PARIS | When Nicholas Woolard (head chef at The Standard, in Perth), saw that I was in Paris and told me about this brother Chris’ new neighbourhood bistro, Gilou, you bet that I added it to my list. Gilou had only opened a few weeks prior and wasn’t on my radar. When I visited, I enjoyed a meal, service, and local’s vibe that you only usually find at a venue that’s been open for much longer.
Located down a quiet street in a former butcher shop, Gilou is all about unfussy, seasonal, produce driven and ingredient-focused cooking. It’s compact menu of contemporary French bistro food at heart, with nods to Chris’ English roots and his experience cooking in the UK, Italy, and France.
To start, it’s things like potato rosti with beef tartare and mustard, chicken terrine with pickles and apricot chutney, and leek and cheddar croquettes. For larger dishes, you’ll find options like saffron cavatelli with , and cuttlefish fideua with mussels and aioli. It’s all very tasty stuff, with the quality of the produce shining through.
Dessert is a must. A close toss up between milk ice cream with candied cherries, and elderflower sorbet with fresh strawberries. I opted for the latter, summer in a plate.
To drink, co-owner Dan Humphris has put together a compact selection of minimal intervention wines from some of France’s most exciting winemakers. There’s also craft beer from Les Bières de Belleville, who brew just around the corner, and several non-alc options.
Gilou
9 Rue du Tunnel
75019 Paris
France
Telephone: 0140 407 236
E-mail: [email protected]
Website
Open
Wed – Sat 12:00pm to 2:00pm, 7:00pm to 10:00pm