Nestled in Paris's 13th arrondissement, Tempero, a grocery store and canteen with a familiar name, has resurfaced in the capital. After leaving Station F a few years ago, Franco-Brazilian chef Alessandra Montagne opened her first restaurant, Nosso, and then the newcomer, Tempero, located just across the street.
A warm atmosphere permeates the windows of this grocery store, which offers local products and recipes with international flavors. From feijoada to wines carefully selected by head sommeliers Aurélien Gil-Artagnan and Matthieu Di Nacera, Tempero is the place to visit if you're looking for a culinary escape, especially during the summer months!
As soon as we stepped inside, we were invited to take a seat at a small table with an unobstructed view of the bar, which had a cheerful and festive atmosphere for a Friday night. To start the evening, we opted for a butternut squash velouté and a salmon tartare with beetroot cream. A gentle start to a journey to Brazil, perfectly complemented by a Portuguese white wine from Soalheiro.
The service – pleasantly friendly – continues with a fish moqueca served with fragrant rice, a creamy coconut milk sauce, and plenty of spices. For me, it's the grilled chicken served with a light purée, transporting me back to Brazil and awakening that "saudade" so typical of this multifaceted country. Dishes straight from Alessandra Montagne's childhood, delicately crafted and served with heart, offering boundless generosity.
To finish on a sweet note, we decided on chocolate mousse and flan, or pudim for those in the know. A dessert steeped in Portuguese tradition, and so delicious that it's gone in a few spoonfuls, bringing us back down to earth without any disturbances.
Before leaving Tempero ("spices" in Spanish), we took a quick look at the shelves stocked with terrines, jars of osso buco, rillettes, and farofa (cassava flour), before heading home to pick up a pot of feijoada for lunch with friends on Saturday. A truly exquisite wine cellar to visit again and again!
1 Brazilian expression that expresses a feeling of great nostalgia.
TEMPERO
24, PROMENADE CLAUDE-LÉVI-STRAUSS, PARIS 13TH
@TEMPERO.PARIS
