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Le Potager de Charlotte
I'm a dancer and athlete, so a cute quinoa salad with a fruit salad for dessert, it's like... Dude, give me some food for the love of God. And recently – thanks be to God – I got some food.
Let’s stop pretending…
Sometimes you leave vegan restaurants not entirely satisfied.
It’s not that you haven’t eaten enough… or gotten enough nutrients (au contraire, often at vegan restaurants, you get more than enough nutrients,) it’s just that there’s still something missing. Like, you ate so light, so healthy, that you are jonesing to dig your teeth into a fudge brownie, or to rip off a huge bite of a sesame baguette. Just, like, for some pleasure.
I mean… maybe it’s just me and my French penchant for le plaisir, but I’m not a salad girl. As a side dish or an appetizer, sure. But generally I want the creamiest and richest thing on the menu. Especially when dining out. Moreover, I want complex flavors and spices, because the truth is, I’m a cook now. I am. I mean it surely took me years and years of futzing around, but now I can honestly say: Look, if I’m going to pay for food, I expect to be impressed. Otherwise I can just whip up a fantastic coconut curry at home with my belle-mère’s Indian spices. See what I’m saying?
And besides, I’m a dancer and athlete, so a cute quinoa salad with a fruit salad for dessert, it’s like… Dude, give me some food for the love of God.
And recently – thanks be to God – I got some food.
Visit Le Potager de Charlotte
Le Potager de Charlotte
Chloe and I had been hearing about Le Potager de Charlotte (luh po-ta-zjay duh Shar-lut) since it opened its doors several months ago, and though the reviews had been excellent, we hadn’t made it there yet for one reason or another. Well, mission accomplished last week.
Verdict?
Consider our socks knocked off… Le Potager de Charlotte is flippin’ delicious.
No namby-pamby-I’m-hungry-thirty-minutes-later stuff here.
Chloe and I each ordered a three-course “menu” so that we could each try six different dishes. The avocado “stuffed egg” dish, and the lentil pancake filled with cashew cream and piment d’espelette, started out the meal with massive flavor and creamy richness. (Do the “Hallelujah!” dance.) Then, our main dishes came out to delight us with creativity of flavor and a subtle simplicity. Chloe ordered a sweet-potato-stuffed eggplant, and I ordered the vermicelli noodles with broccoli, mushrooms, and a delicate though creamy (you know it) sesame sauce. Holy yum.
Next up, dessert. Bien sûr.
Of course, it should be noted that by this time both Chloe and I were bursting at the seams. However, in the name of research, and in order to “take it for the team” so that we could report back to you, dear readers… we made it happen. (We’re troopers, I know.)
A lemon curd made with lemons, oranges, dates, and cashews, and two gluten-free chocolate cake-ettes swimming in a vanilla cashew cream sauce. Wow. I’d give the lemon curd an A — complex and smooth with a hint of turmeric. (So, not for those who don’t go for a touch of curry.) And, to the chocolate cakes, I’d give a B. They were a bit spongey, lacking a bit of chocolate ganache-ness, but still quite good.
But everything else was fall-on-the-ground-and-cry-from-total-scrumption good.
If your taste buds aren’t zinging after trying Potager de Charlotte, then you must’ve have ordered the salad — which, surprise, we didn’t try. (No, I’m kidding, I’m kidding. I’m sure it’s good, too, just on the basis that everything else is so divine.)
So… how did all this happen?
We thought that since David's food goes to new heights, he should be the one to wear the butterfly wings. :)
The Backstory of Le Potager de Charlotte
Le Potager de Charlotte is the brainchild of two young brothers both health-conscious, both vegan, and both lovers of bodacious flavor. David, le chef, and Adrien, the naturopath. Plus, their mother, you guessed it — Charlotte — is a player behind the scenes. They sought to create a cozy ambiance, filled with local (or as much as possible), organic produce, and food that would fill your belly, as well as pack a nutritional punch. (After all, Mr. Adrien’s a naturopath.) So bring all your carnivore buddies here and mum will be the word about the absence of animal product — everyone will go home satisfied.
So what if you don't live in Paris?
The good news for those of you who aren’t Parigots is that we have a delightful recipe for you! Their infamous Avocado “Stuffed Egg” recipe.
Avocado "Stuffed Egg"
If you used to enjoy stuffed eggs as a kid at BBQs, etc., then this will totally rock your world, and beyond. Due to the avocado, it's creamy and greeny, and then thanks to the chick pea filling, it's a protein party to boot. The secret for making it taste "eggy"? Black salt – which boasts an inherent "sulfur" flavor that'll totally surprise and delight your taste buds. Serves 4.
Prep time
1h
Cook time
1h 15min
Total time
2h 15min
Ingredients
- 2 avocados
- 2.5 cups/500g dried chick peas
- 1/2 lemon
- 2 Tablespoons turmeric
- olive oil (to taste)
- a big clove of garlic
- Black salt (otherwise known as kala namak)
- Pinch of black pepper
- Optional roasted pumpkin seeds for garnish
Instructions
- The night before: Soak your uncooked chick peas.
- The next day: Cook your chick peas for an hour in unsalted water. Then mix them in a blender with a bit of the cooking water. Add the turmeric, lemon, garlic, and a tablespoon of olive oil. Salt and pepper, then mix some more.
- Cut your avos in half, and remove the pit carefully.
- Gently fill the crater of your avocado with the yummy chick pea cream mixture, then sprinkle a bit of black salt “kala namak” on the “yolk” to make it taste eggy.
Notes & Tips
You can totally used canned chick peas in this recipe if you’re in a rush. I would.
This recipe was initially published in Slowly Veggie magazine.
If you have the glorious fortune to live in Paris, run to Le Potager de Charlotte and report back to us, pronto. Rendez-vous here:
Le Potager de Charlotte
12 rue de la Tour d’Auvergne
75009 Paris
If not, give their avocado “stuffed egg” a whirl, and let us know what you think. We’re certain you’ll be in love either way…
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I could eat all of this. Just sounds yummy.
We loved EVERY bite!:) Next time you’re in Paris, we’ll take you here.
I totally share your point of view about this place! This is one of my favorite restaurant in Paris , the price of the menu is quite fair regarding to the quality and the quantity of the food. When I go to a restaurant, I expect to discover new tastes and ways to cook, otherwise it’s not worth it. This one completely did the job!
And buy the way, thanks for the recipe! 🙂
Hi Fanny! Thanks for stopping by — we absolutely love this place! So glad that you share our sentiments. And you’re SO right about the price vs. quality. A total deal! Yum: And, yes — when one goes out, one does expect something new and exciting. We weren’t disappointed. You’re welcome for the recipe. A bientôt !