March 2009 - Regina Chow - Singapore Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle & Travel Blog

Of bows, combs and all things sweet

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Paris - Le Jules Verne & A Cafe in Paris

Saturday, March 07, 2009

The highlight of our Paris trip was our dinner at Le Jules Verne, a 3-starred Michelin restaurant opened by Alain Ducasse. The food was excellent, as expected, and the service was very professional but a tad cold.

Although I am aware that French fine-dining restaurants tend to provide such service, I still prefer the warm and friendly service rendered by the other French and Italian cafes that we patronized during this holiday. It was an unforgettable experience, nonetheless, especially since we (or rather, JW) forked out 400 euros for the entire degustation meal.

We had a breathtaking view of Paris from our window seat. What a sight to behold.

Can't quite remember what this was, but I'm pretty sure this was not on the menu. :)

The sliced wild apple was a perfect complement to the sweet and succulent lobster meat.

Roasted chicory with black truffle and cheese. This tasted heavenly.

Pan-seared turbot, crayfish and mushroom a la riche. I remembered the fish was very fresh and tender.

Medallion of Venison. Cooked to perfection, the meat was juicy and very tasty.

We barely spoke because I tend to concentrate on my food when I am eating. :P

The dessert spread was very generous. Our "main" desserts, namely the 1) light wild strawberry and coconut cake with lime-coconut sorbet and 2) tower bolt, dark chocolate praline & hazelnut ice-cream, were accompanied by chocolates, marshmallows and macaroons.

I was so full at the end of the meal that all I wanted to do was sleep. Fortunately, our hotel was located near the Eiffel Tower, so a slow stroll back definitely aided our digestion. We will probably never come back again, at least not in the short term, but fond memories of this experience will always be etched in our minds.

After a night at a gastronomic restaurant, we went back to street cafes the next two days. The last night of our 2 week holiday was spent at a lovely cafe just across our hotel. There we were again, with my Orangina drink and his English Breakfast tea, reminising about our little adventures throughout the two weeks and wondering when we will be able to take such a long break away from work again.

Now I'm wondering..should I go to Dubai on my own??It's for work, but at least it wouldn't be as stressful as my normal work trips ;)

Feisty Princess Charmaine

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Paris - Angelina, Musee de Lourve & Musee de Orsay

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Angelina was established in 1903 and is a favourite among Parisians and tourists alike. JW's Parisian friend recommended that we try it and boy was the experience truly amazing. Its neo-rococo dining environment, coupled with delectable pastries and desserts, set my heart fluttering. I love tea rooms like this.

Angelina is famous for its decadent hot chocolate concoction, which we didn't try this time but will definitely do so when we next go to Paris. We had the Angelina tea, which had a rich yet refreshingly sweet flavour. It was love at first taste.

JW ordered a chocolate tart with fruits.

I ordered a salad, followed by the legendary Mont Blanc, which is a meringue base piled with chestnut puree and filled with whipped cream. Apparently, Coco Chanel, Marcel Proust and Karl Lagerfeld shared a common love for the hot chocolate and Mont Blanc served at this quaint Parisian pastry shop.

After a satisfying meal at Angelina's, we took off to the Louvre for more art appreciation. I wasn't particularly impressed with the Louvre after viewing so many masterpieces in Italy, especially at the Vatican Museums and the Academie. We made our way to the Mona Lisa exhibit immediately because the works of art simply paled in comparison to what we saw in Italy.

In my opinion, Louvre's saving grace (other than the Mona Lisa) was Napolean's Apartments. It reminded me of Chateau de Versaille, only that it had rich tapestries and red velvet canopies. The decor was so luxurious that I almost didn't want to leave.

Musee de Orsay was the other museum that we visited in Paris. Orsay showcases impressionist, post-impressionist and contemporary art, including artworks by Renoir, Van Gogh, Monet, Edgar Degas ( I love his ballerina paintings!!) and Picasso. I prefer Orsay to Lourve, perhaps because some of my favourite art pieces can be found here.