Originally from the Molise region of Italy, the Di Meo brothers, who founded the Di Meo art gallery in 1958, are equally passionate about food and this led them to open the Cherche Midi restaurant in 1978.
The brothers can always be found at the restaurant together with their faithful team of collaborators led by Franco Gulli from Calabria and Remo Pasquarelli from the Abruzzo region. They all take the greatest delight in serving up the highest quality produce such as the Mozzarella de Buffala, which is flown in twice weekly from Naples, the Langhirano ham, the Culatello de Zibello, the Mortadella or the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Over the years, their relationship with the local producers, equally obsessed with quality, has developed into one of friendship.
The fresh pasta, with or without eggs, made in sheets for the longer varieties and individually formed for the shorter types, as well as the “home-made” ravioli with their mouth-watering fillings, the potato gnocchi and the polenta, are undoubtedly amongst the best in Paris. The sauces, the accompanying vegetables and the meat and fish dishes change daily depending on the season and the quality of the ingredients available at the market ensuring perfect freshness, simplicity and flavour.
The warmth of the restaurant’s décor is matched by that of the welcome and enhanced by paintings by the great roman painter Pierro Pizzi Cannella. The restaurant is open seven days a week until 11 30pm.
In spite of the restaurant’s great success, the team is always looking for ways to improve, while of course respecting the spirit of its founders. This is reflected by the fact that a new and revised wine list will shortly be introduced.