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Restaurants
- Neil A. Chef added a new meal Dinner at Les Bacchanales - Chez Christophe Dufau at Les Bacchanales
Chocolate mousse with citron du Pays
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(This post comes with a health warning as there are videos of the cutest little pet piggy 🐷 snuffling around, plus a couple of very chilled out dawgs so your heart may explode with love. You have been warned. )
4 meals over the past month at @lesbacchanales_vence where chef and generally lovely person... More
Chocolate mousse with citron du Pays
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(This post comes with a health warning as there are videos of the cutest little pet piggy 🐷 snuffling around, plus a couple of very chilled out dawgs so your heart may explode with love. You have been warned. )
4 meals over the past month at @lesbacchanales_vence where chef and generally lovely person @christodufau has altered the style of cooking from my last visits a couple of years ago and in such a good way.
I say ‘lovely guy’ because he really is. Well known and well liked throughout the industry and especially in Denmark where he worked for 9 years. I mean (gratuitous #humblebrag coming up), I had posted on Instagram stories that Les Bacchanales was my next meal while on the way to the meal and while I was sat enjoying the meal, Rene Redzepi messages me ..... “Please say hi to Christophe from me”.
So I think it’s clear that there is a lot of love for the guy.
The food is delicious, as it has always been, and designed to be shared with friends, hence why I kept coming back with friends. Christophe is now cooking outside using a wood burning oven and I think I saw a smoker in the back of this very rustic al fresco kitchen right next to the restaurant which exists on a leafy patio between the house and a kitchen garden.
Miss Eva, the pet pig will wander around the place weaving through the tables and the legs of the dinners. You’ll hear her coming.
Highly recommended if you are on the Côte d’Azur. Go and spend a leisurely lunchtime enjoying the good food, wine and the company of Miss Eva...oh and Christophe of course !😬
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Michelin Guide - 🍽
OAD -
W50Best -
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- Neil A. Chef added a new meal Dinner at Restaurant Alliance at Alliance
Cheese 🧀 🐭
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Dinner the other week at ⭐️ @restaurant_alliance in Paris. This was one of those meals where I know it was good, great even, but it was too understated for my taste. Maybe to do with the chef, @omiyatoshitaka, hailing from Japan. I say that because I have had similar meals from Japanese chefs. This is in... More
Cheese 🧀 🐭
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Dinner the other week at ⭐️ @restaurant_alliance in Paris. This was one of those meals where I know it was good, great even, but it was too understated for my taste. Maybe to do with the chef, @omiyatoshitaka, hailing from Japan. I say that because I have had similar meals from Japanese chefs. This is in no way intended to be a negative review by the way. The meals that I speak of shared the same characteristics in that they were so nuanced in their flavour profiles, so pure in their clarity. The ingredients were laid bare and naked on the plate with little to distract from the core ingredient. BUT, the flavours and textures were there in the background, propping up the main ingredient, prodding and coaxing it forward onto the centre stage where it belongs and where it can shine.
I don’t know if this is a Japanese thing, I suspect it is, that they focus so much on perfection and refinement (in everything they do, not just cooking) that a dish can get stripped back so much that the flavours become beyond subtle. Perhaps I’m over thinking it 🤷🏼♂️. Anyway, I was left waiting for a dish that would smack me about the chops a little bit but I was found wanting.
There is a strong tradition of Japanese chefs cooking exceptional French cuisine in Paris and this is a good example.
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Michelin Guide - ⭐️
OAD - 83
W50Best -
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‘La framboise Tulameen’ Champagne sabayon. Raspberry & cardamom sorbet
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‘The Calisson’ lemon, roasted almonds and miso sorbet
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My last meal in Paris the other week was at @lareserveparis La Reserve Hotel in their courtyard restaurant La Pagode de Cos. The restaurant Le Gabriel, where chef @jeromebanctel Jérôme Banctel... More
‘La framboise Tulameen’ Champagne sabayon. Raspberry & cardamom sorbet
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‘The Calisson’ lemon, roasted almonds and miso sorbet
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My last meal in Paris the other week was at @lareserveparis La Reserve Hotel in their courtyard restaurant La Pagode de Cos. The restaurant Le Gabriel, where chef @jeromebanctel Jérôme Banctel achieved two ⭐️⭐️ Michelin after just one year of opening was closed that day but thanks to a friend (you know who you are CM😉🙏🏻), I was able to try a few of the dishes from the Le Gabriel menu although in understandably more simplified versions. Understandably simplified because of course Le Gabriel was closed, but that kitchen exists within the La Reserve hotel so they very generously indulged me before my flight.
