VA2007 - Cafe de Paris

Classic Parisian Bistro Fare in the Heart of the West End

Photos: Bruce Law

Beneath an inviting canopied entrance in Vancouver’s vibrant West End, lies one of this city’s most beloved restaurants. Since opening in 1977, Café de Paris has provided the most authentic French bistro experience this side of the Atlantic. In a dining room where couples linger by candlelight at intimate tables adorned with white linen, French-speaking waiters, clad in black vests and starched aprons, effortlessly glide, serving perfectly plated pan-seared foie gras and vintage sauternes. Resplendent with rich wood, brass furnishings, eclectic French décor, and large bay windows offering views of bustling Denman Street, this warm convivial room evokes a visceral taste of Parisian élan.

Proprietor Jon-Michael Preece offers his guests the very best, and has the talent in the kitchen to do so, with veteran chef de cuisine Patrick Verrier. Originally from Lyons, Chef Verrier gives this venerable West End institution a formidable one-two punch, combining boundless enthusiasm with an encyclopedic knowledge of French cuisine. Constantly at work, he injects new life into authentic bistro fare, elevating classic dishes with the freshest local ingredients. House made pate de campagne and fresh mussels with white wine and thyme conjure images of the romantic arrondissements of Paris itself.

“Food should taste like what it is,” enthuses Jon-Michael. “When the very best products are prepared properly, they don’t need to be masked with a dozen different ingredients. We strive for that purity. That simplicity, it’s always about the flavour. We cook food that people want to eat.”

Menu selections change daily, including a delectable table d’hote, giving his patrons a bone fide taste of Parisian-style dining. Be it steak au poivre avec frites (the frites here are legendary - still the very best in town) or a white bean cassoulet with duck confit and Toulouse sausage, the ever-evolving menu has something for everyone. And the carefully selected wine list reflects an affectation for quality and value. Elegant Bordeauxs, earthy Rhones, delicate Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from Burgundy intermingle perfectly with wines of the Okanagan Valley, helping to amplify an already stellar dining experience.

Professional service, exemplary food and old world charm make this cozy venue a particularly rare vintage. Either at lunch or dinner, Café de Paris exudes a truly unique joie de vivre.

Menu Highlights

Appetizers

Pâté de Campagne
With celeriac remoulade

Moules Marinières
Mussels steamed in white wine and thyme

Escargots de Bourgogne
Burgundy snails in puff pastry with parsley and garlic butter

Salade Frisée aux Lardons
Frisée, poached egg, bacon, croutons and mustard vinaigrette

Salade aux Endives
Belgian endive, apples, walnuts and Roquefort dressing

Salade de Chêvre
Radicchio, arugula, figs and hazelnuts with goats cheese croquette

Salade de Mâche
Beets, mâche, shallots and sherry dressing

Gratinée Lyonnaise
Baked French onion soup

Entrées

Foie de Veau Poêlée
Pan-seared veal liver with spinach, bacon and sauce Marchand du vin

Thon Cru Façon Japonaise
Seared Albacore tuna, cucumber tempura roll, sweet chile sauce and wasabi mayonnaise

Tranche de Chevreuil
Venison loin with celery root purée, baby leeks and morels

Poulet Fermier Rôti
Free-range chicken breast with peppercorn sauce

Les Grillades “Café de Paris”
A 6 oz. tenderloin or 8 oz. New York steak, both AAA centre-cut Alberta beef, with your choice of Roquefort-brandy cream or peppercorn sauce

Tartare de Boeuf
Hand-chopped beef tenderloin, served raw with traditional condiments, as an appetizer or entrée

Le Cassoulet Toulousain
Casserole with duck confit, pork shoulder, Toulouse sausage and white beans

Desserts

Galette de Pommes
warm apple tarte with caramel ice cream

Gateau au Chocolat Chaud
warm chocolate cake with pistachio ice cream

Crème Brûlée
caramelized vanilla custard cream

Tarte au Citron
lemon tarte

Best of the Cellar

White Wines

Blue Mountain Pinot Blanc, Okanagan Falls
Pentage Pinot Gris, Okanagan
Mission Hill Chardonnay, Okanagan
Charton et Trebuchet Bourgogne
Joseph Druhin Rully
Domaine Lafond Rose Tavel
Pierre Andre Puligny-Montrachet

Red Wines

Pentage Syrah, Okanagan
Voluptuous Merlot Naramata
Mission Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Croix de Mayne Cahors
Chateau Palmer 1999 Margaux
Chateau Montus 2001, Madiran
Carole Bouquet 2002, St. Emilion

Above: Thon Facon “Japonaise” – seared Albacore tuna with cripsy futomaki roll, sweet chile sauce and wasabi mayonnaise

Café de Paris
751 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC, 604-687-1418
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