It’s the food event that will make you feel like going to the restaurant at 6pm. Alain Ducasse has entrusted Allard, the mythical bistro in the 6th, to Alexia Duchêne, for a gourmet pop-that is already creating the buzz amongst. foodies. Book your table!
Once upon a time there was Alexia Duchêne and Alain Ducasse
They met during a Top Chef contest, and since, the maestro has kept an eye on his student To such an extent, he has given her carte blanche until December (and why not longer?) to be at the helm of Allard, his cult bistro in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
What flair! By taking under his wing Alexia Duchêne (ex-Taillevent, Frenchie Covent Garden and Passerini), Alain Ducasse puts the spotlight on this young hyperactive 24-year-old cheffe and no doubt one of the most talented of her generation. She is the one who all summer long fed the party-goers of Wanderlust and has just published a very impressive recipe book.
Just the kind of brasserie menu we dream of
Affordable prices, updated sourcing, colourful plates to be shared, codes borrowed from bistronomy as well as the new chef-driven tables: this pop-up is resolutely in keeping with the times and benefits from a real atmosphere.
À la carte: you can choose to order a starter-dish or then share everything... Pissaladière (€6), radishes with butter and fish eggs (€6), Bankal trout, beet, raw horseradish cream (€14), turbot, baked onion, parsley and white butter in the evening (€32)…
But the star of the menu certainly remains an update of the house signature duck with olives revisited as a pithiviers, the famous flaky deep dish pie escorted with a wild olive and nut sauce (€38).
Desserts are also playing the 2.0 card! The classic Fontainebleau is twisted with glazed carrots, the digestive mandarin-water cress sorbet is an exceptional natural moment and the Bourdaloue tart comes with a creamy Jerusalem ice cream.
The revival of a mythical address
Founded in 1932 by Marthe Allard, a native of Burgundy who arrived in Paris with the secret recipes of her family, this mythical bistro is known for its lineage of women chefs in the kitchen. And it was actually Pauline Berghonnier, candidate of Top Chef 2020, presented at the time as the “bistro cheffe”, protégée of Ducasse, who was in charge of the kitchen before the arrival of Alexia Duchêne, due to her maternity leave.
While the decor remains obviously unchanged (red velvet banquettes, rest rooms customized by all the visiting artists, old frames…), the small novelty takes place above the diners’ heads with a clever anti-covid ventilation system “which all the top hospitals envy us!”, affirms Monsieur Ducasse. And the good news is that despite the curfew, the restaurant will stay open in the evening starting at 6pm.
Lunch service maintained, dinner starting at 6pm.
© Pierre Monetta
Also discover the eat-in cellar of Augustin Marchand’Vins nearby and the best burgers in Paris.
