In Paris, I am perpetually on the lookout for nice places to have an aperitif with my friends. For some time now, I have discovered that Parisian hotels have really been trying to expand the clientele for their bars and restaurants.
Thinking about it, it’s true that we often tend to think these spaces are reserved for hotel guests, which is completely false.
Actually, these spaces are often equipped with cozy and welcoming areas, and it is time for us Parisians to reclaim these places and enjoy them for our own outings.
That is exactly what I did when I went to test, following an enticing invitation, the tapas and wine aperitif at Café M, in the Hyatt Paris Madeleine hotel.
First, a quick note about the hotel. As I have seen in other hotels recently (notably at the Gray d’Albion in Cannes or at the California Brasserie at the Pullman hotel in Paris), the Hyatt Paris Madeleine has a very strong eco-friendly orientation regarding its establishment’s policy.
For example, like others in Paris, it has beehives on its roof, the honey production of which is naturally used in the hotel restaurant.
From what I saw, the main appeal of the building lies in its magnificent glass roof (built by the Eiffel workshop), with its Chinese lounge (La Chinoiserie), under which you can enjoy tea time with cakes from the Pâtisserie des Rêves during the day and dinner at the restaurant in the evening.
In the kitchen, young chef Patrick Charvet, originally from the south of France, works for both restaurants: La Chinoiserie and Café M.
His cuisine aims to be, above all, seasonal with an invitation to travel and discovery, by subtly associating herbs and spices with local products.
Regarding the Wine and More at Café M, I particularly appreciated the welcome and advice from the hotel team.
The pairing suggestions between the tapas and the wines were relevant and very well presented by the sommelier, as well as the sequence and order of the tastings to properly prepare the palate, for example.
Here are the few tapas I was able to discover:
- Raw milk Burrata (125gr) from the “Fattoria” farm, in Puglia, Italy – €11 (a delight, absolutely worth trying!)
- Tuna belly from the Ortiz house, olives, pine nuts and roasted lemons – €11
- Small roasted sand octopuses with sesame and tandoori – €12 (to be discovered for the originality and the crunch)
- Roquefort from the Carles house, pears poached in hibiscus flower – €12 (classic but so good with the poached pears)
- Alpine Comté cheese made with summer milk and homemade quince paste – €10
- Iberian bellota shoulder, Monsalud House, “Sierra de Montánchez” – €13
- Sardinillas hand-packed from José Peña & Bordier butter – €11
Hyatt Paris Madeleine 24 boulevard Malesherbes / 75008 Paris Wine & More: Monday to Friday at Café M from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free, photographer's authorization is mandatory before any use
