le bibent

Opened June 2011

Chef de cuisine

Christophe Marque

Maitre d'Hôtel – Director du Salle

Arnaud Enjalbert

Christian Constant is proud of his southwestern roots in Montauban. After 30 years in Paris at The Ritz, Le Crillon and his own addresses he decided it was time to return to his roots. He recently launched Le Bibent located on the prestigious Place du Capitol. Le Bibent (means good drink in occitane patois) was once the meeting place for le tout Toulouse. The original brasserie, created 150 years ago, was the first French café to serve bière à la pression (draft beer). Today the magnificent néo-brasserie is Christian Constant's edible history, his hommage to his beloved region where he was born and raised.

Chef, why have you added Le Bibent to your portfolio?

Le Bibent was declared a listed monument in 1975 and has been shut since 2009. Each time I passed by I thought I would love to wake the Sleeping Beauty and create an elegant address for the locals, to meet and eat delicious food, drink excellent wines. Finally I got the opportunity and the transformation took nearly a year and 1.6 million euros to complete!

How big is Le Bibent?

80 in the brasserie, 40 on the heated terrace, 20 in the original stone cellar which now makes a perfect meeting space for company use and which can be transformed for private parties. We're open all day, starting with breakfast, and until midnight to accommodate opera and theatre goers after performances. All that culture makes them very hungry!

What's cooking? And who's cooking it?

Everything's made “in-house”, products come from the near-by Victor Hugo market, charcuterie from Monsieur Garcia, fish from La Marée Toulousain. Chef Christophe Marque is from Tarbes, near the Spanish border, so there's Crème de haricots tarbais glacée au caillé de brebis (10€) Epaule d'agneau de lait du Pays Basque confite, haricots Tarbais au beurre persillé (25€) and Le Cassoulet de Montalbanais “Marcel Delmas” (26€).

Pop in for Mamie Constant's Oeufs Mimosa (8€) Croque-Monsieur du Bibent (8€) Hamburger au foie gras (12€) And favourites from Paris such as Crèmeux d'artichauts, tartare de saint jacques et tuile croustillante (13€). Cheese is from Monsieur Xavier www.fromage-xavier.com and bread is baked around the corner by a master-baker, to my recipe. As for desserts they cost from 9€ and include “La fabuleuse tarte au chocolat de Christian Constant. Clafoutis aux fruits de saison . Mont Blanc à la créme de châtaignes, Tarte Tatin and Gaufre(waffles) à la Chantilly, chocolat ou caramel à la fleur de sel

And the wines?

There's a good reflection of the region as well as Vins de Prestige such as the excellent Château Pâpe Clément 2006 at 256€. Les Digestifs are very popular, because there's nothing more convivial after a good meal, and a serious discussion on the progress of Pau or Toulouse Rugby Teams, than a glass or two of, say, Liqueur de Folle Noire !

What's the average spend?

Full Toulouse breakfast with Christine Ferber jams and honey 19€. Lunch formula Entrée & Plat or Plat & Dessert 21€ - 3 courses 29€. Early evening aperitifs and degustation “Toulouse Tapas” style from about 5€ and dinner A La Carte 3 courses about – 40€ + wines.

Note:
Le Bibent does not take reservations, other than for the private salon downstairs for a maximum of 20 people. Contact us by email with questions at: lebibent@maisonconstant.com