Restaurant Review: Le Pamphlet

Le Pamphlet is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and they have much to celebrate.

I was invited by their publicist to have lunch two weeks ago and was so happy to finally have the opportunity to dine there since it's been on my must try list for years. Located in the northern Marais, Le Pamphlet's windows are covered with white drapes so its hard to see what it looks like and once you are inside it feels almost like a private club/dining room. The decor of the two rooms is tasteful enough with stone walls and contrasting flaming red high- backed chairs but what pleasantly struck me was how far apart the tables were set. I said it once before, but one of my pet peeves about Paris restaurants is how closely packed the tables are, to the point that its uncomfortable to sit for entire meal.

We were warmly greeted by the maitre d' and seated at a table by the window in the smaller, more intimate room. First we were poured a rosé Champagne which was dry and crisp and a perfect way to prepare our palate of for the five course tasting menu.

The first dish was a silky as velvet, satisfying split pea soup with croutons in a glass terrine. Avocado, Parmesan, and crab with diced mango garnish was superb with the sharp Parmesan giving the creamy crab a bite.The Coquilles in the Coquilles St. Jacques with truffle butter and squash puree in a foam was tender and juicy but the squash was over-salted. I thought the tasting menu was going to be all small dishes but the three hearty lamb chops with wilted Swiss chard and olives was heftier than a regular main course. The meat was cooked to perfection, just the right combination of juicy and flavorful without being the least bit tough.I find lamb chops one of the hardest dishes to get right and these were some of the best I have had in a while. Raspberry religieuse is a cream puff filled with raspberry cream and surrounded with edible rosebuds. Even though the rosebuds were an intriguing idea and I was game to try them, the texture was too dry and brittle. The shocking pink enamel like icing and pistachio piped ring around it made it look fake and cheap, and even though I liked the taste of it, I thought it was the least successful dish of the meal.

Split pea soup

Avocado, Parmesan, and crab with diced mango

Coquilles St. Jacques with truffle butter and squash puree in a foam 

Raspberry religieuse

After the meal,Chef Alain Carriere came to our table to introduce himself. He was modest and affable and he explained how he changed the menu every week according to the seasonal market ingredients that are available. I asked him who designed the beautiful and unusual china he used, specifically the black rectangular platters, and he said they were by Deshouliéres, a French china company that was started in 1826.

I wish that Alain Carriere continues his terrific, inventive, and creative cuisine for 10, 20, 30 years more. I know I will be back.

Le Pamphlet
38 rue Debelleyme, 3d arr.
Metro: Filles du Calvaire
Tel. 01 42 72 39
Lunch- Tuesday to Friday 12PM-2:30PM
Dinner Monday to Saturday 7:30PM-11PM
Closed Sundays
35 euros for 3 courses, 65 euros for 5 course tasting menu 

Bravo Chef Carriere

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 3 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

Comments

[Tibet Travel Information]

Sometimes when I've left a comment on a blog, the blog owner has then sent me a personal thank you email.
I've always found this overkill. However, it is nice when the blog owner leave a reply to your published comment. even if it is just a simple, Nice that you dropped by hope to see you again.

Good manners cost nothing and I always go back to check on pages where I've left comments

[Richard]

this is for Tibet Travel info. I personally like when a blogger sends a personal email and that's usually what I do. I am sorry if I didn't publicly acknowledge you. thanks for pointing it out to me. Happy New year!