7.0 Philippe Excoffier, 18, rue de l'Exposition, (Buses: #80 and 90), 01.45.51.78.08, closed Saturday noon and Sundays, opened almost a year ago but really didn't create much of a buzz then. This is a little surprising since he trained with Guy Martin & Alain Senderens, did 10 years time at the American Embassy, and wrote a book on his recipes there. No matter; a glowing review in the Le Monde woke me up and I went today with my longest-going French-French friend in town.
While there is a 25 for 2, 29 E for 3-course "menu, the 37 E menu-carte appealed to both of us much more.
She chose a "salad" of artichoke quarters, beets, limas and white truffle slices which was outstanding and my sauteed foie gras was incredibly and perfectly offset by what was called a minestrone of pineapple slices.
My good old friend, pondering the fine alternatives, chose to go with the daurade with vegetables and a potato puree, a good choice, and I took the duck filets which were underdone as I like them, with my favorite tiny, slightly salted potatoes from Noirmoutier; again all exellent.
We both hankered after the Dome of Chocolate and enjoyed that as well as the nummies and coffee that followed.
With a bottle and glass of red Loire, splendid crusty warm bread and no bottled water, our bill was 117 E.
Go? Escoffier/Excoffier/whatever, the guy can cook.
