Table Penja

The story

Table Penja Paris – African-French Bistronomy by Chef Pierre Siewe | Michelin Recommended

Table Penja, Paris – Where French Bistronomy Meets the Spices of Africa

In the 7th arrondissement, chef Pierre Siewe has opened Table Penja, a restaurant that brings a personal, long-matured vision to life. After 13 years at the helm of Le Garde-Temps, Siewe now celebrates a cuisine that is both rooted in French bistronomy and open to the rich flavours of Africa. The restaurant’s name itself is a tribute to the Penja pepper from Cameroon, an ingredient the chef has used for twenty years and now places at the heart of his cooking.

Born in Cameroon, Siewe grew up in the kitchens of his father, a chef who hosted some of France’s greatest culinary figures, including Paul Bocuse. After training at Ferrandi Paris and working alongside Yves Camdeborde during the early days of the bistronomy movement, Siewe developed his own style. At Table Penja, that style is defined by a generous, subtle métissage – a blending of traditions. He marries classic French techniques with African products and spices such as fonio, attiéké, djansan, and the distinctive rondelle spice.

The menu reads as a direct expression of this approach. Among the signature dishes are a rock octopus poached and lacquered with bongo, and veal sweetbreads with tamarin and bitter cacao. For dessert, a green pepper ice cream accompanies a rice pudding with crispy coconut and jujube spice ice cream. The dining options range from a daily lunch plat du jour to longer evening tasting menus, including the six-course Penja menu that showcases the full breadth of the chef’s repertoire.

The restaurant’s philosophy is one of quiet confidence. “No big speeches,” the team notes, “just the pleasure of sharing what he loves and masters.” This dedication to craft and hospitality has not gone unnoticed: Table Penja has been recognised by the Michelin guide, a testament to the precision and originality of Siewe’s modern African cuisine. For those seeking a genuinely singular dining experience in Paris, this is an address that delivers on its promise.