Mediterranean... on the sun-drenched Golden Isles... A new Mediterranean address has opened in Pigalle, headed by Arthur Billard and Jules Behar . Here, the chef moves away from the Italian recipes of Marzo and the Greek specialties ofEtsi, where he once worked, and imagines a sunny landmark where childhood memories and dishes prepared by his Sephardic Egyptian grandmothers ofItalian and Lebanese origin can be brought to life.
A melting pot of references, ingested and transcribed behind the stove by the chef himself, in duo with Lebanese chef Marc Elie Hayek, a graduate of the Ferrandi school and having worked in the kitchens of Guy Savoy, Prince Noir and Contraste. At his side is Arthur Billard, in charge of introducing the curious to the finest bottles from Corsica, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and, of course, France.
At lunchtime, simplicity is the order of the day, with an original format: a single large à la carte plate that changes every week, composed of cooked and raw vegetables, a sauce, fresh herbs, starches, cereals, and a central food item of your choice, meat, fish or vegetarian option.
At the time of our visit, thelunchtime plate (€19) featured spiced rice pilaf, paprika potatoes, oyster mushrooms with honey and almonds, red cabbage salad, carrots with cumin and labneh with dill; to be matched with skewers of marinated chicken, olive-crusted cod or zucchini stuffed with feta, fresh goat's cheese and mint.
It's worth noting that it's still possible to order the nightly special s - which we'll tell you about in a moment. But the lunchtime set menu seems to be a hit with local residents and workers, and the bistro was simply bursting at the seams when we visited!
In the evening, it's all about sharing, with Mediterranean dishes to share with friends and the jovial owner: cecina de Leon (9€), babaganoush (9€), bricks de Tunis (9€), kefta and Lebanese tabbouleh (13€), pork belly, chard and dates. Pick and choose, and discover new flavors!
Accompanied, of course, by cocktails based on local spirits, arak, masticha, boukha and other wines from around the Mediterranean, finishing with a particularly successful dessert, like the Greek yoghurt with orange blossom topped with pistachios and pomegranate seeds, or the chocolate cake topped with crispy angel hair.
Location
Gargoyle
7 Rue Jean-Baptiste Pigalle
75009 Paris 9
Official website
www.gargouille-restaurant.fr
