Just the mention of his name brings childhood memories rushing back. A little fire demon, a character as prickly as he is endearing, who appears in the magnificent Howl's Moving Castle by Miyazaki, aka the best film from Studio Ghibli. But today, Calcifer is setting up shop on Rue Notre-Dame de Nazareth and igniting Paris with a culinary experience that's still relatively unexplored: wood-fired cooking. Join us!
Passionate cuisine, theatrical decor
« Calcifer is the rediscovered taste of hospitality, the essence of the dining room, the gestures and attentions at service, a cuisine that brings everyone together around its flame, and above all, the desire and energy to put the customer back at the center of the table. » With his brand new restaurant – opened on April 1st – Antoine Rollin is making the hearts of Parisians beat fiercely. From wood to ceramics, mirrors to lighting and accessories, everything has been sourced from flea markets. The result? A decor that’s halfway between an American diner and...the 70s, a mid-century Viennese brasserie in Art Deco style, with leather banquettes and a mosaic floor, where you can elbow your way between friends at the large isolated tables styled like booths, and where you can enjoy an intimate atmosphere at the two big tables at the back of the restaurant, under a trompe l’oeil tent and by candlelight. All of this while watching the fiery spectacle unfolding in the open kitchen, releasing delightful braised aromas.
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Playing with Fire
As you may have guessed, at Calcifer, the flame is king. To elevate this experience, Antoine has teamed up with the Italian chef now residing in Paris, Gaetano Carpinelli, who has graced the tables of multiple three-star restaurants. In the kitchen, he brings his talent to life right by the fire, becoming a partner of the embers. Inspired by the Basque asados, where flames gently embrace meats, fish, and vegetables, he creates a menu that evolves with the seasons and arrivals, as delicate as it is smoky. What's on the menu? Toasted bread with anchovies and seaweed butter, chicharrón with sriracha, mackerel with sorrel, turbot with pil pil, cochinillo with salsa roja, yellow hen with satay sauce... And for a sweet touch, an orange curd donut that also takes a trip to the barbecue. To complement this feast, we have a bottle of wine carefully selected from passionate winemakers, and there we are, absolutely delighted!
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Address: 41 Rue Notre Dame de Nazareth, 75003 Paris, France