Les Climats, Paris

Even though we didn’t visit Burgundy, we learned a lot about its wines during our last trip to France!  Mostly because Captain Jason of the Saroche served white and red Burgundies with dinner each night on the Saroche, but also thanks to our lunch at Les Climats.

Climats are the 1200+ different parcels of Burgundy vineyards, so naturally the restaurant by the same name features an impressive selection of Burgundy wines.  The wine “list” is a book more than an inch thick!

We took advantage of the opportunity to try an older white, as these tend to be difficult to find: 2001 Clos de l’Arlot Nuits St Georges Chardonnay.

Just the thing to sip in the shady garden courtyard, while we perused the lunch menu.

I kept things light by choosing two starters, starting with one of the most impressive vegetable plates I’ve ever seen, the jardin printanier comprised of probably two dozen kinds of vegetables, herbs, and flowers – each perfectly, individually prepared – and combined with a tempura zucchini blossom.

Afterwards, I had a trio of langoustine: small bites atop piquant green pili pili sauce, fried with basil mango puree, and stuffed into ravioli with a subtle carrot and ginger broth.

And D?  He went for a classically French lunch of foie gras followed by filet of beef with white asparagus.  Our meal was completed with digestifs, then it was back onto the streets of Paris to enjoy a post-prandial stroll.

And months later, I’m still thinking about that wine book!

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Note that Les Climats opens the courtyard seasonally for lunch only.