Seven Unforgettable Meals in Paris
Let's start things off with one of the best meals we had in Paris, Le Jules Verne, atop the Eiffel Tower. Helmed by chef Alain Ducasse, what make this meal so special is the combination of scenery and world class cuisine. Make your reservations early and skip all the elevator lines to spectacular views. Savor every bite of this decadent meal, lingering through the lights on the Eiffel Tower exterior that make the entire dining room sparkle on the hour after dark.
Le Chateaubriand, from chef Inaki Aizpitarte, makes the list as number one spot for my next visit to Paris. If the first seating doesn't bother you, go ahead and make a reservation (it's the ONLY seating they offer reservations for). Never fear if you get there and the line is too long- pop in next door to Le Dauphin, Aizpitarte's sister establishment that catches all the overflow.
Simply the best of the best, Le Cinq in the Four Seasons is another top spot for special occasion dining. From the dazzling flowers, to the food, and wine, this is one meal you will never forget. I mean, I had a stool for my purse and was told that passing up dessert was simply not possible- my kind of people. Don't look at prices ......just order up, you can figure out the tab tomorrow;)
We stopped into Restaurant Goust on our visit to Paris last year and we were NOT disappointed. In fact, we were blown away. The Spanish cuisine of chef Jose Manuel Miguel Rodriguez and the wines of World's Best Sommelier 2004, Enrico Bernardo are a match made in heaven. Do yourself a favor and get the tasting menu with wine pairing. You'll be glad you did it.
Tucked away in this chateaux/hotel outside Champagne, this dining destination deserves an honorary spot, even though it isn't exactly in Paris. It make the list for its foie gras four ways appetizer- which had us thinking we had ordered four appetizers in error. Oh and the watermelon marshmallow they sent us home with. There may have been a course or 5 in between all that as well. Seriously, worth the trip.
Believe it or not this fabulous cozy little spot is run by American chef Daniel Rose, in the heart of Paris. The menu changes every day. All you need to come with is your appetite and sense of culinary adventure. The open kitchen is your show for the eve, be ready to be entertained and enthralled course after course.
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in my favorite neighborhood, Saint Germain, is a gourmet meal to remember served up at bar seating. The food was memorable to be sure, but I remember most loving the show in the kitchen. And the amazing family of 5 seated next to us, which had three children under the age of 10. Who all had the tasting menu. My first lesson in how European children eat and behave vs. American tots. Don't forget to stroll to Pierre Herme post dinner for a macaron or three!
