Buly, Sylvestre, Yeeels, Epoca and Le Flaubert: Paris Restaurant Recommendations for November

7 November 2017 by Margaret Kemp    2618  
Buly, Sylvestre, Yeeels, Epoca and Le Flaubert: Paris Restaurant Recommendations for November
Margaret Kemp
By Margaret Kemp
“First we eat – then we do everything else”. — MFK Fisher Looking for a great place to eat in the City of Light? Here’s a peek at some of the Paris restaurants that we’re enjoying right now. Restaurant Sylvestre In the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, Pakistani born chef Sylvestre Wahid helms his eponymous left bank 25-seat restaurant, designed by India Mahdavi. The chef works from a tiny, shiny, open kitchen — with a 2-seater chef’s table. (Lunch €85 + wine, A La Carte €175/€250) Wahid’s backstory begins in Kohat, a region in the foothills of the Hindu Kush. His passion for cooking brought him to France where he worked for Alain Ducasse, Thierry Marx, and at L’Ousteau de Baumanière, Provence, and a stint in NYC at the now closed Essex House. His cooking style is light and modern – with accents on herbs, vegetables, and hand mixed spices inspired by Olivier Roellinger. His attention to detail is precise as in the house made butter, breads made to his recipe by a local baker (“there’s no room in his kitchen to make it”). The excellent wine book, with eclectic French & world labels – and intelligent, by the glass pairings, was created by savvy head sommelier Marion Couchet. Sylvestre, the ** Michelin restaurant, is located above the 100-year old Brasserie Thoumieux and incorporates the luxurious 15-room boutique hotel “Thoumieux” – designed by India Mahdavi. Doubles €220/350 + breakfast €18.  “And, cherry on the gateaux, you’re guaranteed a table in the restaurant if you stay at the hotel!” And for Sunday Brunch look no further than Brasserie Thoumiuex (€47). 79, rue Saint Dominique, 7th. Metro: La Tour Maubourg. Tel: 01 47 05 79 00. Website: www.thoumieux.fr Epoca October 2016: Joël Thiebault’s stall at the iconic President Wilson street market is where chefs Micaël Memmi and Denny Imbroisi meet. Subsequently, Michaël dines at Ida, and Denny dines at Zo, they become besties and decide to launch Epoca together. You know chef Denny either from M6 TV’s Top Chef (2012), Le Jules Verne, William Ledeuil or Ida, his above mentioned outrageously successful 15th arrondissement address. Now add Epoca – the left bank trat-bistro 60-seat space – decorated “art deco-palazzo style” by talented interior architect Emilie Bonaventure. Begin lunch with the Epoca cocktail (Stolichnaya, hibiscus syrup, lime, mint, prosecco). Starter and dish of the day cost 20€ – it’s dolce vita on Sunday with Brunch Italiano. Signatures (to share or not) include Les Carciofi alla guida (fried artichokes with tender hearts) and Les Spaghtonni caccio e pepe (spaghetti sheep cheese and black pepper).  Don’t miss home made ice-cream – to share – or the tiramisu. Ciao bella! 17 rue Oudinot, 7th. Metro: Vaneau. Tel: 01 43 06 88 88. Open 7/7. Website: http://epoca.paris Yeeels What? Anagram for Elysée! Don’t ask! Le Figaro’s Emmanuelle Rubin calls Benjamin Artis’ designer space “a restau-bling”. Located in the heart of the Golden Triangle it’s an excellent address to check out what you should be (a) wearing (b) eating (c) drinking. Open 7/7 for lunch and dinner, and descend the Hollywood style staircase to the hip and happening bar with DJ and plenty of opportunities to make NBFs (“new best friends”). Order a Grey Goose vodka, lemon, basil and fresh mint based Baba Yaga cocktail (€17) from mixologist Aurélian Fleury and study the seasonal menu created by young talent Thomas Rossi (previously at One Bal Harbor Resort & Spa, Mini-Palais, La Faille in Paris, Pershing Hall and Market with Jean-Georges Vongerichten). From 22€ for the dish of the day. “I aim to send out dishes that will please Yeeels’ cosmopolitan clientele”, Rossi explains. Perfect pizza Margerita and delicious dishes such as Roasted broccoli with truffles and parmesan – the perfect Detox salad: Penne, sauce parmesan, poulet. Veal, parsnips, sauce supreme. Cabillaud (cod) miso, potato pureé a touch of tomato. Average spend A La Carte 75€ + wine. 24 Avenue George V, 8th. Metro: George V. Tel: 01 42 88 75 75. Valet Parking. Website: https://yeeels.com/en/ Oficine Universelle Buly Marais Recently opened, this is the latest concept by influencers extraordinaire Ramdame Touhani and Victoire de Taillac. Touhani told the New York Times that “the idea for Buly came to him after he read Honoré de Balzac’s 1837 novel “César Birotteau,” which chronicles a celebrity Parisian perfumer who loses his fortune in real estate speculation. Mr. Touhami was so intrigued by the tale that he researched it and discovered that the title character was based on a French fragrance tycoon named Jean-Pierre Bully, who sold skin tonic called Vinaigre de Bully”. There are now “Buly” outposts worldwide. The Marais space is located in the former foundry where Rodin’s The Thinker was cast. The front of store resembles an 18th century apothecary, glass paneled oak cabinets crafted by French artisans, rare marble, mirrors, a real cabinet of curiosities showcasing Buly products. Add an elegant zinc bar, in homage to Café Tortoni – the iconic hotspot of 19th century Parisian pleasures – for coffee, juices, lunch and Nani Koré triangular Japanese sandwiches as well as the rear courtyard for dried flowers by Miyoko and pop-up collections created by Ramdame – at present it’s all about a “journey from…
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Lead photo credit : courtesy of Buly

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By Margaret Kemp

Born in Hampton, Middlesex, UK, Margaret Kemp is a lifestyle journalist, based between London, Paris and the world. Intensive cookery courses at The Cordon Bleu, London, a wedding gift from a very astute ex-husband, gave her the base that would take her travelling (leaving the astute one behind) in search of rare food and wine experiences, such as the vineyards of Thailand, 'gator hunting in South Florida, learning to make eye-watering spicy food in Kerala;pasta making in a tiny Tuscany trattoria. She has contributed to The Guardian, The Financial Times Weekend and FT. How To Spend It.com, The Spectator, Condé Nast Traveller, Food & Travel, and Luxos Magazine. She also advises as consultant to luxury hotels and restaurants. Over the years, Kemp has amassed a faithful following on BonjourParis. If she were a dish she'd be Alain Passard's Millefeuille “Caprice d'Enfant”, as a painting: Manet’s Dejeuner sur l’herbe !