Au Rocher de Cancale

Au Rocher de Cancale is a restaurant located in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, France. It was very popular in the 19th century thanks to its suppers offered after theatre and opera shows.

Au Rocher de Cancale
The restaurant in 2017
TypeRestaurant
Location78, rue Montorgueil
2nd arrondissement of Paris
France
Coordinates48.86559°N 2.347153°E / 48.86559; 2.347153
Founded1804
Official nameAncien restaurant Le Rocher de Cancale
DesignatedMarch 3, 1997
Reference no.PA00125451
Location of Au Rocher de Cancale in Paris

History
The restaurant in July 1907.

The restaurant was founded in 1804 by Alexis Balaine. It offered oyster specialities after spectacles. Dandies, Lorettes, aristocrats and Jockey Club used to meet at this restaurant, then located at 59 Rue Montorgueil. At the time, the restaurant offered an extensive list of dishes: 10 mutton, 17 veal, 11 beef and 22 poultry starters, 27 entremets and 30 desserts.[1]

In 1809, La Reynière installed its tasting jury in the restaurant.

Honoré de Balzac, Alexandre Dumas, Théophile Gautier and Eugène Sue were patrons of the restaurant.[2]

In 1837, chef Langlais created the "Norman sole" in Le Rocher de Cancale's kitchen.[3]

Balaine's successor, Pierre Frédéric Borrel, went bankrupt[4] and closed the establishment in 1846. The restaurant was latered re-opened under the same name at Rue de Richelieu.[5]

Mr Pécune then moved the restaurant back to Rue Montorgueil (to No. 78).[5] The work Rocher de Cancale is still in the building, as well as frescoes made by Paul Gavarni.

The building was classified as an official Historical Monument on March 3rd, 1977.[6]

A building of the same name existed in Brussels in 1874.

In Honoré de Balzac's La Comédie humaine, characters Henri de Marsay, Madame du Val-Noble, Coralie, Lucien de Rubempré, Étienne Lousteau and Dinah de La Baudraye were regular patrons of the restaurant. The restaurant is notably cited in Le Cabinet des Antiques, La Muse du département, Illusions perdues, Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes and other works.[7]

References
  1. Jacques Kother (June 26, 2007). Le Petit Journal du Passé (in French). Le Guide des Connaisseurs.
  2. Panel Histoire de Paris, 73 rue Montorgueil (in French)
  3. Lavallée 1857, p. 238.
  4. "Les riches heures de la Propriété Caillebotte". yerres.fr (in French). Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  5. Panel Histoire de Paris in front of the restaurant (in French)
  6. Base Mérimée: PA00125451, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
  7. Honorine, Bibliothèque de la Pléiade,1976, t. IV, p. 347 ISBN 2070108627; Un début dans la vie, Pléiade, 1976, t. IV, p. 527–528; La Rabouilleuse, Pléiade, 1977, t. VI, p. 122, 135, 314 ISBN 2070108503; La Muse du département, Pléiade, 1977, t. VI, p. 498; Le Cabinet des Antiques, Pléiade, 1977, t.VII, p. 164, 172 ISBN 2070108740 ; Illusions perdues, Pléiade, 1978, t. VIII, p. 127, 264, 267, 339, 526 ISBN 207010866X; La Fille aux yeux d'or, Pléiade, 1978, t. IX, p. 272 ISBN 2070108694 ; La Maison Nucingen, Pléiade, 1980, t. XI, p. 19 ISBN 2070108767; Les Employés ou la Femme supérieure, Pléiade, 1980, t. XI, p. 247, 269, 297

Bibliography
  • Lavallée, Théophile (1857). Histoire de Paris depuis le temps des Gaulois jusqu'à nos jours (in French). Michel Lévy frères.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Terres d'écrivains (2004). Balades littéraires dans Paris du XVIIe au XIXe siècle (in French). Nouveau Monde éditions. ISBN 2-84736-054-9.
  • Bihl-Willette, Luc (1997). Des tavernes aux bistrots. Une histoire des cafés (in French). Paris: L'Âge d'Homme. ISBN 2825107735.
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