Spoon - Paris / France

SPOON PARIS AT MARIGNAN
12 rue de Marignan – 75008 Paris
Tél : 01 40 76 34 44
spoon-paris@hotelmarignan.fr
site internet : www.spoon-restaurants.com

Tuesday, 18th March 2008,

It was kept a secret for me until we arrived literally before the restaurant. I DIDN'T KNOW !!! But I know Alain Ducasse, I even have a cooking book from him. So I could have peace with that ...

We took the chef's menu and a wine arrangement. The chef's menu exists of a combination chosen from the regular menu (dessert menu) of Spoon. What they do is that they don't serve four (we were with four) the same menu's, they give two different menu's so you could even more enjoy the different dishes ...

The amuse (quite simple but very nice)
Crab beignet with toast with a creme fraiche with black pepper
served with a Kirr

The starter
Salted Cod 'Montecato' topped with a soft boiled egg. Served in a kind of spinach cream with foie of fish and in the shell of the sea hedgehog (I needed my dairy too :-) Châtaigne de mer / zee egel) a broth with cocos. Daring combination, excellent taste.
served with a white Stellenbosch - South Africa - 2006

The 2nd starter
4 scallops with Thai rice (fresh coriander and egg) and barbecue fish sauce
served with a white Gros Plain from Spain - 2006

The main course
Prime black Angus beef one sautéed, the other as a spicy tartare with mint / coriander. Served with some fresh cressonette, cereals and olive tapenade.
served with a red Barbera d'asti from Italy

Dessert
Cheesecake with red berries jam, a chestnut cream with raspberry crème and bubble gum ice cream.
served with a Tokay of 2003

A meal to remember. Fantastic restaurant, full, you need to make a reservation if you over 2 persons to be sure of a table. We sat at the high table with leds integrated in the table. It's fancy but not stiff. The staff is excellent, the service is very quick. There are a lot of staff running around, even 2 sommeliers ...

The art of cooking of Alain Ducasse is like in his books, superb, all about flavor of the ingredients, you taste the real flavors. Take the Bubble gum ice cream, not my favorite but the taste is like 100% Bubbleisious (remember the old gum...). Very well done. The raw Angus beef is not like the almost fillet americain you mostly get but real pieces of fresh meat. Daring, tasteful and beautiful presented. A real treat ... :-)