Auberge Nicolas Flamel Paris

Auberge Nicolas Flame. 51, rue Montmorency. 75003 Paris.

Auberge Nicolas Flamel

This wonderful restaurant is located in a historic 3 story house in the third arrondissement in Paris. In a narrow street you will find Auberge Nicolas Flamel. Nicolas Flamel the alchemist lived here with his wife Pernelle. Built in 1407 and reputed to be the oldest house in Paris, this house has a mystical history. A wealthy scribe, merchange and dabbler in the mystical arts, Flamel willed his home to the city as a dormitory for the poor, on the condition that boarders pray daily for his soul. Harry Potter fans should take note: This was the real-life home of Nicolas Flamel, the alchemist whose sorcerer’s stone is the source of immortality in the popular book series.

The food was superb. The service friendly and attentive. Reservations essential. This was the perfect place to spend my birthday. The staff even put a fire-cracker in my dessert. No I don’t mean a candle or a sparkler, I mean a firecracker. Extreme but thoughtful.

What did we enjoy?

Entrees:

Aller-retour de noix de Saint-Jacques et sa crème de châtaignes,  émulsion de coquelicot
Lightly cocked scallops served with chesnut cream, poppy emulsion

Croustillant de rouget barbet, tomates confites, caviar d’aubergine fumée, et réduction de betterave
Crusty red mullet, candied tomatoes, smoked aubergine (eggplant) puree, and reduced beetroot (red beet)

Petite marmite de chiperons aux pistaches, tapenade à la provençale,
et salade croquante
Small pot of « chiperons » (young squid) cooked with pistachio, “provençale tapenade” (hors d’œuvre made from olives, anchovies and capers, blended with olive oil and lemon juice) and crispy green salad

Mains:

Gigot d’agneau mijoté sept heures, cocotte de légumes de saison, et pousses de poireaux
Seven hour lamb served with seasonal vegetables and leek shoots

Chair la plus tendre de filet de bœuf, sauce au foie gras, ails confits et mini cocotte de mousseline Mona Lisa
Porterhouse steak, foie gras sauce, candied garlic and Mona Lisa potatoes purée

Desserts:

Assiette du Maître fromager, bouquet de mesclun aux noix et raisins blancs
Cheese plate, green salad with walnuts and white grapes

Minute de chocolat cœur coulant servie en mini cocotte, sorbet à la violette
Chocolate cake with melting middle and violet sorbet

Le Lingot chocolat-or de Nicolas Flamel, mousse et copeaux de noisette et sa glace au pain d’épices

The Nicolas Flamel chocolate “Lingot d’or”, praline mousse and gingerbread-flavoured ice cream