Valentine's Day 2021 in Paris: Hôtel de Crillon unveils its takeaway dinner menu

TheHôtel de Crillon is the legendary Parisian palace facing the Place de la Concorde. A true architectural gem, classified as a historic monument, it is one of the treasures that make up the capital's heritage. Behind this impressive facade lies an address that never ceases to renew itself, to the delight of Parisians both old and new. After delighting us with its Ice-Cream Truck, opening the doors of a confidential suite for its ephemeral bar, enchanting our Christmas with a log from a fair ytale and inviting us into our homes with a hot New Year's menu, theHôtel de Crillon is now playing the cupid for Valentine's Day.

To celebrate lovers, the palace invites itself into your home with a romantic menu imagined by chef Boris Campanella and pastry chef Matthieu Carlin. So, what does this talented duo have in store for this Valentine's Day dinner?

Just like the holiday menu, this Valentine's dinner comes with clear instructions on how to enjoy it. All you have to do is assemble and reheat the dishes, and then prepare them according to Boris Campanella's advice. Don't panic: l'Écrin's chef makes the task easy. Bonus: the boxes in which the various dishes are placed are oven-safe up to 180°C.

The tasting begins with scallop ceviche with citrus ginger and pomegranate. A fresh starter that we've left to marinate in the fridge for just over an hour. The result: the scallops are ultra-melting, while the citrus adds a pleasantly tangy note. The pomegranate adds just the right touch of crunch.

This delicious starter is followed by a blue lobster quenelle, which we delicately arrange on a bed of spinach, following the chef's advice. Garnish with mushrooms, then pour over the tangy lemongrass crème fleurette. Finally, add the lemon caviar seeds, and all that's left to do is enjoy! The texture of the quenelles is as soft as a cloud, and we love the touch of pep that the lemon caviar brings. Both refined and gourmet, this dish is a real favorite.

• To be read
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We then share a tourte of Bresse poultry with duck foie gras and black truffle, accompanied by a real truffle jus and a fricassee of winter vegetables and fruit (sand carrots, celery from Ile de France, butternut, parsnips, tuberous chervil, romanesco cabbage, apple fruit and quince). All we had to do was heat it up in the oven for a quarter of an hour before enjoying this generous dish, which also reminds us of the festive season. It's enough to make us adore the Parisian winter!

As you can see, this menu reflects what we like to find in a relationship: generosity, comfort and pep! The metaphor continues right through to dessert, which is a veritable invitation to travel. Matthieu Carlin unveils a dessert to share that lives up to its name: La Passion aux épices douces. It features a sweet spice cookie, compote of exotic fruits including passion fruit, a world vanilla mousse, and a mango and fresh mango gel. This entremets adds a beautiful final note to the symphony of your Valentine's Day dinner.

Lightly sweetened, it delights with the true flavor of fruit. The airy texture of the mousse blends delightfully with the sweet-spiced Joconde cookie, which in turn reminds us of the sweetness and magic of the holidays. We love not only this dessert in its own right, but also the link it forges with Boris Campanella's dishes.

Matthieu Carlin deliberately chose not to make a red pastry for Valentine's Day: he wanted to use only seasonal fruit, and believes that the visuals of his creations should reflect the ingredients that go into them. Theentremetsare therefore a radiant orange-yellow, and just the thing: in the language of flowers, this color signifies happiness, success and prosperity. Admit it, it's the best we can wish for you!

The menu, priced at €185 for two, comprises a starter, two main courses and a dessert to share. Be warned, this gourmet dinner is also hearty. It can be ordered from February 1, 2021 for collection on February 12, 13 and 14.