"Marsan, the restaurant of my dreams."
20 years after her debut on the Left Bank in Paris, the Basque/Landes chef Hélène Darroze has returned to her roots, reinventing N°4 Rue d'Assas with her new flagship restaurant, Marsan by Hélène Darroze. Originally the site of her Michelin starred ‘Restaurant Hélène Darroze' in the 6th arrondissement, and named now after her home region in Les Landes in SW France, Marsan opened its doors after an eleven month refurbishment with an exciting new menu and stunningly redesigned interior.
Famed for championing her producers, Hélène has created dishes that lead her guests through a lifetime of experience, travel and bespoke recipes on a journey with no map, "I like people to trust me," Hélène explains.
So now, through Marsan, she honours the roots of this culinary odyssey: the region of her birth - an area of wild Atlantic beaches, of lush pine forests opening onto vast, golden cornfields. A place famous for duck and Armagnac; a land of plenty with a terroir that threads its way through the Darroze family and lies at the very core of Hélène. Over the past two decades, this instinctive and continually evolving chef has absorbed and woven subtle elements of her travels and life-defining moments into her cooking. From the tandoors of India and dashis of Japan to the intricate fragrances of Vietnam, hints of each can be found elegantly interspersed through her dishes of the finest French produce.
She adds, "I am Basque-Landes. I am made from that family and that soil; they are the origin of everything I am. When I was younger, maybe I tried to free myself a little, but as I mature, I find myself going back. With Marsan, I want to find the essentials, create a restaurant that says everything about me, go through my story until this point in time and then, begin a new chapter."
From the moment you arrive at the restaurant's exterior, symbolism from her beloved Les Landes is intertwined throughout the design. Indeed, such is her connection to the space that Hélène has not only poured her imagination into creative new dishes, but also invested emotionally into every detail of the building: from the interior design to the crockery and pottery (to discover more on her collaboration with the ceramicist and artist, Ema Pradère please click HERE), even through to service and staff uniforms.
The interior design team has been led by acclaimed French architect, Patrice Gardera, who worked closely with Hélène in bringing her dreams to reality. (To discover more on Patrice Gardera and his connection to Marsan, please click HERE.)
Light oak wall panelling seamlessly links the spacious reception with the light-filled, first-floor dining room. On the ground level, are 2 private dining options: the first seating 22 around a specially commissioned, 6-meter long ‘table commune' and surrounded by enticing views into some of the restaurant's wine collection; the second more intimate and enclosed, seats 6 around a circular, slate grey table.
As guests ascend the stairs into the main dining room, they are immediately greeted by the restaurant's dramatic show kitchen with its own dedicated 6 seat Chef’s Table. Continuing, they walk past an extended display dresser, created in the same light oak that panels the walls. Here, Hélène has displayed some of her more personal objects, as if welcoming guests into her home: pictures of her with a bicycle as a child playing with her brother Marc; drawings of her daughters, Charlotte and Quiterie; pictures of the family inn – the Hotel des Voyageurs in Villeneuve-de-Marsan; the silver dishes and birds that adorned the tables there; a wine list from her beloved grandfather, Jean; the recipe book of her grandmother, Charlotte; an old family daubière and a selection of chef books.
All momentary snapshots into the life of Hélène Darroze.
Finally, simple table settings with bespoke ceramics, encourage diners to touch and admire, while awaiting the theatrical opening, that is each dining experience at Marsan by Hélène Darroze.
MARSAN by Hélène Darroze
4 rue d'Assas
75006 PARIS
Opening days: Monday to Friday
12:30 to 14:00 and 19:30 to 22:00
Reservations:
Telephone: 01 42 22 00 11
E-mail: reservation@helenedarroze.com
Website: helenedarroze.com
Menus for lunch: 75 € (starter + main course + dessert) or 95 € (two starters + main course + dessert)
Tasting menu for dinner: 175 € (4 dishes + cheese trolley + 1 dessert) or 225 € (6 dishes + cheese trolley = 2 desserts): She adds, "I am Basque-Landes. I am made from that family and that soil; they are the origin of everything I am. When I was younger, maybe I tried to free myself a little, but as I mature, I find myself going back. With Marsan, I want to find the essentials, create a restaurant that says everything about me, go through my story until this point in time and then, begin a new chapter."
From the moment you arrive at the restaurant's exterior, symbolism from her beloved Les Landes is intertwined throughout the design. Indeed, such is her connection to the space that Hélène has not only poured her imagination into creative new dishes, but also invested emotionally into every detail of the building: from the interior design to the crockery and pottery (to discover more on her collaboration with the ceramicist and artist, Ema Pradère please click HERE), even through to service and staff uniforms.
The interior design team has been led by acclaimed French architect, Patrice Gardera, who worked closely with Hélène in bringing her dreams to reality. (To discover more on Patrice Gardera and his connection to Marsan, please click HERE.)
Light oak wall panelling seamlessly links the spacious reception with the light-filled, first-floor dining room. On the ground level, are 2 private dining options: the first seating 22 around a specially commissioned, 6-meter long ‘table commune' and surrounded by enticing views into some of the restaurant's wine collection; the second more intimate and enclosed, seats 6 around a circular, slate grey table.
As guests ascend the stairs into the main dining room, they are immediately greeted by the restaurant's dramatic show kitchen with its own dedicated 6 seat Chef’s Table. Continuing, they walk past an extended display dresser, created in the same light oak that panels the walls. Here, Hélène has displayed some of her more personal objects, as if welcoming guests into her home: pictures of her with a bicycle as a child playing with her brother Marc; drawings of her daughters, Charlotte and Quiterie; pictures of the family inn – the Hotel des Voyageurs in Villeneuve-de-Marsan; the silver dishes and birds that adorned the tables there; a wine list from her beloved grandfather, Jean; the recipe book of her grandmother, Charlotte; an old family daubière and a selection of chef books.
All momentary snapshots into the life of Hélène Darroze.
Finally, simple table settings with bespoke ceramics, encourage diners to touch and admire, while awaiting the theatrical opening, that is each dining experience at Marsan by Hélène Darroze.