Le Pré Catelan

Thanks to the event organized by the RVF at the Palais Brongniart in Paris, we took this opportunity to have dinner in the ever so friendly bistro Pierre Gagnaire, the Gaya Rue du Bac on the left bank, Paris also has two banks!

We were invited for 2 meals: one at Galopin, a classic brasserie next to the Palais Brongniart, and especially the other which was one of the best meals Murielle and I have had in a long time at the Pré Catelan, from the group Lenôtre, in the Bois de Boulogne, and Frédéric Anton’s cuisine, which our friends wanted us to discover.

 

It was a gargantuan meal, all served in three: the portions were made for big appetites and the food is so good that you feel obliged to finish your plate... They’ve had their 3 Michelin stars for a long time.

I ordered: amuse-bouche plus crab prepared en toque, fine coral jelly and caviar from France flavored with fennel soup. Then, sweetbreads with truffles cooked in a casserole, soubise, celery puree with cinnamon, spaghetti with butter and to finish a killer apple soufflé, crispy on the outside, frozen on the inside, caramel, cider and sparkling sugar plus small pastries.

The wines were served by the sommelier, Mr Riviere, who has a serious sense of humor. We had a delicious white Chaillés de l’Enfer from Georges Vernay 2009, then, blind, an incredible Pontet Canet 2004 smooth, mature, with finesse, terribly sexy for a 2004 vintage, tasting more like a 2005, goes to show. Following, a very serious and still a bit closed, Angelus 2004, great wine and one of my friends’ favorite wines. I share his opinion because, in Saint Emilion, following the 2 first growths A, out of reach in a restaurant, Angelus, Pavie, and hopefully Valandraud, can be beautiful alternatives to 1^st growths.