There’s been a proliferation of new restaurants opening in Paris in the past months with new and tried and true chefs. Here are two noteworthy ones.
Restaurant La Halle aux Grains
One of the most significant cultural events of 2021 was the opening of the La Bourse de Commerce Museum. A former stock exchange for wheat near the Louvre, the formidable, neo-classical building constructed in 1767 was transformed into a museum by billionaire Francois Pinault and contains his extensive private art collection, which is now open to the public.
The restaurant La Halle aux Grains inside the museum has been getting as much buzz as the museum with good reason. Top chefs and brothers Michael and Sebastien Bras have created a menu inspired by the rich and flavorful variety of seeds and grains they have discovered throughout France and from their international voyages. They sourced the other ingredients from the Aubrac, a region in south central France that is noted for its high-quality produce, beef and cheese. The result of the winning combination is an eclectic menu with a plethora of intriguing tastes and pairings. Our appetizer of slow-roasted onions with truffle juice had a smoky edge to it, and the main course of sliced chicken with braised red endive and a sprinkling of grains and spices was superb in its taste and presentation. The not overly sweet dessert was plump roasted figs with fig leaf flavored ice cream and a sprinkling of granola.
The other highlight of La Halle aux Grains is the stylish décor. Perched on the top floor of the museum, the restaurant is divided into a series of small dining rooms each containing no more than four tables and decorated in an appealing contemporary design. Another attraction that added to the experience is the views of Saint Eustache Church, the redesigned Les Halles, including the massive metal awning, and the Pompidou Museum.
La Halle aux Grains is open for lunch, dinner and for a tea and dessert menu from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., every day except Tuesday. You don’t need a museum ticket to enter the restaurant. Reservations a few weeks ahead of time is recommended.
Visit www.halleauxgrains.bras.fr.
Bomba
On the bustling Grands Boulevards lined with French cafes, Bomba is a breath of fresh air, offering nouveau Latin cuisine.
Chef Franco Colombien has elevated his craft by working in the kitchens of such famous chefs Paul Boucuse and Alain Ducasse and has opened his own restaurant. Instead of going the haute cuisine route, he’s returned to his Colombian roots, preparing a menu closer to his heart. The sharing or tapas plates include daurade fish ceviche, mini tacos with guacamole and marinated beef, grilled corn with cream and parmesan, and empanadas with chimichurri sauce. Don’t forget to order the guacamole, which has pomegranate seed that give it a bit of a sweet edge. Braised chicken marinated in beer for many hours with peanuts, hearty Argentinian steak, and grilled tuna with a piquant sauce are among the best of the main courses.
The creative cocktail menu at Bomba includes tequila with pink grapefruit and lemon juice and tonic, cachaça with passion fruit puree, pisco with lemon, strawberry juice, and Champagne.
Thursdays to Saturdays are the most festive at Bomba when the music is turned up and open until 2 a.m. The exotic, tropical interior with vines and branches hanging from the ceiling, wicker bar stools and mosaic tile floors makes you feel like you are in cafe the middle of an Amazon Forest.
Bomba is located just across from the Grevin Wax Museum and near the historic indoor passages Panorama, Jouffroy and Grand-Cerf.
Visit www.bombaparis.com.
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