Pierre Gagnaire, Paris 2

We used to go to Michelin three star restaurants several times a year, but have been neglecting them recently. We did go to Astrance in January of last year, but that was before it received its third star. The last one before that was in January 2006 when we went back to our favourite restaurant anywhere, Pierre Gagnaire. So on our two night trip to Paris March 11 and 12, 2008, we went to two: Le Meurice, which I have just blogposted separately, and, of course, Pierre Gagnaire, where we had lunch on March 13 before getting on a plane back to Nice.

Le Meurice, Paris

The first time I went to Paris, in 1957, we stayed for a week at the Hotel Le Meurice.  I imagine we ate there several times, but I really do not remember. (I do remember the roof rolling back at Lasserre.)  But the hotel was not young, as I was. It has been in the same location since 1835, always striving to be the best luxury hotel in Paris.

Astrance 2

Astrance
4 rue Beethoven 16e
01.40.50.84.40
Closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday 

We went back to Astrance for dinner on January 17, 2007. The next morning François Simon of Le Figaro, perhaps France’s most influential food writer, wrote that he had a leak from the printer of the Michelin Guide that Astrance would receive its third star next month. So it will probably be a while before we can get another reservation as Astrance has only twenty-five places, four days a week. (For our first visit: see our blog post of June 11, 2005,

La Table du Lancaster

7, rue de Berri, 01 40 76 40 18,

www.hotel-lancaster.fr

(November , 2006)  Alan and Ellen are New York friends most devoted to great food, trendy restaurants and fabulous hotels. And, very knowledgeable. So when they learned we were staying at the Lancaster in Paris they told us that we must eat in their  dining room. With that recommendation, we decided to enjoy a dinner there on our last night in town.

Le Soleil

109 Avenue Michelet, 01 40 10 08 08,

www.restaurantlesoleil.com 

Sunday in Paris, and the shops at the not-to-be-missed antique market at Saint-Ouen are buzzing. Never have we seen as many, and as high quality, shops as we encountered out here.

Le Ballon des Ternes – Paris

On January 16, 2006, three of us went to Le Ballon des Ternes, 103 avenue des Ternes, in the 17^e.   The menu is widely varied and typically bistrot, featuring oysters and other seafood.  It is not unique, by any means, in Paris, or most northern French cities, but is reliable and sympathique.  Located on the other end of the avenue from the Place des Ternes, it is quite close to Porte Maillot, with its Métro stop and convention center. 

Pierre Gagnaire

On January 17, 2006 we went to Pierre Gagnaire for dinner. This was about our fifth meal there in Paris. We had also been twice when he was still in St. Etienne. So he is one of our favorites for a major meal. At St. Etienne, where he first gained three Michelin stars before going bankrupt due to lack of local customers, his cuisine featured unexpected combinations of two or three ingredients in each dish.

Astrance

On 9 June 2005 we dined at Astrance in Paris and had a great time. It has been very trendy for the last few years and got its second Michelin star in March. You have to call two months in advance for a reservation, but somehow we got ours only six weeks ahead.