In this sober space (blond hardwood floors, pearl grey walls, riveted chairs) where exotic spices are displayed in small glass cases mounted on pedestals, you’d think you were in a jewelry shop…. However, owners Claire and Michel are only looking out for their Sichuan specialties and our well-being, by pairing each dish with some very helpful chili-pepper pictograms – watch out, from level two upwards, things really start heating up! The night we went, we chickened out when it came to the beef poached with tofu (four chilies + three peppers!) and opted for the warm sliced chicken thighs escorted by cold jellyfish in a thick peanut sauce (one chili); then for calamari with Sichuan pepper (one chili + one pepper) served with savory cucumber; before an extremely exotic guilinggao jelly for dessert (made with turtle shell powder, sarsaparilla, forsythia, dandelion, honeysuckle and chrysanthemum!), which is supposed to improve your circulation, stimulate muscle growth and be good for your kidneys – results still to come… // D.C.
FEELING THIRSTY? There are a few good things to drink (and you’ll need it, it heats up fast): a Brouilly from the Château de Corcelles (€6.50 a glass), a Vouvray from the Domaine Huet (€70) or Tsingtao beer (€4.50 for 330 ml).
PRICE: Menus €14.90 to €16.90 (lunch), €38 (dinner, for two), à la carte €34.50 to €50.50.
