Review: David Toutain
David Toutain was our first fine dining stop in Paris, and it also happened to be one of our favorites. When we were doing our research on where to eat in one of the best food cities in the world, we noticed that the name David Toutain kept appearing over and over again. After digging a bit deeper, we knew we just had to eat here.
With one Michelin star already, Chef Toutain is reputed for his modern French cuisine with a slight Asian twist. The restaurant offers two options nightly: a 5-course Menu Carte Blanche (“blank slate” tasting menu) for 80 euros or a longer 8-course one for 110 euros. Note that there are also many complimentary amuse bouches throughout the meal, so for the quality and quantity of food we were served, we thought it was one of the best deals in the city.
The inside of the restaurant is clean and modern, and has a nature theme throughout.
The nightly menu.
After a long day of walking around, we were definitely hungry enough for the full 8-course menu. Our meal began with some delicious an very creative amuse bouches. First up was the Chip with Legumes, Broccoli, Mustard, and Microgreens. While good, it was not as memorable as the other small bites which I thought showed a lot more finesse.
Next up was the Juniper Cream Roll. Eating this was like taking a bite out of a pine tree – very fragrant.
We were then served Maple Leaves with Whipped Butter Cream and Vinegar. I’ve never tried pairing vinegar with something sweet before, but they were delicious together! I also loved how much finesse the maple leaves demonstrated.
Even the bread course was unforgettable! The first bread was a Buckwheat and Rice Bread, crunchy and seedy, perfect with some Salted Normandy Butter.
The House-made Brioche was warm and flaky, and I’m sure I could have stuffed three of these down without a second thought…
The final amuse bouche was one of the restaurant’s signature dishes: Egg Yolk with Caramel Creme. Very light and delicately sweet.
Our first official course was a Cured Cod with Fresh Shaved Almonds, Clams, Radish with a Consomme of Lemongrass, Kaffir Leaves, Fennel and Onion. Try saying that five times fast 😛
Following was the Shaved Calamari, White Asparagus, Peanuts, Dashi, and Salmon Roe. The calamari had a wonderful texture, and our server described it as shaved into noodles!
Our third course was beautifully plated: Smoked Salmon with Basil Cream and Pea Puree. Very bright dish both in terms of flavors and presentation!
Another one of Chef Toutain’s signature dishes is his lobster – in this case, the Poached Lobster with Purple Carrot, Caramel, and Carrot Puree – which the restaurant was offering as a supplement for 30 euros that evening. Even though we rarely opt for supplements in tasting menus, our server informed us that we could split the dish, so what you’re seeing below is actually a half portion. And boy am I glad we got the supplement. This was perhaps one of the most perfect pieces of lobster I had ever eaten in my life. Highly, highly recommend getting this if available.
Next up was another one of our favorites from the night, the Smoked Eel with Black Sesame and Green Apple. This was such a mind-boggling dish for me at first – I had never tried pairing black sesame with eel before, but it really worked. There was so much flavor packed into this little dish.
For the final savory course, we were served a Filet of Veal with Zucchini, Quinoa, and Lemon Cream. Perfectly cooked veal – what more could you ask for? 🙂
Before we were served dessert, we enjoyed a palate cleanser of White Chocolate, Cauliflower, and Coconut. Very refreshing and I could definitely see this being expanded into a stand-alone dessert course.
Our first dessert was a Cream of Beer, Milk Ice Cream, Crispy Sugar Roll with Milk Cream, and Yeast. Both of us really love milky desserts so this was perfect for us.
Our last official course was Strawberry, Mango Ice Cream, Meringue, a dish that truly reminded me of summer and the fresh fruit available to us.
Our meal didn’t end there though! Before we got our bill, a trio of mini dessert bites were served, 1) Adzuki Bean and Raspberry Beignets, 2) Lychee Mochi, and 3) Black Sesame Macaron Shells. Out of the three my favorite was definitely the beignets – the red bean and raspberry filling was so unique and delicious!
By the end of the night, we were completely captivated by French cuisine and Chef Toutain’s food. Paris has so many amazing restaurants to offer, but if you only have a few days in the city and want to maximize your culinary experience, make sure that David Toutain is on your list! Just be sure to make reservations at least a few weeks in advance (I made mine 60 days in advance, but I’m not sure if that was necessary).
Final Rating: 5/5
Price: $$$$
David Toutain
29 Rue Surcouf, 75007 Paris, France
+33.145.50.11.10
http://davidtoutain.com/