Anniversary dinner next week

[Cookingthebooks]

I'm over-thinking this, I know. But I can't decide where to reserve for dinner to celebrate our anniversary, next Monday. We live in Paris and love to eat out. But for this occasion, I'm looking for something special. So far, I've considered:

-Taillevent -- But with the menu découverte at 180 euros, too expensive.

-Les Fables de la Fontaine -- Love it, but have been there so many times. Shouldn't we try something new?

-Gaya -- Strong contender but almost no info about it anywhere. Has anyone eaten here recently?

-Ze Kitchen Galerie -- Another strong possibility but we've eaten at KGB twice in the last two weeks. Overkill?

-La Régalade / Saint-Honoré -- Love it, love the prices. And yet... this doesn't feel "special occasion" enough to me... I think because we ate at the original fairly recently.

-Yam Tcha -- closed on Mondays.

-Les Papilles -- Will be closed for vacation.

Any suggestions, either from the list above or other new ideas?

[Cookingthebooks]

Thanks for all your suggestions. We ended up at Ze Kitchen Galerie. I was leaning towards La Grande Cascade, but I couldn't convince my husband to embark on the journey after an 11-hour day at work. ZKG beckoned, only a 10-minute walk from our apartment.

I was quite disappointed by ZKG's food, especially in comparison to KGB. Is the student overtaking the master? We had the tasting menu, so we sampled a range of dishes. The main problems were an over-abundance of lemongrass and ginger -- both appeared as major flavor components in 4 out of 5 of the entrées or plats -- and a repeat of the sauces. The same sauce (or something highly similar) appeared at least three different times.

I'm glad we sampled ZKG, but I won't be going back... not when KGB is so much more subtle, creative and delicious.

[Parigi]

"The main problems were an over-abundance of lemongrass and ginger -- both appeared as major flavor components in 4 out of 5 of the entrées or plats"

You put your finger on something that I don't like about ZKG. It's a genre thAng.
Sometimes, often, ZKB seems to engage in lazy when-in-doubt kind of fusion. A lot of "modern" leaning chefs in France seem to feel obliged to put in a citronnelle or ginger or aigre-doux note in order to have credibility.
A place like Carte Blanche actually does this very well. In comparison ZKB's aigre-doux-ginger trip seems dialled in.

[Cookingthebooks]

Exactly, Parigi. I forgot to mention the aigre-doux. It appeared in every dish except dessert, which made the meal very one-note. I agree with the "dialed in" fusion -- my husband said the same thing.

[ChefJune]

Have you been to Maceo? They have great food at wonderful prices, and a really celebratory atmosphere. And they're open on Monday.

[olivierb]

You could try La Grande Cascade (there is an all inclusive menu at 85 EUR), or Rostang (4 courses with wine pairings for 150 EUR, but you have to ask for it when making your reservation).
Also, if you're willing to have a late dinner, Savoy has what looks like a fantastic deal with a 130 EUR b.i. menu... but it's closed on Mondays unfortunately.

[John Talbott]

Just the two of you, yes, no kids, grandkids, friends, hangers-on, etc?
I'd go for the Grande Cascade too or Le Pre Catalan, presuming you have a car or are up for taxis.
John

[mangeur]

Souphie has suggested that Grande Cascade is a pleasant walk through the woods from the nearest metro stop, Porre d'Autyeuil I believe but he should correct me. Would he please plot the route for us here?

[souphie]

Google Maps says 35 min walk from Porte d'Auteuil: http://maps.google.fr/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Porte+d'Auteuil,+Paris&daddr=Pavillon+de+la+grande+cascade,+Paris&hl=fr&geocode=Fcdd6QIdFXMiACl3AVdkt3rmRzFXouPG1uAl5Q%3BFeSn6QIdGlUiACFq4Y7uekQCsw&mra=ls&dirflg=w&sll=48.859407,2.247047&sspn=0.056921,0.139904&ie=UTF8&z=14

That said, the closest métro is the RER Avenue Henri Martin, not much closer: http://maps.google.fr/maps?f=d&so...

[John Talbott]

I'm a runner/jogger/walker/limper early in the AM, and love the Bois but I've walked to the GC from the Porte d'Auteuil and if it's really hot as it has been, I'd cab in.

[souphie]

Oops, wrong link. Here's the right one:
http://maps.google.fr/maps?f=d&so...

Definitely a 35 min walk. Also 10 min biking, downhill.

[Nancy S.]

How about Passage 53? The food is exquisite.

[Maximilien]

Gaya, I've been there 2 years ago for lunch and really liked it; the menu is probably different, but if you like fish ir's a good option IMO.

You could go to Le Cinq with the 80e lunch deal.

M.