Casual and subtle elegance abound at this tiny neighborhood restaurant buried deep in the 17th. Less like it’s other three-star Michelin brethren around town, L’Astrance is subdued, simple and refined. The waiters still wear suits but they’ve abandoned the ties for an open neck. The slate colored walls are quite soothing with splashes of yellow here and there. It doesn’t feel as stuffy as it’s counterparts and much more relaxed.
The menu echoes the simple décor. On one side you find a list of everything that is in season – mushrooms, black radishes, oysters, fish – and on the other side three menus. There are no dishes listed under the menus. You simple trust the chef that what he’s about to present will be the freshest-prepared food of the season. We both settle on the Menu L’Astrance and let the surprises arrive.
I won’t go into too many details about the overall dining experience – I’m still recovering from what happened next. But if you’re curious, you can see the pictures here. It was a lovely meal with small, beautifully prepared, perfectly cooked dishes all in harmony with the season. Service was efficient, polite, smiling, but not stuffy or snobbish. Our two and a half hour lunch was leisurely, the only way to truly enjoy a meal of this standing.
We paid the check and exited the tiny glass storefront, both well fed and happy. Until two hours later that is.
Lounging on the couch while Geoffroy looked over his mail, I felt a strange sensation come over my body. My smile quickly turned to dread as I broke into a cold, clammy sweat. Something wasn’t quite right. I scurried to the bathroom just in time before my body violently ejected my rather expensive meal. Don’t worry; I won’t go into too many more details. The next ten hours or so passed in a dizzy haze.
The next morning, I felt slightly better although quite fragile. My body finally stopped ejecting water and applesauce, so I gathered I was on the road to recovery. Buoyed by my rising appetite, Geoffory proceeded to prepare me a meal of love. In just a few short days, we’re celebrating our one year anniversary.
He headed to the kitchen and proceeded to create a lovely, intimate dinner for two: lobster two ways (one with artichokes, one with Porcini mushrooms), and duck with sweat and sour sauce. We opened a split of Laurent Perrier champagne, lit the candles, and toasted to an incredible year as a couple.
Although my appetite didn’t last throughout the meal, every dish was heavenly. Ah, to be in love in Paris having just finished an amazing meal cooked by your true love. C’est la vie!
But as luck would have it, my body wasn’t quite ready to return to the road back to health. No, instead I spent a sleepless night having deep, intense conversations with my porcelain friend, le toilet. C’est la vie.
As a lover of food, it was a hard end to two very incredible meals. Oh well, I know there will be more to come. Perhaps next time I can keep them down!
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