This Is Bobby Flay's Favorite Iconic Brasserie In Paris - Exclusive
It's trite to say that Paris is a capital of gastronomy; everyone knows how central French cuisine is to fine dining, at least in the Western world, and how central Paris is to French cookery. The City of Lights is studded with 10s of thousands of eateries, ranging from haute to basse. Thus it must seem almost impossible for those who have traveled there to identify a favorite — one that is so special that it stands out from the crowd. Not for Bobby Flay though.
In an exclusive interview with Tasting Table senior editor Alexandra Cass, the celebrity chef and TV personality, who recently opened his own French restaurant, Brasserie B, in Las Vegas, extolled the virtues of French food and classic Parisian dining spots. Flay wasn't shy about sharing which restaurant he gravitates to when he's in Paris and how he's been influenced by it.
"I think the most classic French brasserie is La Coupole," he says. "It's been around forever. It's kind of a mainstay. It's the first place that people think about. So I certainly look especially to their design, et cetera, in terms of inspiration."
The certain magic that La Coupole holds for Flay and many others is just what he wanted to bring to Las Vegas. For all of the world-class dining spots the city has, he notes, it is lacking in authentic brasseries, a style of restaurant that is akin to a casual, lively bistro but with a more expansive menu.
Art deco and delicious
La Coupole is one of the most-storied brasseries in a city full of storied brasseries. A stunning art deco space that sits in the Montparnasse area, it has been serving Parisians, tourists, and expats for nearly a century. Speaking of that last group, in the early years the brasserie was a haven for artists and intellectuals from abroad who flocked to the French capital in the wake of the First World War. Jean Cocteau, Henry Miller, and Anaïs Nin were among those who dined at La Coupole while shaping fields such as literature, art, and film in the early to mid-20th century.
Dishes such as soupe à l'oignon gratinée and croque monsieur were featured on early menus, alongside out-of-place dishes like hot dogs. In regards to that, it should be noted La Coupole, in addition to being a brasserie, has always billed itself as a "Bar American" a nod to the many Americans populating Paris in between the wars. But does the modern La Coupole match up? It must, if as imminent a palate as Flay's is impressed. Though decidedly less bohemian than it once was, La Coupole still draws in the crowds with dishes like classic French onion soup, boeuf tartare, and andouillette — a small sausage — served with one of Flay's favorite brasserie items: french fries.
Click here for more information, or to make reservations at Brasserie B, located in Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The restaurant is open daily from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for brunch and 4:30 to 10:00 p.m. for dinner.