I developed a running challenge while I was out today, maneuvering through throngs of tourists walking along the Seine. This one involves the Metro 1 line, which begins in the Chateau Vicennes park, runs past a fair amount of the popular sights of Paris, and deposits its passengers in the office park that is La Defense. This line is indispensable, given that it gets me to work each day, but it is also the source of my metro loathing. If you attempt to board this train between 8:20 and 9:30 in the morning you will soon become a sweaty mess who wishes that the French either A) Install a metro air conditioning system, or B) Get the hell off the train so you would have some space to un-smash your face from the door. Regardless, the metro line is 16.7 kilometers long (about 10.5 miles) and I intend to run from one end to the other, even if a significant portion is through the bum shanty-tent town east of the city center and alongside the Seine.
Map of pain.
By the time I had finished dreaming up impossible running dreams it was late in the afternoon, and time to experience the Hidden Kitchen for the first time. If the name sounds mysterious, good – it’s supposed to. The Hidden Kitchen is the delicious creation of two Americans who decided that becoming a couple of chefs at the neighborhood Applebee’s was no way to live, and instead hopped a plane to Paris with their small dog, along with intentions to open an underground restaurant. Now, when I first heard the term “underground restaurant” I too imagined several individuals cooking away in a cave beneath the Parisian sidewalks. But oh, how wrong I was. In fact, the Hidden Kitchen is several floors above the sidewalks. I do not have access to Wikipedia at this time so I cannot secure the Internet approved definition of an underground restaurant, but my interpretation is of a unique and stellar dining experience schemed up by several foos-ball loving chefs who can not bear to share secrets of their customized creations with a French kitchen staff.
I had been attempting to gain access to the Hidden Kitchen since the beginning of January 2008, and for a variety of reasons it never worked out. By the time I finally tracked down a reservation I was slightly worried that I may have built the moment up too much, like spending your entire life wishing you knew how the secret of how to perform cartwheel. And then when you do one you’re like, “Yes, that was indeed a cartwheel,” and then realize you have grass stains all over your pants. But the Hidden Kitchen did not disappoint. The Hidden Kitchen chef power duo (there are two!) combat high expectations with not one, not two, not three, not four…but ten different courses and a wine pairing with most. By the time your dinner ends, any thoughts you may have had about spending your precious euros at a Michelin starred restaurant have been gorged into a delightful submission.
Besides the outstanding – I would say inspired, but that would lead me question the source of the inspiration, and I don’t even know where to begin contemplating the events that would lead to inspirational thoughts in regards to a duck – dishes, you are also treated to a dining experience. If you are like most attendees, upon arrival you will find yourself sitting in a secret dining room with a terrier and eleven other people (most likely a scattering of nationalities) while two American chefs cook an elaborate meal using ingredients purchased hours ago at a Parisian market. Not too bad! I believe the participants on this particular evening ranged from Canadian to English to French to Middle Eastern, with a couple Americans included, of course.
Not on the menu.
I must applaud not only the spectacular dinner and casual dinner chatter, but also for the Hidden Kitchen creators. On your bold jump to Paris, a city where there were no established connections or reason to come except for the purpose of trying out this restaurant concept…on there success I salute you! I highly recommend attempting to get a reservation the next time you’re in Paris – hopefully you don’t have to wait as long as I did!
