Saperlipopette: Chef Norbert Tarayre’s New Resto Outside Paris

Saperlipopette, translates as, “Goodness me!” Chef Norbert Tarayre wanted a name like no other for his chic bistro. Located near the Bois de Boulogne, just across the Pont de Puteaux, the restaurant is located in the charming, recently renovated, old part of town. Open since last October, Chef Norbert, a Top Chef 2013 finalist, has created a buzzing bistro which ticks all the boxes as a café, bar, wine bar, restaurant, lounge and shady terrace. Designed by architect Hervé Porte, the bright two-level space is decorated with Saint-Ouen flea market finds and industrial style furniture. Outside, there’s a Merry-Go-Round where children play on Sundays, while the mamas and papas do brunch. The top-floor steel and glass kitchen is led by Yoanne Flamat and Kevin Mateos whose staff include young unemployed people in need of motivation and a new start in life. “Using the magic of food to inspire new career ideas, a bit like Jamie Oliver in London,” explains chef Norbert, born in Enghien where his family are butchers and fishmongers. His slogan, “On vit comme on cuisine, et on cuisine comme on vit.” (One lives as one cooks and cooks as one lives.) Clientèle during the week includes: start-ups from their nearby La Défense offices discussing strategy; tall men in Vicomte A and high boots chatting chukkas and the high-goal polo moves they plan to play at the nearby Polo de Paris; ladies who lunch whispering confidences to BFFs, before heading off into deepest Puteaux to purchase a little bijou or a new outfit to see them through the summer season. To begin, Elsa the sommelière (a former Miss Oise 2011) suggests a champagne and fresh raspberry Saper Royal cocktail (14€), a light and refreshing Rosé Côte de Provence (8€ glass), or a flute of Champagne Nathalie Falmet (11€)– perfect with the starter of fat asparagus from grower Jerôme Galis. Mains include Ravioli Dubarry, Beef and Carrots, Sea-Bass with creamy risotto. Desserts are by pâtissière Delphine and include her spin on Lemon Tart and Paris-Brest, good with a glass of Eric Bordelet Cider. The market driven dishes change daily. The 4 starters, 6 mains, 4 desserts and “Norbert’s inspiration” comes from time spent working with the excellent chefs at Chez Nico in London, Bernard Loiseau in Burgundy, Marc Veyrat in Annecy and Cyril Lignac in Paris. After lunch, discover the back streets of Puteaux, its theatre, marketplace and architecture, then, back across the Puteaux Bridge, stop in the Bois de Boulogne, outside the magnificent mansion where the Duke and Duchess of Windsor once lived, now owned by Egyptian businessman Mohammed Al-Fayed, at 4 rue du Champ d’Entrainment, Neuilly. Goodness me! Saperlipopette is a fabulous address, Puteaux a great place to discover. Paris doesn’t stop at Porte Maillot; venture beyond, there’s lots to discover. Saperlipopette, 25 rue Mars et Roty, Puteaux. Metro: La Défense. Tel: +33 (0)1 41 37 00 00. Open 7/7. Terrace, Valet Parking. Sunday Brunch 38€. Average Spend: Lunch 26€, Dinner from 39€. Open in August