After that jam packed first day in Paris, it was time to unwind with some serious food.
Do you struggle to know where to eat when in Paris? Well I can give you a little spoiler- this is one restaurant which you have to eat in.
But first, like any Parisian story should start, it started in the wine cellar.
Sur Mesure has over 1000 bottles of wine in the cellar, from every far flung corner of the world. But of course it is the French wines that patrons keep ordering again and again. When we come to France, we want French wine, and the French are so patriotic they order their own!
It's like a treasure trove of the classics, the new up and coming winners, and the odd curve balls.
However the prize possession is this red from 1832. Why? Well the Mandarin Oriental is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group, which was founded in Canton in 1832 by
Scottish traders William Jardine and James Matheson. Oh and also a wine from 1832 is extremely, extremely rare.
No, no, we weren't cracking that open!
After sampling some very fine wines and Champagnes, we headed upstairs to the main restaurant, Sur Mesure Par Thierry Marx.
The restaurant is a sort of cocoon like space. Pure white, with white fabric draped across the walls, and white plates, table clothes and chairs, it's a a cozy yet very elegant space.
Sur Mesure Par Thierry Marx is a 2 Michelin Star restaurant which is a Parisian food but with a truly gastronomic flare. The brief states we will be taken on a journey of the senses.
Thierry Marx, is one of the world’s leading proponents of molecular gastronomy- basically the French answer to Heston.
We got a glimpse at this creativity with the amuse bouche. They came beautifully presented and left mystery until we ate them.
Well don't you think the balls on the spoons look like Maltesers? Yeah they were certainly not.
Also let me tell you, in the Mandarin Oriental Paris, bread will appear every few seconds. You'll try and bat it away, but resistance really is futile. They have so much selection, and it really is just too good.
My favourite still is the country loaf, although the rest of the table were fawning over the rice buns.
Knowing we were in capable wine hands, I said "You choose" to the waiter. If you don't know anything about wine- aka me- then sometimes this is just the best option. Although make sure you tell the waiter you budget! Wine can be thousands!
Sur Mesure Par Thierry Marx is a tasting menu restaurant, with either 6 or 9 dishes for dinner and 5 or 8 for lunch.
So with no further a do, the first course arrived. Fried scampi, crushed celery and granny smith apple foam.
Yes it looks odd, and to be honest sounds a little. Apples and fish? But the sweet and fish tastes went deliciously well together.
A deconstructed onion soup.
Sound so simple, but was probably one of my favourite dishes of the night.
Next I went for foie gras with smoked eel. Yes I know foie gras always divides people, but I like it. However their is an alternative for those who don't.
You have to hand it to them, it's very Instagram worthy.
Breton lobster glazed with citrus and crispy socca was up next. Lobster is always a funny one with me. Buying a whole lobster, I always seem disappointed, however this with another peice of fruit was just fantastic.
Seriously, they almost converted me to eat my 5 a day.
Finally for savoury, it was sweetbread spaghetti. The spaghetti, despite being Italian not French, was perfectly cooked, and the sweetbreads were a stand out ingredients. Despite being something people often shoo away, they really are fantastic if cooked right.
Lastly, but certainly not least was a Bento box of desserts. Soooo many desserts, Again, how beautiful?
By this point I was fit to burst. A rare feet for me, however I nibbled at each. I can confirm that the centre brownie was divine.
After dinner I ordered a coffee.
When it arrived upside down, I simple presumed they had laid the cup down first and were fetching the coffee.
I waited. And waited. Puzzled I turned the cup upright, only to discover it was another dessert!
Coffee mousse!
Wrapping up dinner, a few of us couldn't quite call it a night, and so headed to the garden I showed you in my last post. I'd been spying their Instagram account and saw a few rather awesome looking cocktails and needed to investigate myself.
Cocktail Mystère. You choose a base, either fruity, acid, bitter or spicy and the bartender create a mystery concoction. But best of all it's served in a pineapple!
But if that wasn't enough, La piste aux étoiles cocktail, made of Belvédère infused with Arlequins sweets, passion juice, strawberry and raspberry and cotton candy is a real treat.
It also looks like it could serve at least 2. Of course I had it to myself.
Just like at the cinema then. I never share my popcorn.
If you are in Paris, you have to pop in to Sur Mesure Par Thierry Marx, just make sure you don't get fooled by the coffee like me. Rookie mistake.
That food was just amazing!!
ReplyDeleteThose cocktails look so fun!
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