45

Arpège

Paris

A bastion of Parisian fine dining where vegetables reign supreme

Expect the unexpected: Though most restaurants of its ilk lean into all that is predictable and precise, chef Alain Passard and the team at Arpège conspire to create an experience that is anything but. Ruled by seasonality, and taking advantage of ingredients at their best, this is an off-the-cuff approach to fine dining, that sometimes even deviates from the menu. The result is a distinct, immersive and engaging experience with every visit.

Elevating veg: Famously removing meat from the menu before it was popular and fondly referred to as the 'maestro' of vegetarian cuisine, Passard caused a small revolution while making non-meat eaters very happy. While some protein has since crept back into some dishes since his 2001 announcement, the stars of the menu are undoubtedly vegetables and plant-based ingredients.

What’s on the plate?: Think remarkable French ingredients delivered with layered delicacy: cauliflower of three colours paired with shallots and herb sauce; white asparagus, named The Belle of the Sarthe Valley, topped with slices of kiwi and radish; and a deceptively simple yet memorable crème brûlée. The restaurant’s mostly animal-free dishes also lend themselves to adaptations to accommodate dietary requirements, which still isn’t as common as it should be in the realm of fine dining.

Home grown: The fresh produce that forms the backbone of the dishes served at Arpège is harvested daily and delivered from Passard’s three biodynamic and organic farms and kitchen gardens just outside of Paris. Not only do they supply the restaurant and cut down on food miles, they also support a rich ecosystem of local wildlife. Nothing is refrigerated for long periods of time. The produce is picked by a team of gardeners and served or sold that day in order to preserve the true integrity of each ingredient.

Contact