Visit Date: July 23, 2016
A friend told me about this little restaurant in Paris.
第2章グルメ編の最終章はパリ6区のあるレストラン[highlight]「L’Epigramme」[/highlight]です。
お店のウェブサイト：L'Epigramme (Trip Advisor)
Speaking of the 6th arrondissement of Paris, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Odeon, and Cartier Latin are areas with a relatively long history in Paris. Nowadays, it’s famous not only among tourists, but also as an area where there are many students in particular. I also like this area in Paris, and I often arrange accommodation in this area, although it is a bit expensive.
And, of course, there are a huge number of restaurants in Paris. And just like in Tokyo, there are a lot of disappointments, which makes it very difficult to choose the right restaurant. In addition, if you are used to a popular restaurant, you must make a reservation.
This time, however, a friend who knows a lot about the restaurant scene in Paris had given me some, or many, restaurant recommendations in advance. Thank you very much!
However, I didn’t make a reservation in advance for a restaurant in Paris. So I called the restaurant at noon on the day of our visit, and unfortunately the first place I found was not open on that day. We tried our best to speak in French and the lady was very polite, so we were able to make a reservation for two couples.
The shop was located in a back alley, somewhat away from the hustle and bustle.
The appointment was set for 8pm. The reason we were a bit later than usual was to get Tour de France related tickets. I’ll introduce this area separately.
The location is around here. It’s relatively close to Odéon metro station, but it took us about 10 minutes to walk from Saint-Germain-des-Prés station. Our hotel is near Saint-Germain-des-Prés, so we walked there from our hotel.
Odeon, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, there are so many cafes and restaurants in this area, and it is very crowded at night. However, « L’Epigramme » is located a little far from these busy areas.
When we entered, we were welcomed by a pleasant, mature couple. We told them our reservation name and went to our seats. When we arrived, there were already a few customers.
Also at the desk in the back is a young woman who seems a little unsociable but is very beautiful. She also seems to be a member of this shop.
A wide range of classic bistro-style menu items
For the last day of the gourmet section, we chose a casual bistro instead of a high class restaurant. The menu is updated daily on the blackboard like this, which is very bistro-like.
The aperitif for the day was a casual beer. It’s summer, so it’s hot. Beer is also delicious in France. The usual Kronenbourg was served.
We took our time deciding which one to choose while having this. On this day, we had a simple starter, main course, and dessert. I’ve been eating too much for the past four days, lol.
Here are some of the items we received.
Tempra de gambas
The literal translation is « tempura of large prawns from the Mediterranean ». This was my starter. The prawns were plump, and the sauce was Americain. It was slightly different from the image of tempura, but it was hearty and very tasty.
Carré d’agneau rôti, asperges et petits pois
It is a so-called lamb chop. It is also popular in France. It’s less fatty and less peculiar than in Japan, so it’s not heavy and easy to eat. This is my wife’s main dish.
Filet de Canette rôtie
On the other hand, my main dish was not duck but duck (is it right?) My main dish was not duck but duck fillet roti. It was grilled to perfection. The strawberries and tomatoes on the side went very well with the meat.
Fromage: Brie du Meaux
The last dessert, I’ll have fromage. It was Brie de Meaux. It was served on a large plate, but it was a very light cheese with a lot of flavor, so I had no problem with this amount. I eat more cheese than most people, though. By the way, Meaux (a city in the northeast of Paris) is a city with many memories. I even stayed there once.
Moelleux au Chocolat
On the other hand, my wife’s dessert was Meru au chocolat. It’s also called fondant chocolat. To tell the truth, I was worried about whether to have fromage or this one. I could have had both, but I decided not to. Instead, I had a bite (or maybe a little more?) It was delicious. It was delicious. Chocolate is divine.
Wine that tickles the science mind?
Of course, we also order wine. We order by the bottle every day. It’s nice to be able to order a bottle if you’re not traveling alone. On this day, I ordered this wine which was recommended by the shop owner.
It’s an etiquette that seems to tickle the scientific mind a bit.
This is a wine from the Languedoc-Roussillon region. The cepage on the palate was Grenache and Syrah, probably Syrah-dominant. Long live Syrah. By the way, « La Racine Carrée » means square root. The written formula is a bit more difficult, though.
I think the price was about 30 euros.
I felt relaxed the whole time!
It’s a very small shop, but the kind and heartwarming service of the thoughtful couple and the young girl who I thought was a bit indifferent at first had a wonderful smile and was cheerful, making me feel relaxed throughout.
Of course, all the important meals were delicious. The food itself was mostly standard bistro food, but I felt relieved because this style was more French and local. I think I was more relieved because it was more common to go to this kind of restaurant until now. I thought this was a great restaurant that I would want to come back to again and again.
ということで、思い切って、だいぶ贅沢もして毎晩美味しい食事ざんまいをした、それを記録した2016年7月フランス旅行の第2章ですが、今回で最終回です。次回はこの2章の総括レポートを書く予定です。そして第3章へと続きます。（次回に続く）
