Auberge du 15, New Chef at Etangs de Corot & Cabinet de Curiosite Culinaire Buzz

   1122  
Auberge du 15, New Chef at Etangs de Corot & Cabinet de Curiosite Culinaire Buzz
L’Auberge du XV After a delicious lunch at the latest “must visit” bistro headed by Nicolas Castelet and his brother Florent, the talented and passionate patissier, the guys give BUZZ their mission statement, discuss their concept. This is a very odd area, almost opposite the prison, in hospital central. Why will people come here? Well, as prisons go, it’s the 3-Michelin star one, they queue up to get in, not out! This is a peaceful area, parking’s easy, and no, we haven’t had any orders to send meals to the prison, yet! We’re the catalysts who’ll bring other hot chefs to this location. Just down the road our friend has set up Boulangerie Berthollet, where our bread comes from. Watch this area, it’s up and coming. What makes Auberge du 15 different from the others? The neo-retro feeling, given by the décor and the service en salle by Maxime Duteil and Laetitia. People feel as if they’re in the countryside, not in the middle of Paris; they like that. The accent’s not on starters, but on mains to share. Each course comes to the table in, say, a china tureen if it’s soup, and is left there. We use copper pots for the mains. And for dessert, Florent prepares whole tarts, flans, mousse, served on multi-story cake stands, just as we remember our grandmother serving. Florent’s soufflés are already the talk of the town. What’s your take on sustainable fishing? Here, look at the menu. There’s only ever two fish dishes, that’s our way of not abusing and overusing fish. All products and wines are French. Organic meat and free-range game, poultry and beef are easier to get hold of than fish. Also I’m a Taurus star sign and love working with meat! I know all my suppliers, we’re from the Aubrac region, that’s where our friend and neighbor Michel Bras is. The vegetables come from our 2-hectare potager, in Brittany, same concept as Alain Passard. Next year we’re buying a horse to plough the fields. I was so inspired by Monsieur Passard when I worked at Arpège. But attention! Just because a label says “bio” doesn’t make it good! Where else did you work? With Christian Le Squer at Ledoyen, Jean-Franҫois Piège at Le Crillon and chez Joel Robuchon. Of course, everyone wants the gossip on my time at Ralph’s. I was there for the launch and I can tell you it was pretty chaotic. Ralph Lauren has very definite ways of doing things and so do I! Let’s just say I decided to quit due to differences of opinion. I do like the Black Angus beef that comes from his ranch, but I don’t like the way he wanted it prepared! How often will you change the menu? Every day, if necessary, depending on what ingredients my friends send from the Aubrac. If you could be a dish? Hmm, wow! Actually I’d be l’aligot. Legend says that it was invented by three clergymen eating together in the Auvergne. It’s a potato dish, and I use the Rattes variety to make mine. It’s really mashed potato to which very fresh Cantal cheese is added. You have to beat the hell out of it to make it really smooth, it gets an elastic texture and when you serve it you need a pair of silver scissors to cut it! That’s what I’d be. I served it today with the canette, the priests ate it as a main dish, but it goes with everything. It’s the most convivial dish I know. And Florent, which dish are you? I’m a tall elegant Charlotte, which has actually become the signature dessert of the Auberge. I make it with fresh fruit, today it’s raspberry, tomorrow who knows! Photo credits: ©Photos ADELAP L’Auberge du XV Tél: 01 47 07 07 45 15, rue de la Santé, Paris 13th Métro: Port Royal/Saint-Jacques Closed Sun-Mon Lunch Formula- 3 courses 26€ Dinner 50-70€ + wine Facebook: Auberge du 15 Les Paillotes at Les Etangs de Corot Les Paillotes, sitting on stilts high above the river that runs through Les Etangs de Corot, is a pure Manet moment. Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot once lived nearby and images of his beautiful landscapes punctuate the walls of Les Etangs. The airy summer restaurant, reached via fragrant gardens at Les Etangs, is open from May until mid-September. This is the first season for chef Ivan Duchene, a Bordeaux-born disciple of Ducasse who honed his craft worldwide from the legendary L’Hôtel du Cap–Eden-Roc, under chef Arnaud Poete, via London, Brisbane and Indonesia. He’s convinced, from his time at The Dorchester and The Goring, that English cuisine is highly underrated, and is full of admiration for Brit products. Now, Duchene (only 32) has decided “East, west, home’s best.” So, he’s unpacked his suitcases and is planning exciting new menus for Les Etangs de Corot. A little spice here and there, but when he worked abroad his clients only wanted “traditional French dishes.” He does not regret a…
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ALREADY SUBSCRIBED?

More in Auberge XV, Etangs Corot, France restaurants, Guy Martin, Ivan Duchene, Paillotes, Paris restaurants, Restaurant reviews

Previous Article 5 Historic Castles: Lavardin, Riquewihr, Roche-Guyon, Chateauneuf, Baux-en-Provence
Next Article Cherries at Hediard


Born in Hampton, Middlesex, UK, Margaret Kemp is a lifestyle journalist, based between London, Paris and the world. Intensive cookery courses at The Cordon Bleu, London, a wedding gift from a very astute ex-husband, gave her the base that would take her travelling (leaving the astute one behind) in search of rare food and wine experiences, such as the vineyards of Thailand, 'gator hunting in South Florida, learning to make eye-watering spicy food in Kerala;pasta making in a tiny Tuscany trattoria. She has contributed to The Guardian, The Financial Times Weekend and FT. How To Spend It.com, The Spectator, Condé Nast Traveller, Food & Travel, and Luxos Magazine. She also advises as consultant to luxury hotels and restaurants. Over the years, Kemp has amassed a faithful following on BonjourParis. If she were a dish she'd be Alain Passard's Millefeuille “Caprice d'Enfant”, as a painting: Manet’s Dejeuner sur l’herbe !