• From the boat to La Grenouillère / Food

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Photo

  • Alexandre Gauthier, in the kitchen of "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.


    La Madeleine sous Montreuil - France - 05/05/17

  • 3:45am, back side of the fish market, where boats delivery the day's catch.


    Boulogne sur Mer - France - 05/05/17

  • Didier checks the fish delivered this morning by the boats back from their tour. He is the chief buyer for "L'Argonaute", a wholeseller who will sell locally as well as ship to Rungis' market on the outskirts of Paris.


    Boulogne sur Mer - France - 05/05/17

  • Didier checks the fish delivered this morning by the boats back from their tour. He is the chief buyer for "L'Argonaute", a wholeseller who will sell locally as well as ship to Rungis' market on the outskirts of Paris.


    Boulogne sur Mer - France - 05/05/17

  • Fish auction, open from 5 to 6 am, where the boats' catches are sold to all the wholesellers from the region.


    Boulogne sur Mer - France - 05/05/17

  • As the fish auction is taking place, the products are being picked up to be brought to stores and/or shipped to Rungis' central market on the outskirts of Paris.


    Boulogne sur Mer - France - 05/05/17

  • Fish market, early morning.


    Boulogne sur Mer - France - 05/05/17

  • As the fish auction is taking place, the products are being picked up to be brought to stores and/or shipped to Rungis' central market on the outskirts of Paris. Final moments until the market closes.


    Boulogne sur Mer - France - 05/05/17

  • Unloading the morning's stock. "L'Argonaute" is a wholeseller. The stock they purchased at the fish auction will be sorted and most of it will be sent to Rungis' central market on the outskirts of Paris.


    Boulogne sur Mer - France - 05/05/17

  • "L'Argonaute" is a wholeseller. The stock they purchased at the fish auction will be sorted and most of it will be sent to Rungis' central market on the outskirts of Paris.


    Boulogne sur Mer - France - 05/05/17

  • Squid. "L'Argonaute" is a wholeseller. The stock they purchased at the fish auction will be sorted and most of it will be sent to Rungis' central market on the outskirts of Paris.


    Boulogne sur Mer - France - 05/05/17

  • Cleaning up after the sorting of squids. "L'Argonaute" is a wholeseller. The stock they purchased at the fish auction will be sorted and most of it will be sent to Rungis' central market on the outskirts of Paris.


    Boulogne sur Mer - France - 05/05/17

  • "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.


    La Madeleine sous Montreuil - France - 05/05/17

  • Alexandre Gauthier, in the kitchen of "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.


    La Madeleine sous Montreuil - France - 05/05/17

  • Alexandre Gauthier and Didier the fishmonger who brought squid to be prepared. "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.


    La Madeleine sous Montreuil - France - 05/05/17

  • Alexandre Gauthier, sharpenning his knife. "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.


    La Madeleine sous Montreuil - France - 05/05/17

  • Alexandre Gauthier making final adjustments to a recipe he just made up, using fresh squid. "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.


    La Madeleine sous Montreuil - France - 05/05/17

  • Alexandre Gauthier making final adjustments to a recipe he just made up, using fresh squid. "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.


    La Madeleine sous Montreuil - France - 05/05/17

  • Squid tartare by Alexandre Gauthier. "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.
    Squid tartare by Alexandre Gauthier. "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.


    La Madeleine sous Montreuil - France - 05/05/17

  • "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.


    La Madeleine sous Montreuil - France - 05/05/17

  • "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.


    La Madeleine sous Montreuil - France - 05/05/17

  • Alexandre Gauthier preparing the plate for a second preparation using fresh squid. "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.


    La Madeleine sous Montreuil - France - 05/05/17

  • Roasted fresh squid, with radishes and fresh garlic flowers. "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.


    La Madeleine sous Montreuil - France - 05/05/17

  • Fresh Garlic flowers. "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.
    Fresh Garlic flowers. "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.


    La Madeleine sous Montreuil - France - 05/05/17

  • Alexandre Gauthier. "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.
    Alexandre Gauthier. "La Grenouillère", two stars restaurant.


    La Madeleine sous Montreuil - France - 05/05/17

Story

It was just a little after 3:30 am that the fishmonger's truck came to pick me up. Heading to Montreuil sur Mer's fish auction. This port is France's largest fishing port, and every morning begins with boats delivering their catches, to be auctioned between 5 and 6 am. Coming early allows to check the quality of the catch from each specific boat. "L'Argonaute" is the fish wholeseller I was following. After the market, then the sorting and packing begins. Most of the products will be shipped straight to Rungis, outside of Paris, to be dispatched to the next level of buyers and to fish stores.

But that day, a pair of squids took a separate route and made their way to a local restaurant, "La Grenouillère". Recently admitted into the select club of two star restaurants, its chef Alexandre Gauthier is seen by many as a pionnier in contemporary gastronomy. Relentlessly exploring new paths, while developping his father's heritage. With the squids he was given he improved a couple of recipes on the spot. Tartare as an appetizer and roasted with radishes as an entrée.

Beyond

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