Plénitude – Cheval Blanc Paris

The renovated Samaritaine department store is home to the luxurious Cheval Blanc hotel, where this restaurant is located, run by the low-key chef Arnaud Donckele, who holds three stars at La Vague d’Or in St. Tropez. Fully dedicated to his craft, Donckele moves back and forth from the kitchen to share his passion with diners. His fresh take on classic cuisine takes you on a journey from Normandy, his birthplace, to the Mediterranean, his adopted home, and the Paris region. It is impossible not to be impressed by his work, which ranges from delicacy and generosity to the exceptional quality of the ingredients. Donckele, a virtuoso of sauces—much like a "nose" in perfumery or a winemaker—devotes exceptional care to his juices, dressings, and sauces, which must be tasted first to appreciate the complex aromatic universe of each dish. As for desserts, Maxime Frédéric, formerly of the George V, is responsible for taking them to a whole new level. It is the absolute pinnacle of haute cuisine.