Restaurant le Meurice
Classic, timeless, shameless, Parisian luxury in a five-star hotel on the Rue de Rivoli. Inspired by the Salon de la Paix at Versailles and updated last year by Philippe Starck, Le Meurice is an essay in opulence, all mirrors, gilding, chandeliers and marble. Over five years Head Chef Yannick Alléno's superb cooking - and his staff of 74 - have taken Le Meurice's restaurant to the summit. He says that his mission is no less than "to re-invent gastronomic cuisine", which he does with verve in his degustation menu, from an appetiser of "just opened" Shellfish with Sea Urchin Coral, through Duck Foie Gras iodized in Sugar Bread, to "love" Apple, Raspberry Cream with Jasmine. All with a suitably sumptuous cellar to match.
Behind the stove:
Chef Yannick Alléno
What they say:
"It was my first meal there, but undoubtedly one of the very best I have ever had." Nicholas Lander, Financial Times
New dish this year:
Pomme D'Amour, a dessert in honour of Ara Starck, the artist daughter of Philippe and created by Pastry Chef Camille Lesecq
Not a lot of people know that:
Salvador Dali once ordered a flock of sheep to be delivered to his room and proceeded to fire at them with a pistol, fortunately loaded with blanks.
Le Meurice, 228 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France+33 (0)1 4458 1010
www.lemeurice.com
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