Nanashi II - Paris

Japarisian Deserves a Second Look
I've always admired the hard-working Japanese ladies at Rose Bakery.  They wake up early to make me scones and carrot cake for breakfast.  I like to get there early to peoplewatch them mixing and kneading next to the towering double stove.  One of them, Kaori Endo, left to open Nanashi in the 10th and I figured it would be a no-brainer success.  When she quickly opened another in the 3rd, I was surprised.  It's right in Rose's backyard.  I tried it out today and while not quite ready for primetime, it deserves a repeat visit.

It's a ridiculously large, bright, beautiful space right across the street from Tartes Kluger.  Judging from the paint smell and muffled hammering, it literally just opened. 

Clearly, it will be less white when they're done painting.  A nearby wall was marked for a coat of pink.

I stared at the menu trying to figure the place out.  I'd describe it as Japanese bento meets French bio (as in natural), falls in love, has a baby.  None of the three main bentos (beef, fish and vegetarian) is available on the weekend so I settled for something called Bento a la Parisien.  It was a melange of thinly sliced ham, soft boiled egg, wild rice, garbanzo beans, mushrooms, shredded carrots and greens.  It tasted as though it were harvested a blink before being served.  So healthy that I felt my blood pressure drop.

I quicky tried to gain my balance and get back on my usual unhealthy track.  The chocolate fondant with yuzu looked ordinary enough.

The shredded bits of yuzu were hidden within but were not stong enough to overcome the dryness of the cake.  I wanted this to be slightly moister.

Nanashi, I didn't have the best experience but I think it's all timing.  I'll give you a bit to get things rolling and then I'll be back.

57, rue Charlot
3rd Arondissement
Paris

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