The Comptoir de la Gastronomie

Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie is located 9 minutes walk from the Relais du Louvre. This address is an institution that was founded in 1894. The place is shared between a delicatessen and a restaurant, as we sometimes see in Italy. The delicatessen offers many quality products and not only foie gras. The restaurant menu develops many dishes around foie gras but not only

The restaurant

You will have to book at least the day before because the address is well known and often mentioned in the guides. The atmosphere is in the spirit of the classic Parisian brasserie. The tables are not too tight and the room is not too noisy. The concept of delicatessen & restaurant is often seen in Italy but in Paris, it is not so frequent. We found the idea interesting because what could be more obvious than wanting to buy a product that you have enjoyed after having tasted it?

In the restaurant’s menu, you will find about half of the dishes with culinary influences from southwest France: Duck and foie gras. For example, a pan-seared duck foie gras, a roasted duck breast with sweet spices and mashed potatoes or a terrine of home-made semi-cooked duck foie gras, chutney and toast. All this makes your mouth water.

We start with an organic egg casserole with duck foie gras and mushrooms. It’s a soft-boiled egg in sauce, in this case made with cream and veal stock and garnished with shavings of foie gras and mushrooms. It’s hard to believe that this is not delicious. It is savored with an excellent bread, which we forgot to ask from which baker it came.

I unfortunately made the mistake of ordering a Cahors Malbec which is a wine that is much too tannic and structured for this dish that would have called for a white or red Burgundy instead. Please note that the menu mentions each time the food and wine pairing.

Then, there are duck foie gras ravioli with truffle cream that I would have been well inspired to taste with a white Burgundy, or even a white from the Loire, quite fruity. I will have to try it again because I really enjoyed this dish.

I was surprised to find a homemade Paris-Brest on the menu. It is indeed quite common to find very elaborate pastries that are outsourced to pastry chefs, and this is not shocking. The choux pastry is really a success, and it is the most difficult because it does not bear the lack of freshness (less than 24h). It is slightly crunchy on the surface and very tender in the middle. How do they do it? My sweet tooth was waiting to be served by more pralines in the cream.

I finished my meal with the feeling of a very well interpreted cuisine and a menu that is both balanced and diversified while offering many dishes from the southwest. The lover of foie gras and other ducks will find his happiness there. The service is diligent and attentive and the setting pleasant.

Crédit Photos : Coach-Hotels

The Fine Grocery

You will find a wide variety of products, mainly foie gras, salmon and caviar, as well as delicatessen dishes. Hippolyte, who oversees advice and sales, knows his products very well and will be able to answer your questions and advise you efficiently.

The reconditioned or transformed products are prepared in the laboratory located in the basement of the store.

The ducks and foie gras come from a cooperative located in Montfort en Chalosse, in the Landes department, where the ducks are mostly raised in the open air. The cooperative gathers the production of 80 family farms, selected for the rigor of their craft.

As for foie gras, you will find fresh foie gras, which is not so frequent. Be careful, this product does not support a break in the cold chain. You will need an isothermal packaging if you travel. You will also find semi-cooked foie gras and canned foie gras in a good variety of packaging.

In recent years, Comptoir de la Gastronomie has developed the distribution of a range of Baeri caviars, mainly from French sturgeon farms located in the Dordogne, but also a high-end Iranian Beluga caviar.

The grocery store also offers a large choice of smoked salmon and trout, and gravelax salmon. The salmon is home-smoked.

Our advisor Hippolyte insisted on a flagship product that he particularly recommends if you can reheat: La bouchée à la Reine. This product must be purchased and consumed within the day to keep its freshness.

Make your choice!

Comptoir de la Gastronomie
Monday from 9am to 7pm and Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 10:30pm
34 Rue Montmartre, 75001 Paris
https://comptoirdelagastronomie.com/