The recent years in Paris there is a revolutionary flourish of bistronomy. In every neighbourhood you will find at least one small restaurant, what the French call néobistrots, to enjoy modern Gallic cuisine in its authenticity and at very affordable prices. In Athens, its representation is small, with the exception of diamonds’ like L’ Alchimiste, made by French, who keep the French culinary flame alive with an aura of warmth.
With the longest succession of refined recipes on the planet, the experienced chef Jean-Yves Carattoni creates the dishes and Mathieu the cocktails that launch us to the cobble roads of the City of Light, with innovations in a steampunk environment that give their project a subversive, smart casual and very special character.
You realize this when you enter and see the skyscraper-cellar that rises to the ceiling – creating a hollow installation – and you confirm it with the delicate amuse bouche, the fine bites that you are treated as a welcome with your drink and are a perfect sample of the dynamics of the kitchen, causing an explosion of flavours on your mouth.
The alchemies of the beloved bistro of Karytsi Square, capture all the greatness of the techniques, the combinations, the very good ingredients taught by the French tradition for years, always with a twist. Perhaps only here you will find baked Camembert with red fruit marmalade and sesame seeds (it doesn’t get more French), the classic French onion soup at its best, served with rustic bread and mouth-watering gouda cheese, but also an excellent red velvet fondue with strawberries and chocolate ganache.
Here the visitor can indulge in seasonal delights such as the pork shank with honey and beer sauce with mashed sweet potatoes; or the vol au vent au fois gras, chicken fillet, with mushrooms, fois gras and purple Peruvian potatoes; but also the wonderful pumpkin soup, with ginger and prosciutto. The salty crème brulée, with truffle and parmesan cheese, has proven to be a non-negotiable ‘must’ since it first appeared!
The cocktails and the creativity of Mathieu and Melina, which compete easily with the city’s award-winning bars: An excellent example of this is the Coco Mademoiselle, a cocktail inspired by the iconic French perfume of Chanel, with gin, jasmine, mandarin and orange blossom, delicate and beautifully multidimensional, served in a metal box from where you find your ‘perfume’ in glass-bottle to drink from.
L’ Alchimiste gathers all these ingredients to become your retreat, after the theatre, on a shopping trip, as a break in the afternoon after the office. Certainly you will love it.
L’ Alchimiste Bistrot
Christou Lada 1, Karytsi Square, Athens, tel. +302168090389
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