A publicist I know recently moved to a new company and she sent me her new client list. Le Sergent Recruteur, a restaurant I always wanted to go to, was one of her clients. She kindly invited Vincent and me to have lunch one day earlier this month and to meet the chef.
Located on rue Saint Louis en L'Ile, on the Ile Saint Louis, the black facade of Le Sergent Recruteur is a bit daunting but once we were inside, we were warmly greeted by the staff members. The front of the restaurant had a cozy bar area, and the contemporary but comfortable décor of the long, narrow dining room is lined with banquettes, black club chairs in soft leather, and wood topped tables.
The wait person handed us our menus and on top was printed Pour with my name handwritten next to it, which was a nice, personal touch.
The menu descriptions were so appealing and seductive, I had a hard time narrowing down what I wanted. It was a cold, blustery day and I thought sauteed foie gras with roasted mango and ginger, infused with vanilla, lime, and pineapple would be satisfying and filling. The taste was sublime, with the soft texture of the foie gras melting in my mouth along with the sweet and acidic mango. Another sublime creation was polenta with shaved truffles, that Vincent had and which I tasted.
For the main course, I had the special of the day, Saint Jacques (sea scallops) with a foam of Chardonnay wine and enoki mushrooms. The scallops were sweet and tender and the flavorful foam rounded out the full bodied but subtle taste.
Dessert was an updated version of the classic Paris Brest, with a crunchy, light as a feather. choux pastry, filled with an espresso flavored cream, and the taste and the gorgeous presentation of the chocolate and ginger with cacao sorbet with gold painted chocolate leaf was sensational.
We were later introduced to the handsome chef Alain Pegouret, who had a warm smile and was the epitome of calm, unlike the temperamental and harried chefs you see on the cooking shows and restaurant documentaries. Pegouret, who grew up in Cannes, first developed his appreciation of food starting at age 12 and is a veteran chef of the Paris restaurant scene, having worked with Michelin star chefs Joel Robuchon, and Christian Constant at the Hotel Crillon, and then an 18-year stint at Laurent in Paris. He’s now come into his own at Le Sergent Recruteur, having already earned a well-deserved Michelin star.
The exquisite cuisine is delicate without being precious and although elaborate in its description and long list of ingredients in each dish, it’s never pretentious. Pegouret’s mix of sometimes unusual or odd pairings of flavors works beautifully and he is at the top of his craft.
Le Sergent Recruteur offers an excellent value at lunch with 39euros for entrée/plat or 49euros for entree/plat/dessert or the an à la carte menu. They also offer
a seasonal, five-course tasting menu for 98€ per person and accompanied with matching wines is 158€ per person.
If you have a special occasion you want to celebrate with family and friends, Le Sergent Recruteur has a beautiful private dining room on the lower level that seats 12. The chef can also design a custom menu.
41 rue Saint Louis en L'Ile, Ile Saint Louis, 75004
https://www.lesergentrecruteur.fr/en/
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9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.
Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping
9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers
Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping
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Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection make a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family, and I can write a handwritten note for you and include it in the envelope.
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Cost: $65- Free shipping
CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.
Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping
CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers
Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping