unnecessary gimmicky or distractions. Everything here revolves around what is ultimately served on the plate, from the setting and service to the absurdly high quality ingredients selected.

Differently from most of its peers, L’Ambroisie does not offer a tasting menu. Instead, they offer a concise selection of a la carte options for guests to choose from. Each of them is generously served, in a way where one can have several bites of the same dish, something that I found quite refreshing when comparing it to most restaurants of this magnitude.

Every course made me believe that whatever was coming up next would not be able to keep up, only to be humbled by the smell of the next one as soon as it arrived. My favorite was probably the sea bass with artichokes and caviar, but it would be impossible not to mention the complexity of the curry sauce served with their signature langoustine.

For dessert, their world famous chocolate tart with bourbon vanilla ice cream might have been one of my favorite sweet courses in recent memory. Light and airy but with a crunchy base, it is moist and elegant, in a perfect balance of both flavors and temperatures.

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Chez Georges - Paris (France)

I have been trying to write about Chez Georges for weeks now, but always end up procrastinating instead. It is just too hard to do it justice and find the right words.

@chezgeorgesruedumail is everything that I expect from a Parisian restaurant. In fact, it is the quintessential definition of the city through my own lens. A timeless bistro, with a tight interior, low lighting and basically zero space between tables. Staff members that you just know are vastly experienced from the look in their eye. Handwritten menu. An intelligent wine list. endless bread and butter. And old school comforting flavors on every single bite.

There is nothing modern about Chez Georges and its food. No reinterpretation or creative twist. Each item on the menu is an ode to the classics that made French cuisine what it is. An open love letter to the homeland and its way of living.

The frites are crispy. The sauces are rich and buttery. The pate servings are very generous. The ambiance is loud. The meats are juicy. The tarte tatin is my personal favorite and the carré d’agneau is mandatory.

And yes, you might end up touching elbows with your neighbor during the meal. And people could not care less about it.

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Amarante - Paris (France)

Offal haters, look away now. This tiny restaurant is a place for those of us who enjoy the fatty and often overlooked innards of animals. Parts that hold so much flavor if prepared with the right technique and that are a cornerstone of French cuisine.

I found chef Christophe Philippe’s no-frills approach to cooking a breath of fresh air, and felt like @amarante.paris would be the type of restaurant that I would be a regular in if Paris was my hometown.

The thinly sliced veal tongue with mayo was a great starter that was very light when compared to the andouilette that I ordered as my main course.

Andouilette is a French sausage made mostly with pork intestine and heavily seasoned with a variety of spices. Aside from the strong flavors, it also has a very peculiar aroma. This was my first time trying this classic and I found it quite interesting, to say the least.

To finalize any meal here, I would dare to say that it should be mandatory to order the chocolate mousse. Made with 100% cacao from San Tomé and Principe, it is bitter, dark, earthy and delicious.

I first heard about this place through a publication from @sucrilhos.

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Lunch with a legend! What an honor to share a meal with THE @alainducasse at Heritage by Kei @ritzcarltontokyo. A delightful afternoon of exceptional food and conversation. A few takeaways from our chat:

1. How to be successful as a young chef in fine dining: “The right concept at the right time, in the right place, and - this is important - at the right price.”
1. Thoughts on social media: “A wonderful tool that allows you to see what people are doing on the other side of the world.”
1. The next up-and-coming culinary region: “Mexico.”

#alainducasse #heritagebykei #legend #michelin #melindajoeiseatinganddrinking Less

Oh, how I love yoshoku - that irresistible, stick-to-your-ribs style of Japanese-Western fusion born of the Meiji era! If that sounds unfamiliar, consider this: if you love tonkatsu or ebi-furai, you love yoshoku too. #tb to a delicious meal at Bistro Toyama with @sakayanyc.

#yoshoku #tonkatsu #ebifurai #bistrotoyama #meijiEra #japanesefusion #melindajoeiseatinganddrinking Less