L'ESSENTIEL
neighborhood table

Gently caress with your eyes the slate board that modestly announces dishes of exemplary freshness, perfect ingredients, and an original, elegant touch. Hesitate between the crispy confit pork shoulder, the gravlax salmon with lime and basil condiment, or quite simply the charcuterie platter that evokes the fragrant spirit of Cantal as a starter, before diving into the sea bass fillet with vegetable brunoise, hazelnuts, and creamy fish stock, or the chicken cooked two ways with seasonal vegetables and a rich jus—knowing full well you’ll have to forgo the rest. What heartbreak! Save a little room for the Auvergne cheeses and/or the day’s desserts: vanilla Bourbon crème brûlée, chocolate mousse, praline, cocoa crumble, lemon tart… keeping a “little space” is the true epicurean’s delight.

With your mouth watering, read through the beautiful wine list, by the glass or by the bottle, and take a quick tour of France’s hillsides, vineyards, and slopes as the sun sets on golden grapes. Seek out that perfect nectar you sip without thirst, just to delight the palate… Burgundy, Beaujolais, Rhône, Provence, Loire, Bordeaux, Languedoc… The moment is crucial, as you must find the perfect harmony between food and drink.

Thankfully, Geoffroy is there to suggest, advise, and serve—just like Mathieu in the kitchen, with his precise gestures and perfect cooking.

L’Essentiel, a true “neighborhood table”—what a beautiful idea when you're in Plaisance, where the shadow of the great Brassens still lingers, he who was never one to be fooled when he sat down at the table…