Le 39V Paris: Where Fine Dining Feels Like Home
Paris is no stranger to the art of fine dining. Blinded by the shine of the ever elusive Michelin stars, it seems fine dining has lost its warm and inviting nature. Le 39V, by celebrated French Chef Frédéric Vardon, proves that a luxury dining experience can feel welcoming and comfortable while maintaining star service and a truly outstanding menu.
The Space
Upon walking into Le 39V, we felt like I was in a dream. On a cloudy winter day in Paris, ascending the elevator into the window-lined walls of the dining room was reminiscent of a journey into the heavens. The space designed by the legendary Raphaël Navot is flooded with natural light, highlighting the calming neutral landscape, adorned with natural and organic materials. Despite the fact that this place looks nothing like our own, we felt a sense of comfort and familiarity—as if we had been coming here our entire life.
The Meal
Upon taking our seats at our beautifully furnished table, a bright and warm energy made its way to our table. It was none other than Chef Frédéric Vardon, coming to personally welcome us to his "humble abode." He spent a small amount of time chatting with us and told us he would curate a special assortment of dishes specifically for us. As we sipped our flutes of Tattinger and waited in anticipation, we knew that a very special meal was ahead of us.
As a journalist, it is quite rare for me to find myself at a loss for words, but this was arguably the most silent meal I've had in a long time. As each beautiful appetizer flowed onto the table, we were treated to an array of squash, scallops, foie gras, and the most beautiful truffle salad I've ever seen. Each portion was perfect, and the plates were visually stunning without being overly styled. Oftentimes, we find that fine dining establishments spend too much time focusing on presentation, sacrificing taste. Chef Vardon has found the sweet spot.
For our main course, we were treated to arguably the best lunch mains I've ever tried. The black truffle and potato ravioli found the perfect balance of heartiness and lightness. I don't think I have ever seen such a generous amount of black truffle on my plate, but the flavor wasn't overwhelmed with that umami earthiness. The dried vegetable broth drizzled on top of the ravioli was light and flavorful, a true compliment to the rest of the dish.
In addition to the ravioli, we were lucky enough to try a beautiful scallop soufflé with a decadent Dieppoise style sauce. This perfect soufflé had a light and airy texture, with a crisp exterior and a tender interior. The flavor was well balanced, with perfect scallops. The real star of the dish was the Dieppoise sauce, which is a type of classic French sauce made from fish stock, white wine, shallots, and cream. It was absolutely delicious, and were I not in such a fine establishment, I likely would have licked the plate clean.
To finish our meal, we were delighted to witness a tableside Baked Alaska presentation. This was truly a delight, and it was truly a perfect conclusion to our meal. The textures and temperatures were perfect, and we thoroughly enjoyed a lovely educational moment about Corsican oranges. Oranges from Corsica are known for their high quality and delicious taste due to the ideal growing conditions on the island. The mixture of these warm and sunny Mediterranean flavors was a welcome compliment to the traditionally French flavors from Normandy that we experienced throughout the meal.
This is a message directly for Chef Vardon. Thank you for restoring my faith in the French fine dining experience. The service at your establishment is second to none, and the food brought back memories of home I didn't even know I had. Every bite was so full of love and care that I could feel the passion and tenderness that was poured into each dish.
To all of our fashion girlies who make their pilgrimages to Paris Fashion Week, we absolutely recommend you check out this fabulous restaurant. Take a break from Paris' traditional pretentiousness and treat yourselves to a dinner that makes you feel at home.