Based on the dishes I had, I would put Le Gabriel near the top of my to do list for my next Paris tour.
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Michelin Guide - ⭐️⭐️
OAD - 92 (Classical list)
W50Best - ‘Discovery’
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- Neil A. Chef added a new meal Dinner at L’innocence at L'Innocence
Next stop in Paris the other week was to one of the city’s newest ⭐️ additions to the guide Michelin, @linnocence_paris L’Innocence. A teeny tiny little place with an open kitchen to match. From this tiny kitchen, chefs @annelegran Anne Legrand and @cliomodaffari Clio Modaffari cook a mainly plant based menu... More
Next stop in Paris the other week was to one of the city’s newest ⭐️ additions to the guide Michelin, @linnocence_paris L’Innocence. A teeny tiny little place with an open kitchen to match. From this tiny kitchen, chefs @annelegran Anne Legrand and @cliomodaffari Clio Modaffari cook a mainly plant based menu in two sittings for the 16 or so guests that can fit in to this tiny room (a couple of tables were left empty on our visit to maintain social distancing).
They focus on the seasons using the best produce from small suppliers and producers.
With manager Jonathan Caron taking care of us and the rest of the guests this was a truly enjoyable and pleasantly relaxing evening, and fantastic value for money as well. Please visit them the next time you are in Paris.
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Michelin Guide - ⭐️
OAD -
W50Best -
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#achefabroad #itravelforfood #foodie #foodies #foodporn #foodpic #foodpics #finedining #michelindining #eats #instafoodie #michelinstar #oad #worlds50bestrestaurants #worlds50best #eater #iphonexsmax #michelinguide #foodlepro #influencer #oadtop100 @theworlds50best #parisfoodie #eaterparis #linnocenceparis Less
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- Neil A. Chef added a new meal Dinner at Restaurant David Toutain at David Toutain
Pistachio - avocado
Cherry & chocolate
Cauliflower - coconut
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Probably my favourite meal from last week’s Paris trip was as I had expected it to be at ⭐️⭐️ @david_toutain .In 2017 I did my first gastronomic trip to Paris and specifically targeted a lot of the grand three star temples of gastronomy like Arpège, Guy Savoy, Le... More
Pistachio - avocado
Cherry & chocolate
Cauliflower - coconut
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Probably my favourite meal from last week’s Paris trip was as I had expected it to be at ⭐️⭐️ @david_toutain .In 2017 I did my first gastronomic trip to Paris and specifically targeted a lot of the grand three star temples of gastronomy like Arpège, Guy Savoy, Le Cinq and Alléno and some more classical places like Tour d’Argent among others. With this brief in mind I had asked my fellow food geeks for their recommendations and I can’t remember who, but amongst that eye wateringly expensive list, someone very firmly prodded me and ordered me to visit the then one star restaurant David Toutain. And for the last three years I have been itching to get back and relive what was by far the best meal of that trip (IMO).
They did not disappoint and the second star is well deserved. The thing that stands out for me about the food here is that it makes me smile. It makes me happy. It evokes an emotional response (in a good way). I eat out a lot and that is a rare thing to achieve (especially twice in a row). This isn’t a ‘fine dining’ thing, it’s a good food thing. Sometimes that moment of bliss is in part driven by an experience, like having caviar on the top of a mountain with your lover or boiled ham with pressure-cooked-to-death veg cooked by your grandmother.
But to be able to deliver that moment of bliss based purely on the food on the plate is truly a gift. I know it’s subjective, and what gives a diner goose bumps on one plate may have another diner yawning. David Toutain’s food gives me goose bumps.
