Make some noise for Touki Bouki! Behind this cool African-inspired bistro perched up high in the Belleville neighborhood, the agent for chefs Étienne Biloa – who manages a line-up of talented cooks for pop-ups and residencies – fuses tiep with beef cheeks, ndolé with sausage & mash, while also occasionally drawing from Mexican or Asian repertoires. The night we went, we nibbled on Afrodisiac plates by Adélie Vernhes (ex-Baieta) in the cozy yet funky space: after some astounding pan-fried palourde clams and mussels in a coconut lemongrass sauce, with basil and mussels tempura as a side, we had some savory beef stewed with cacao, or, better yet, orgasmic slow-roasted pork belly with ginger – both plates came with melt-in-your-mouth plantains with sauce chien; before a semolina cake dripping with honey, to be dipped into a knob of warm butter for the final knock-out punch. Afro-mazing! // Jane In
FEELING THIRSTY? : A whole array of potions, ranging from natural wines (Sagesse Des Sols, a pineau d’Aunis at €8 a glass, a sylvaner from the Domaine de l’Envol at €38 a bottle), Madre Espadin mezcal (€12 a glass) and well-shaken cocktails (Mezcalita, Amaretto Sour, €11 each).
PRICE: : Plates €7-25.
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