Café Anglais (Paris)
Encyclopedia
The Café Anglais was a famous French
restaurant located at the corner of the Boulevard des Italiens
(n° 13) and the Rue de Marivaux in Paris, France.
, a peace accord signed between Britain and France. In the beginning, its clientele were coachmen and domestic servants but later became frequented by actors and patrons of the nearby Opera House. In 1822, the new proprietor, Paul Chevreuil, turned it into a fashionable restaurant with a reputation for roasted and grilled meats. It was after the arrival of chef Adolphe Dugléré
that the Café Anglais achieved its highest gastronomic reputation. It was then frequented by the wealthy and the aristocracy of Paris.
Although the white-faced exterior was austere, the interior was elaborately decorated with furniture in mahogany and walnut woods, and mirrors of gold leaf patina. The building included 22 private rooms and lounges. The most famous was known as Le Grand 16.
Recipes Dugléré created included the Germiny Soup, dedicated to the head of the Banque de France
, the Comte de Germiny. Dugléré also created the Pommes Anna
, reputedly named in honor of the famous courtesan of the Second Empire, Anna Deslions. He also composed the menu called the "Three Emperors Dinner
" in honor of Tsar Alexander II, Kaiser Wilhelm I and Otto von Bismarck
for the Exposition Universelle in 1867
in Paris.
The restaurant closed in 1913. It has been replaced by a building in Art Nouveau
style. The restaurant is mentioned in in Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time
(towards the beginning of volume 2, "Within a Budding Grove") as well as in the film Babette's Feast
. The character Babette Hersant says that she was the head chef at the Café Anglais before fleeing to Denmark.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
restaurant located at the corner of the Boulevard des Italiens
Boulevard des Italiens
The boulevard des Italiens is one of the four 'grands boulevards' in Paris, a chain running east west and also including boulevard de la Madeleine, Boulevard des Capucines and boulevard Montmartre...
(n° 13) and the Rue de Marivaux in Paris, France.
History
Opened in 1802, the restaurant was named in honor of the Treaty of AmiensTreaty of Amiens
The Treaty of Amiens temporarily ended hostilities between the French Republic and the United Kingdom during the French Revolutionary Wars. It was signed in the city of Amiens on 25 March 1802 , by Joseph Bonaparte and the Marquess Cornwallis as a "Definitive Treaty of Peace"...
, a peace accord signed between Britain and France. In the beginning, its clientele were coachmen and domestic servants but later became frequented by actors and patrons of the nearby Opera House. In 1822, the new proprietor, Paul Chevreuil, turned it into a fashionable restaurant with a reputation for roasted and grilled meats. It was after the arrival of chef Adolphe Dugléré
Adolphe Dugléré
Adolphe Dugléré was a French chef and a pupil of Carême.- Les Frères Provençaux :Dugléré was a chef de cuisine to the Rothschild family until 1848, and was manager at the restaurant Les Frères Provençaux at the Palais-Royal from 1848 to 1866 which was owned by three men from Provence named...
that the Café Anglais achieved its highest gastronomic reputation. It was then frequented by the wealthy and the aristocracy of Paris.
Recipes Dugléré created included the Germiny Soup, dedicated to the head of the Banque de France
Banque de France
The Banque de France is the central bank of France; it is linked to the European Central Bank . Its main charge is to implement the interest rate policy of the European System of Central Banks...
, the Comte de Germiny. Dugléré also created the Pommes Anna
Pommes Anna
Pommes Anna or Anna potatoes, is a classic French dish of sliced, layered potatoes cooked in a very large amount of melted butter.The recipe calls for firm-fleshed potatoes and butter only. Potatoes are peeled and sliced very thin. The slices, salted and peppered, are layered into a pan ,...
, reputedly named in honor of the famous courtesan of the Second Empire, Anna Deslions. He also composed the menu called the "Three Emperors Dinner
Three Emperors Dinner
The Dîner des trois empereurs or Three Emperors Dinner was a banquet held at Café Anglais in Paris, France on 7 June 1867.It was prepared by chef Adolphe Dugléré at the request of King William I of Prussia who frequented the cafe during the Exposition Universelle...
" in honor of Tsar Alexander II, Kaiser Wilhelm I and Otto von Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
for the Exposition Universelle in 1867
Exposition Universelle (1867)
The Exposition Universelle of 1867 was a World Exposition held in Paris, France, in 1867.-Conception:In 1864, Emperor Napoleon III decreed that an international exposition should be held in Paris in 1867. A commission was appointed with Prince Jerome Napoleon as president, under whose direction...
in Paris.
The restaurant closed in 1913. It has been replaced by a building in Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
style. The restaurant is mentioned in in Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time
In Search of Lost Time
In Search of Lost Time or Remembrance of Things Past is a novel in seven volumes by Marcel Proust. His most prominent work, it is popularly known for its considerable length and the notion of involuntary memory, the most famous example being the "episode of the madeleine." The novel is widely...
(towards the beginning of volume 2, "Within a Budding Grove") as well as in the film Babette's Feast
Babette's Feast
Babette's Feast is a 1987 Danish film directed by Gabriel Axel. The film's screenplay was written by Axel based on the story by Isak Dinesen , who also wrote the story which inspired the 1985 Academy Award winning film Out of Africa...
. The character Babette Hersant says that she was the head chef at the Café Anglais before fleeing to Denmark.