For his part, brother Arnaud, who until now ran the exquisite and confidential Hégia guest house in his native Basque country, has moved to the capital after accepting the role of guest chef for a year at the Café Pleyel, adjacent to the famous concert hall. A space bathed in light and ultra-welcoming, with its deep reds and black armchairs.
The menu, which is fairly short, offers a range of perfect dishes: tartare of lean meats with roasted fennel and pumpkin seeds; brandade of foie gras and mesclun; fillet of red mullet and large tomatoes caramelised just right. For dessert, a delicate armagnac snoutbreaker with a light vanilla cream; in fact, little biscuits that you fish out with a spoon in a milky cream. Divine!
Around €40.
Salle Pleyel: 252, rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, 75008 Paris.
Tel.: 01 53 75 28 44