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Michelin Guide - ⭐️⭐️
OAD - 80
W50Best - ‘Discovery’
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#achefabroad #itravelforfood #foodie #foodies #foodporn #foodpic #foodpics #finedining #michelindining #eats #instafoodie #michelinstar #oad #worlds50bestrestaurants #worlds50best #eater #iphonexsmax #michelinguide #foodlepro #influencer #oadtop100 @theworlds50best #parisfoodie #eaterparis #davidtoutain Less
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- Neil A. Chef added a new meal Dinner at Table restaurant - Bruno Verjus at Table - Bruno Verjus
Chocolate mousse, creme anglais infused with gochujang
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A very nice lunch in Paris last week at @bruno_verjus Table restaurant where I got my favourite seat in any restaurant. Plonk me on a stool just across the bench from a bustling kitchen, feed me tasty food and keep the wine flowing and I am as happy as a pig in poop drinking a nice... More
Chocolate mousse, creme anglais infused with gochujang
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A very nice lunch in Paris last week at @bruno_verjus Table restaurant where I got my favourite seat in any restaurant. Plonk me on a stool just across the bench from a bustling kitchen, feed me tasty food and keep the wine flowing and I am as happy as a pig in poop drinking a nice Burgundy.
It seems like very honest and what seems to be almost improvisational cooking here. Some have compared Bruno’s style to that of Mikael Jonsson of the incredible and much missed Hedone in London. I can see the similarities as I watch Bruno conducting this service. He hangs back and talks to friends and fellow chefs (Atsushi Tanaka of AT is in for lunch I see) but then dives into the kitchen to taste, adjust, advise, complain, compliment, scold in a Fatherly fashion and now and again take complete control of a single dish as he did with my main course. He keeps a good eye on all the diners catching our eyes every now and again and giving an approving nod to indicate “that dish we just gave you is as tasty as fuck” to which we all duly respond with a reciprocal and more urgent nod to reply “This dish you just gave me is tasty as fuck Bruno”.
The sommelier explains to me that he is never 100% sure which dishes Verjus will decide to send to a particular diner (it is an A La Carte menu but an ‘off-menu’ degustation is available) and on two occasions I ended up double parked when the som had to swiftly find another wine to go along with the last minute dish having already poured a wine for the dish he had thought was coming out. This led to a very generous wine pairing 🥴
I believe that Verjus and Jonsson share another similarity in that neither started out as a chef but were professionals in other fields. Jonsson being a lawyer and Verjus a food critic (I may be wrong).
Either way, having now watched two chefs like this cook, there is a definite identifiable style that I believe I can spot. The service in both restaurants is a little like jazz... very good jazz.
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Michelin Guide - ⭐️
OAD - 99
W50Best - ‘Discovery’
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- Neil A. Chef added a new meal Dinner at L'Ambroisie at L'Ambroisie
Tarte fine sablée au cacao amer, crème glacée à la vanille Bourbon
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The next stop in Paris was to ⭐️⭐️⭐️ L’Ambroisie. Flawless cooking in a fairly pompous environment. Definitely not my cup of tea and of course eye-wateringly expensive for dishes that didn’t really excite. I’m glad I went once as a reference point but I wouldn’t... More
Tarte fine sablée au cacao amer, crème glacée à la vanille Bourbon
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The next stop in Paris was to ⭐️⭐️⭐️ L’Ambroisie. Flawless cooking in a fairly pompous environment. Definitely not my cup of tea and of course eye-wateringly expensive for dishes that didn’t really excite. I’m glad I went once as a reference point but I wouldn’t go back (unless someone else was paying 😉😬)
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Michelin Guide - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
OAD - 10 (Classical list)
W50Best - ‘Discovery’
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#achefabroad #itravelforfood #foodie #foodies #foodporn #foodpic #foodpics #finedining #michelindining #eats #instafoodie #michelinstar #oad #worlds50bestrestaurants #worlds50best #eater #iphonexsmax #michelinguide #foodlepro #influencer #oadtop100 @theworlds50best #parisfoodie #eaterparis Less
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- Neil A. Chef added a new meal Dinner at Clown-Bar at Clown Bar
Chocolate with cannelle crumble
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Feeling offal-y brainy (😐) yesterday with an al fresco lunch @leclownbar Paris. This unassuming bistro is high on many foodies’ agendas when visiting Paris, and it didn’t disappoint. Many speak with high regard to the previous chef who has now moved on but this was my first (and definitely not last)... More
Chocolate with cannelle crumble
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Feeling offal-y brainy (😐) yesterday with an al fresco lunch @leclownbar Paris. This unassuming bistro is high on many foodies’ agendas when visiting Paris, and it didn’t disappoint. Many speak with high regard to the previous chef who has now moved on but this was my first (and definitely not last) visit here so I didn’t have that particular reference point.
