Pirouette Restaurant: A Bistronomic Gem in Les Halles, Paris

Pirouette restaurant continues its innovative spin as Chef François-Xavier Ferrol (holding the reins since last summer) creates traditional French cuisine with an original touch. Like a well-executed ballet twirl, the balance of flavours, textures, and technique is evident in every dish you taste. Chef Ferrol displays his disciplined cooking style by serving consistently fresh, seasonal and inventive dishes with great finesse. Simply put, I have never been disappointed here!

Tucked away in Les Halles, Pirouette is well worth finding. The interior is warm and welcoming, creating an elegantly hip ambience with a mix of glass, stone and wood, high ceilings and huge panoramic windows that overlook a charming cobbled square.

Not only is each plate a feast for the eyes and mouth, but Pirouette is also one of those gourmet bistros that offers very affordable cuisine. Lunch is offered at 20 euros, and dinner features a 6-course degustation menu at 60 euros, a well-priced prix fixe menu (entrée, plat and dessert) at 45 euros, or à la carte. The blackboard style menu changes frequently, and is patiently explained by the charming staff.

I started with the “Perfect Egg”, a perfectly coddled warm island of flavour, over which a mushroom and chestnut mixture was poured at the table. Not only was the egg “perfect”, so was the entire plate. Leaping to the carefully composed and artistically plated mains (a selection of five), the wow factor continued. I chose the sea bass which was inventively prepared and executed perfectly. The meal was impressive all the way to dessert, which included a choice of rice pudding with caramel, Ossau-Iraty sheep cheese reconstructed as a cheesecake, and my favourite, the chocolate and Tonka bean tart with pear ice cream.

There is an excellent and comprehensive wine list with a wide range of prices and to everyone’s taste.

To experience this gastronomic bistro that represents the best of the modern culinary scene in Paris, I encourage you to take an acrobatic spin over to Pirouette.

Pirouette: 5 rue Mondétour, 75001 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)1 40 26 47 81. Hours: Open Monday–Saturday for lunch and dinner.