Feb
20
Les Cocottes de Christian Constant, Paris
I don’t know how many of you guys have been to Les Cocottes in the 7th arrondissement…Last time I went it was bustling with people but I think it’s safe to say this is the perfect place to eat lunch. Though the vibe of this restaurant screams “chic diner” the food is too delicious to write off as “simple diner food”. If you’re in Paris I highly suggest it! Just don’t order their version of the Caeser Salad though …
The presentation of the food here is consistent, all conveniently served in these little “cocottes”, or mini cast iron pans. Each of these come with mini wooden boards that magnetically attach themselves to the cocottes (such smart design, you’d think this idea was an obvious one). Waiters can lift these cocottes by the handle without having the fiddle around with the board. The cocotte pans are kind of like this restaurant’s schtick, almost like they’re trying to say…”food should be served this way! It’s the way Parisians want to eat”. Below, some foamy Lobster Ravioli.
Ravioli is covered with a foamy, soup like texture that tastes just like Lobster Bisque..but 10 x lighter and frothier. Ravioli isn’t filled with a useless paste of cheese and grated shellfish bits but whole pieces of fresh lobster.
This dish below was really “it” for me, the best plate on their menu (or at least from what I ordered). I am a sucker for arugula and balsamic vinaigrette and this one had both of those, but what topped it off were those hardened pieces of bacon that had been caramelized in a sugary syrup of Balsamic. Kind of similar to dipping bacon into maple syrup…And let’s not forget that soft boiled egg with a runny yolk to provide for extra dressing.
Bacon is everything!
Seared scallop on top of polenta with Balsamic sauce.
I’ve forgotten the proper names for each dish, but this one below was definitely some kind of Panna cotta, flavored with Vanilla and topped with dried fruit (which has been heavily spiced with Star Anise). The dried clementines or tangerines or oranges (seriously forgot which citrus fruit it was!) and the sauce that went with it was really bitter and sweet all at the same time.
One of Christian Constant’s famous desserts, the chocolate tart.
Les Cocottes de Christian Constant
135 Rue Saint-Dominique
75007 Paris, France
As always, your posts a generally drool-inducing (to an unattractive extent). You always manage to heighten irrational midnight cravings for the most luxurious of pieces de resistance and perfectly presented desserts. Ravioli drenched in lobster bisque? Seared scato try in the near future. Bisous Luxirare!llops (Mmmmm!!!!)?! Panna cotta? Chocolate tart?
Everything else I’ve ever eaten looks like lame precursors to the real thing…which I am making a point
xx Gaby
As always, your posts a generally drool-inducing (to an unattractive extent). You always manage to heighten irrational midnight cravings for the most luxurious of pieces de resistance and perfectly presented desserts. Ravioli drenched in lobster bisque? Seared scallops (Mmmmm!!!!)?! Panna cotta? Chocolate tart?
Everything else I’ve ever eaten looks like lame precursors to the real thing…which I am making a point to try in the near future. Bisous Luxirare!
xx Gaby
everything looks so delicious! i’m always inspired by reading your blog =)
Shit shit shit. The creamy golden yolk, the super juicy scallops and the chocolate tart are killing me!
Looks like they hit the perfect combination of simplicity and deliciousness.
yum!
Okay, now I must know what is wrong with their Caesar Salad.
Your blog never fails to make me hungry. I’m curious about the Caesar Salad, too!
Ahhh this all looks so delicious – especially the chocolate tart! *_*
I love this restaurant ! You should have tried the waffle, it’s absolutely delicious too… and your pictures are amazing as usual!
It’s just like 5 minutes away from my office……….
Thanks for this, now i’m just STARVING.
i love those little water glasses they use, like a mini dish. they have the same in the merci cafe. makes me happy x
Luxirare, how on earth do you manage to consume all this delicious food and stay slim and fit? You must have some special diet tricks, which I would love to learn. Before I used to think you are slim because you do not eat anything except your own “haute cuisine”, which is of course luxe, but also quite rare
But now I see your reports from different countries and restaurants – and I know if I eat all of the dishes you mentioned, I will be as fat as a pig. And you are not! So, what is your secret? Must be something very creative and elegant?
That chocolate tart looks INSANE. I’m getting a little drool-y over here.
mm mm that made me both hungry and want to go to Paris. Places should pay you for your reviews since I’m sure that they get an influx of hungry people after your posts.
this looks so good! I’m going to paris in april. anywhere else you’d recommend?
~degan.
that salad with that egg and that BACON
i believe in the power of bacon. and runny yolks too.
as always… food porn… thank you
This is so wrong for looking at it by lunch time, makes me so so hungry!
I love last photo…now I want eat chocolate:)
The scallops look amazing. I’m a sucker for anything with scallops!
luxirare!
you used to have such awesome food posts.. but this one just does not carry your signature on it.
im sad.
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I cannot wait to go back to Paris! You make me miss it so much!!
Wida
Missing Amsie Blog
I love this spot! Happened upon it by pure accident and spent an afternoon there. Glad you blogged about it.
Know and love that restaurant
I used to live nearby
Disapointing at times but usually a very good bet, especially on nights where you forgot to make reservations yet still want a good meal (as they don’t take any… you just wait a while with a drink at the counter and fight for your spot, bring a cute guy with you as the girl in charge make a bit a “favouritism”)
Especially good in winter with long slow cooked meals (try the potatoes stuffed with pig’s feet meat… sounds bad maybe but to die for !)
And there is a secret “salon” in the back… shhhhh
As i’ll be returning to Paris to live (sigh…) I’ll try this one. I know very well the area (worked across the street for 10 years) and never went there. This tells me it must be expensive, but oh so yummy.
wow I am so happy you are blogging about Paris now, I live here!
my stomach is grumbling as I write this…that soft yolk and shiny slab of chocolate are so evocative of perfect food experiences. i feel as though i’m right up close with the food, just from viewing these photos.
That chocolate tart looks so nice!
http://www.felifashion.wordpress.com
Hello! Beautiful pictures as always! These pictures in particular made me want to cry, they were so beautiful! I loved the pepper-encrusted seared scallops…
j’ai un peu faim, je crois.