At way less than a third of the price of my lunch the day before at L’Ambroisie, this was a very welcome and refreshing change from all that pomp.
Veal brains may not be the first choice of many people to order but one thing they do here very well is offal so I would urge you to dive into these and enjoy the incredible creamy set-custard like texture (indeed I have had these served as a dessert before at restaurant Sacha in Madrid), in a surprisingly light dish with ponzu, chives & ginger.
Then a must is to order the veal sweetbreads, served yesterday with black beans & artichoke.
The desserts were so good that I ordered the strawberries with fromage blanc twice and of course I ordered both available cheese courses.
This is a fantastic way to pass a few hours sat outside in the sun and I would encourage you to visit next time you are in Paris.
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Michelin Guide - 🍽
OAD - 42 (gourmet casual list)
W50Best - ‘Discovery’
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#achefabroad #itravelforfood #foodie #foodies #foodporn #foodpic #foodpics #finedining #michelindining #eats #instafoodie #michelinstar #oad #worlds50bestrestaurants #worlds50best #eater #iphonexsmax #michelinguide #foodlepro #influencer #oadtop100 @theworlds50best #clownbar #desserts Less
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- Neil A. Chef added a new meal Dinner at Clamato at Clamato
Tartelette au sirop D’erable avec chantilly
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Marinated strawberries & cherries with fig leaf sabayon
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White peach granita with verveine & mezcal
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I just got back from a weeks holiday in Paris where guess what....I ate ate ate 😋
11 restaurants in all from excellent casual spots to ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Michelin gems and everything in between.
First... More
Tartelette au sirop D’erable avec chantilly
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Marinated strawberries & cherries with fig leaf sabayon
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White peach granita with verveine & mezcal
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I just got back from a weeks holiday in Paris where guess what....I ate ate ate 😋
11 restaurants in all from excellent casual spots to ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Michelin gems and everything in between.
First stop was the excellent Clamato from the team behind @septimeparis and Septime La Cave.
The focus here is on small plates of excellent seafood so we enjoyed a nice selection for our first lunch
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Michelin Guide - Bib Gourmand
OAD - 59 Gourmet Casual list
W50Best - ‘Discovery’
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- Neil A. Chef added a new meal Dinner at VÒCE Aimo e Nadia at Voce Aimo e Nadia
Grilled squid, young vegetables & cherry tomatoes
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Baba with custard cream & fresh strawberries
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Gusto17 ice cream cart
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Lunch a while ago at Vòce in Milan, the less formal sister restaurant to ⭐️⭐️ Aimo e Nadia. Very enjoyable, especially the spaghettini with caviar.
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Michelin Guide - 🍽
OAD -
W50B -
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#achefabroad #itravelforfood... More
Grilled squid, young vegetables & cherry tomatoes
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Baba with custard cream & fresh strawberries
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Gusto17 ice cream cart
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Lunch a while ago at Vòce in Milan, the less formal sister restaurant to ⭐️⭐️ Aimo e Nadia. Very enjoyable, especially the spaghettini with caviar.
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Michelin Guide - 🍽
OAD -
W50B -
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#achefabroad #itravelforfood #foodie #foodies #foodporn #foodpic #foodpics #finedining #michelindining #eats #instafoodie #michelinstar #oad #worlds50bestrestaurants #worlds50best #eater #michelinguide @michelinguide @theworlds50best @oadtop100 Less