Winner - World Championship Egg Mayonnaise 2026
Above: each one a dainty mouthful
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Soon after learning that Mathieu Renucci, passionate chef-patron who revived the historic 1921 bistro Au Rêve in Montmartre, and co-creator Yves Séné had recently won the 7th edition of the Championnat du Monde de l'Œuf Mayonnaise - World Egg Mayonnaise (sometimes mistaken as Oeuf Mimosa, the less-fussy French cousin of the American deviled egg that features sieved yolk "petals" on top) Championship - I knew I had to try it. This quirky contest is run by the Association de Sauvegarde de l'Œuf Mayonnaise (ASOM), a group whose noble (and slightly tongue-in-cheek) mission is to safeguard this endangered French entrée classic that has, sadly, been quietly disappearing from bistro menus.
At just 9 euros, three modest snowy halves arrived on a plate cloaked in a silky house-made mayo, each concealing a medallion of leeks vinaigrette beneath, each crowned with a haughty "hat," a tiny crouton perched at a jaunty angle. As applause erupted from adjacent tables, it was one of those perfect, light-hearted Parisian moments that felt like a scene from a movie. And while the portion was small, we had to admit it was big on flavor. When we looked up, more of the prize-winning oeufs had arrived and everyone was eagerly sampling from each other’s plates. A prix well-deserved. - BPJ
Au Rêve
89 rue Caulaincourt 75018
