Caffè Stern (Paris)
What orgiastic delights await at David Lanher (winner of Le Fooding Guide’s 2015 Man of the Hour award) and Massimiliano Alajmo’s trippy menagerie on December 31st? Raw lobster with tarragon and caviar, spaghetti with garlic, oil, chili and oysters, red beet cappelli in a gorgonzola sauce, rabbit and truffle risotto with a foie gras sauce, etc. Pure decadence… Menu €200.
47, Passage des Panoramas, 75002 Paris, telephone: +33 1 75 43 63 10.
Les Percherons (Céret)
The winner of the 2015 Le Fooding Crush award is planning to throw a “small party.” Their surprise menu will be lengthened and embellished a bit for the occasion, and the ambiance will be just as relaxed and chic as ever, with petticoats for once… Menu around €45.
7, Rue de la République, 66400 Céret, telephone: +33 4 11 64 41 12.
MandooBar (Paris)
On the 31st, at Le Fooding’s 2015 pick for Best Bar à délices, it’ll be no different than any other night of the year (Kim Kwang-Ioc will still be serving his exquisite meat or veggie mandoo dumplings, small and explosive salads, fantastic tartares), with one exception: there will be daring desserts on the menu this time around (pepper, piment d’Espelette and yuzu ice creams…)! Carte €20-30.
7, Rue d’Edimbourg, 75008 Paris, telephone: +33 1 55 06 08 53.
Porte 12 (Paris)
Scallops, sea urchins, pigeon, black truffle… these are just a few of the ingredients that will be featured in the excellent Franco-Singaporean chef Vincent Crépel’s seven course grand menu, at Le Fooding Guide’s choice for the Best Restaurant of 2015. Menu €120.
12, Rue des Messageries, 75010 Paris, telephone: +33 1 42 46 22 64.
Le Canon (Nice)
Local, local, local: this word keeps rolling off of Sébastien Perinetti’s tongue when we ask him what he’s planning for the last evening of the year. Amongst his finds? Capon and trout from Nice’s backcountry. As for the rest, he hasn’t decided yet, but his extremely locavore menu should be incredible. The only time he’s willing to break his rule is with the wine, since Le Fooding Guide’s 2015 pick for Best Oenonaute will be uncorking bottles from other regions… Set menu around €60.
23, Rue Meyerbeer, 06000 Nice, telephone: +33 3 4 93 79 09 24.
Le Servan (Paris)
The Levha sisters are still trying to decide between a prix-fixe menu and an à la carte approach to the end of 2014…. But two things are certain: there will be two seatings (one at 7:30pm, for those who plan on finishing the evening elsewhere, the other at 10pm). So hurry up and reserve!
32, Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris, telephone: +33 1 55 28 51 82.
David Toutain (Paris)
Le Fooding Guide’s 2015 winner of the Best Gastronaute award is planning a New Year’s Eve “carte blanche” menu that will mix the house’s maxi-minimalist classics with a few promising new ideas… Prices that measure up to the event: €250 (drinks not included).
29, Rue Surcouf, 75007 Paris, telephone: + 33 1 45 50 11 10.
And to recuperate in the New Year?
Starting on January 3rd, Marc Grossmann, the recipient of the Adidas street food award in Le Fooding’s 2015 Guide, will welcome you to hisnew spaceat the Halle Pajol, with cold-pressed juices (green cabbage, spinach and parsley or carrot and beet), mango, avocado and pickle temaki on wholegrain rice, and chai pudding, guaranteed to help where it hurts. Carte €15.
Halle Pajol, 12, Esplanade Nathalie-Sarraute, 75018 Paris, telephone: +33 9 84 46 25 26.
Julie Gerbet
Illustration : Yann Kebbi