Bubbly is a great start to any meal, especially a meal served in a restaurant that bears the nickname of one of the world’s first known master chefs. Way back in fourteenth century France, Guillaume Tirel (who often went by Taillevent) was said to have written the quintessential haute cuisine cookbook, Le Viandier .

 

A photo of a copy of the fourteenth century cookbook Le Viandier at Le Taillevent in Paris, France.
A Copy of the Fourteenth Century Cookbook Le Viandier at Le Taillevent in Paris, France

 

We may never know who the true author of Le Viandier really was (since plagiarism was quite rampant back in the Middle Ages). Whether or not Tirel was the true author of the tome is still up for debate, but one thing is for sure. If you find yourself in need of a medieval recipe featuring peacock or swan as an ingredient, Le Viandier apparently has you covered.

 

A photo of a sommelier serving port wine from the French side of southwest Andorra being served out of a giant glass jug and syringe at Le Taillevent in Paris, France.
Adding to Our Wish List – A Trip to Andorra (or Le Taillevent in Paris, France) for More Magical Port Wine Served Via a Giant Glass Syringe

 

At Le Taillevent in Paris you will find neither peacock nor swan on the menu. Instead Chef Alain Solivérès and his team stir up dishes like oursins violet en coque oeufs de poule brouillés (purple sea urchins served in their shell with scrambled eggs). The giant menu (seriously, the massive menu may put you in danger of taking out a wine glass or two) is chock full of sophisticated cuisine options, but Le Taillevent is also equally well known for its massive catalog of 2,800 wines and spirits.

 

A photo of Le Taillevent's signature dish, boudin de homard bleu (blue lobster sausage).
Le Taillevent Has Been Around Since 1946 and One of the Restaurant’s Signature Dishes is Boudin de Homard Bleu (Blue Lobster Sausage)

 

We kicked our meal off with some delightful cheesy nuggets before serious eye candy arrived at our table. The cresson de fontaine et caviar osciètre (watercress and ossetra caviar) dish was almost to pretty to eat.

 

In addition to Le Taillevent, here’s a list of other neat little local spots we love across France.

 

The emerald green dish was so visually stunning it looked like a beautiful glass paperweight (check out the pretty picture at the top of our post). We also had one of Le Taillevent’s signature dishes, boudin de homard bleu (a sausage made out of blue lobster).

 

A photo of peautre du Pays de Sault cuisiné comme un risotto avec cuisses de grenouilles dorées (delicious spelt from the Pays de Sault region of France cooked risotto style and served with frog legs at Le Taillevent in Paris.
Sorry Kermit – Peautre du Pays de Sault Cuisiné Comme un Risotto Avec Cuisses de Grenouilles Dorées (Delicious Spelt from the Pays de Sault Region of France Cooked Risotto Style and Served With Frogs’ Legs at Le Taillevent in Paris

 

One of our favorite dishes of the evening was the epeautre du pays de sault cuisiné comme un risotto avec cuisses de grenouilles dorées (a delicious spelt from the Pays de Sault that is cooked like a risotto and served with frogs’ legs).

 

A photo of canard de Challans croûte de dragées légumes d'hiver en aigre doux (Challans duck with a Jordan almond crust served with sweet and sour winter vegetables) at Le Taillevent in Paris, France.
Canard de Challans Croûte de Dragées et Légumes d’Hiver en Aigre Doux (Challans Duck With a Jordan Almond Crust Served With Sweet and Sour Winter Vegetables) at Le Taillevent in Paris, France.

 

One of the more creative items we tasted at Le Taillevent was a Challans duck dish. Challans duck is a bit like the duck equivalent of what jamón ibérico de bellota is to ham in Spain. Whereas the free range pigs in Spain feast like pig kings on acorns, the Challans duck is said to live a life in the apparent duck paradise in the Vendée area of France before it ends up on gourmet menus. What made the dish so interesting wasn’t just how tender the meat was, but the caramel flavoring of the crust and the surprising pops of taste from the veggies. (The only thing that we’ve ever had that was even remotely similar to Le Taillevent’s sweet and sour vegetables was a crazy strawberry we had during a dinner at Tapas Molecular Bar in Tokyo that ended up being a beet.)

 

A photo of the fromage (cheese) cart at Le Taillevent in Paris, France.
Say Fromage – The Cheese Cart at Le Taillevent in Paris, France

 

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about visiting France, it’s that you must always save room for the cheese cart because it never fails to impress your eyes and your stomach. After a few hops across the pond, we’ve also learned that Cuisse de Grenouille (frogs’ legs) is a super hip local French fashion brand, that white truffles always taste amazing (yes, even in macarons) and that it is in fact possible to legally sleep in a French bakery.

 

A photo of a palate cleanser at Le Taillevent in Paris, France.
Cleanse Your Palate the French Way at Le Taillevent in Paris, France

 

Le Taillevent is by no means a typical night out in France, but if you’re looking for an excuse to splurge (or an opportunity to try really good frogs legs), hitting up this multi Michelin starred spot is sure to be a night you won’t soon forget.

 

A photo of the exterior of Le Taillevent restaurant in Paris, France.
Le Taillevent in Paris, France

 

Le Taillevent
Address: 15 Rue Lamennais
75008 Paris, France
Hours: Monday Through Friday 10:30am to 7:30pm, Saturday 11:00am to 8:00pm
Phone: +33 1 44 95 15 01
Email: letaillevent@taillevent.com
Pricing (All in Euros): Set Tasting Menu €88 Per Person for Lunch and €198 for Dinner