Because every birth has a story, I invite you to discover the story of Gemini Family. Born in 2012, Gemini Family is first and foremost a transalpine cuisine inspired by old, gourmet family recipes.
The very first Parisian address saw the light of day in the capital's 7th arrondissement on the Vaneau side.
Following its success, Gemini Family opened a second location at Les Halles. And the Gemini Family saga is far from over, as Julia and Julien Zanon, the young couple with Italian roots behind these first two addresses, plan to open - with the rest of their very friendly team - two more restaurants in 2017: one in Saint Ouen and the other in the 17th arrondissement, rue Legendre.
This well-deserved success is partly due to what's on the plates, or rather the pots. Gemini Family plays the originality card, choosing to present certain pasta dishes directly in copper pans.
The menu starts with antipasti, with the famous mozzarella, or the large Burata to share. A word of advice: let yourself be tempted, as we were, by the melting stracciatella and its truffle cream, simply to die for!
Alternatively, opt for mozzarella fritters - ideal for sharing - or theantipasti di Gemini for two, featuring an assortment of grilled vegetables, 24-month Prosciutto and DOP mozzarella di Bufala.
What's next? This includes primi piatti for pasta lovers.
A total of 11 dishes are offered, each as tempting as the next, such as the Fusilli Quattro Formaggi (based on homemade fusilli), or the real Carbonara della zia with Speck, egg yolk, Parmesan and artichokes, or the Carbonara di Salvatore with Pancetta, onions, cream and langoustines.
A pleasant surprise? Gluten-free pastas and pizzas for intolerant eaters (€1 supplement).
Others may prefer the famous Roman pizzas, and here again, the choice proves difficult, so tempting are the proposals... In the end, I opt for the pizza my neighbor ordered a few minutes earlier: the Parma with tomato sauce, mozzarella and 24-month Parma. The freshness of the products, the crisp dough and the balance of the seasonings make this pizza one of the house's must-tries!
For the rest, there was a choice between the Verduri (tomato sauce, mozzarella, eggplant, zucchini & peppers), the Di Marco (tomato sauce, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil) or the famous Napoli (tomato sauce, mozzarella, anchovies, taggiasche olives & capers).
Finally, Gemini offers six"secondi piatti" dishes, featuring veal escalope: breaded, with lemon, or breaded with Mozzarella di Bufala au gratin and 24-month Parma ham.
And if after all that you're still hungry, don't spoil yourself and indulge in Gemini Family desserts: panna cota, ice cream, chocolate mousse, café gourmand... Special mention for the tiramisu classico. Based on a secret recipe from Julien's grandmother, this airy, gourmet tiramisu is unquestionably one of the best we've ever had!
For those in a hurry, note that you can also take away or have it delivered via Deliveroo!
But it would be a shame to miss the old-fashioned yet modern decor offered by Gemini Les Halles, where we were. Between the schoolboy chairs unearthed from a secondhand shop and the steel and wood stools and tables designed by Italian craftsmen from the Bologna region, the Gemini Family team has taken great care with the visual aspect of their restaurant, right down to the crockery... the jars in the dining room, for example, are Julien's grandmother's, in which she used to prepare the vegetables from her garden!
In short, Gemini Family is a friendly, family atmosphere with delicious dishes based on home-grown produce, some of whose recipes have been handed down from Julia and Julien's Italian grandmothers and great-aunts. You'd be wrong to miss out!
Practical info:
Gemini Family
Gemini Les Halles: 16 rue des Halles, 75001 Paris
Gemini Vaneau: 83 rue Vaneau, 75007 Paris
Gemini Saint Ouen: 21 rue de la clé des champs, 93400 Saint Ouen (opening soon)
Gemini Legendre: 34 rue Legendre, 75017 Paris (Opening soon)
Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.
More information
Gemini Les Halles: 16 rue des Halles, 75001 Paris Gemini Vaneau: 83 rue Vaneau, 75007 Paris Gemini Saint Ouen: 21 rue de la cité des champs, 93400 Saint Ouen (opening soon) Gemini Legendre: 34 rue Legendre, 75017 Paris (opening soon)
