Yannick Alleno’s game menu captures autumn’s elegant intensity

A silver spoon suspends above a delicate tart, catching the amber light of a consommé that speaks of orchard fruits and slow reduction. This is the moment before taste takes over at Alléno Paris, where chef Yannick Alleno orchestrates each plate with the precision of a musician and the soul of a poet.

The Game Menu arrives as autumn settles across the city, a thoughtful collection of dishes that honour the season’s most prized ingredients. The hare à la royale tartlet sits within a pastry case of burnished caramel, its dark filling rich with the essence of game and time. The quince consommé, poured tableside, carries the scent of orchard and spice, while candied grapefruit adds a whisper of citrine brightness, a counterpoint to the earthiness beneath.

Alleno’s cuisine at Pavillon Ledoyen, the three Michelin starred restaurant on the Champs Élysées, has long been defined by this conversation between tradition and innovation. Each plate tells a story of technique refined over decades, yet never allowing precision to eclipse the essential pleasure of eating. The Game Menu is no exception, a seasonal meditation that asks diners to slow down and consider the journey from forest to table.

The tartlet represents something larger than a single course. It demonstrates how seasonal cooking, when executed with intelligence and generosity, becomes an act of respect towards both ingredient and guest. The candied grapefruit alone requires patience and skill, its bitterness transformed into something honeyed and contemplative.

Alléno Paris welcomes guests throughout the season.

Imagery courtesy of Alléno Paris (@allenoparis).