Plenitude - Cheval Blanc Paris

Towering above the Quai du Louvre, the Cheval Blanc Paris hotel looks fondly out over the river Seine. This 5-star establishment echoes the revamped identity of the department store La Samaritaine, , an invitation to embrace the French way of life, the stuff of dreams. Plénitude occupies the first floor of this wonderful fantasy. Open since 2021, the restaurant has added 3 stars to the shining gourmet constellation of Paris.

Two chefs are better than one

The sauce chef plays an important role in this team. Arnaud Donckele has done so for several years now, tracing his path alongside the top chefs. Before taking the helm at Plénitude, he was already making stars shine at the Saint-Tropez restaurant, La Vague d’Or, another 3-star establishment.

Originally from Normandy and now settled in Paris, Arnaud Donckele acquired his culinary passion from his father, who was a pork butcher and game hunter. His grandparents were farmers and gave him a taste for the land. His cooking is governed by his love of local produce which is reflected in his sophisticated dishes. Among his greatest creations, his sauces are like precious perfumes.

The team’s other asset: Maxime Frédéric, winner of the 2019 ‘pastry chef of the year’ award, after his success at the Four Seasons George V hotel. His creativity and technique turn sugar into mouthwatering dishes that are truly sublime. Also from Normandy, this grandson of a dairy farmer combines his inspirations with those of chef Arnaud Donckele to reach a level rarely achieved in pastry-making.

Sauces galore.

At Plénitude, the modern, pared-down decor adds to the diners’ sense of intimacy. The panoramic view of Paris and the comfortable dining area set the tone for this unique experience. It promises to be a pleasant journey.

The Plénitude restaurant stands out from the region’s other gourmet establishments by what we might say is a very French concept. Here, the focus is placed on the sauces. Or rather the ‘Absolutes’, as the chef Arnaud Donckele likes to call them. His complex creations — some of which contain up to a dozen ingredients — are tasted first, even before each of the dishes. On this culinary stage, the dish plays a supporting role, to strike the ultimate balance with its matching sauce. The result is of disconcerting perfection.

Dish after dish, diners take a voyage through the exceptional flavours of French-produced foods. Plénitude offers a dining experience that moves you, a delicately crafted cuisine that generates powerful emotions. Amazement, melancholy, comfort, curiosity… This restaurant awakens more than just your tastebuds.

The menu offers two choices of set meals, entitled ‘symphony’ and ‘let’s run away together’. Behind these poetically mysterious names lies the restaurant’s straightforward but noble ambition: to make diners happy.

Succumb to the pleasure of a unique culinary experience in the Paris Region’s selection of restaurants.