PARIS, Oct 3 — Two Parisian institutions, one an iconic restaurant on the Champs-Elysées, the other a triple Michelin-starred chef, have struck a partnership that aims to make Fouquet’s a bastion of French cuisine for both tourists and locals alike.
Recognisable from a distance with its red and gold awning and red carpet welcome, Fouquet’s is a Parisian landmark, not only for having commanded the glitzy corner of the Champs-Elysées and Avenue George V since 1899, but also for hosting the biggest celebrities in France.
Every year the restaurant hosts the after-party following the Césars — the French equivalent of the Oscars — turning the boulevard into a parade of A-list actors and filmmakers.
In an effort to remain relevant and competitive in a city dense with Michelin-starred restaurants, Lucien Barrière, Fouquet’s parent company, has tasked French celebrity chef Pierre Gagnaire to rewrite and modernise the menu, while at the same time preserving the century-old brasserie tradition.
That means serving up roast lamb on a gratin of caramelised onions, endives, leeks and Emmental cheese, along with a side of beans flavoured with chorizo, served in a homey casserole dish by a fleet of discreet bow-tied servers.
It also means keeping classic French dishes like beef tartare on the menu, and adding a “cereal” dish made up of three different grains and rice and a deep, rich seafood bisque, topped with a horseradish whipped cream.
Gagnaire holds three Michelin stars for his Paris restaurant at Hotel Balzac. He also owns restaurants in London (Sketch), Las Vegas (Twist at the Mandarin Oriental), Seoul (Pierre Gagnaire A Seoul), Dubai (Reflets), Hong Kong (Pierre) and Tokyo (Pierre Gagnaire). — AFP-Relaxnews
