But of course – would anyone expect any less when visiting Paris? Our meals are selected as caefully as the sites we visit and very intentional. A lot of planning and on-line research is done before we got on the airplane for the flight overseas. For this visit, one location was planned, the other was not. But let me stop the talking and get to the experiences.
Always listen to your AirBNB host! We have never gone wrong when we ask our host to recommend a local restaurant nearby and this recommendation did not disappoint. After checking into our rental, first order of business was dinner at……………………..
le Relais de l’Entrecote
The menu was created in 1959 in a brasserie and was a single course menu. What? Let’s just say it is so popular, there are three locations in Paris and two in Switzerland. Our host suggested we get there early, otherwise there could be a long wait. We were lucky the evening we visited.
Think about it. Do one thing and do it well. Ordering is easy. You’re asked for your beverage of choice and how you would like your meat cooked.
Bread and salad arrived promptly. Walnuts are part of their salad and add a nice crunch.
And then the main course arrives……………….tender sirloin steak with its ‘famous’ sauce and frites.
While theirs’s no recipe for their sauce, searching the internet, I came up with these ingredients: cream, tarragon, Dijon mustard and lots of butter. Yep, that nailed it.
What else is important? More is brought to the table when your plate is empty- without asking. The meat already arrived, and our waitress was dropping off more frites – delicious.
There was one major decision that evening – dessert! We each ordered something different and had the opportunity to try a variety of things – YUM.
Add in an Irish coffee and cordial and dinner was complete.
This was definitely a nice way to start our time in Paris.
Our planned meal with reservations made before leaving the states was at……..
le Train Bleu
This was to be our anniversary (29 years!) meal since our date was during this trip, actually on May 14. We (Eric and I) had eaten here before and it’s not only about the food but the experience.
The location shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s in one of the train stations, steeped in history and has a distinctive and unique atmosphere. Gare = French for train and the blue line goes to Lyon. There you have it. 🙂
It has old world elegance. I found this photo on their website. Mine had a hundred people in it.
It offers travelers and Parisians a moment frozen in time, an experience that feels like the beginning of a fabulous journey of discovery. Each room is themed to represent cities and regions of France. At one end of the location is a bar for those needing a quicker meal.
Enough about the restaurant, let’s talk about the food and wine. Before our selecitons arrived, an amuse bouche was set in front of us. Not exactly sure what it was, but it tasted ‘green’ – if green had a flavor.
Appetizers were pate de campagna, foie gras and langoustine carpaccio.
Connor ordered beef tartare.
It was one of two items ordered that was prepared table-side. I was able to get a video of most of the preparation.
Adrienne totally enjoyed her sesame encrusted salmon sashimi:
Eric ordered roast leg of lamb, carved table-side.
But then came desserts……………………Eric choose a hazelnut souffle with lemon ice cream and I had a citrus & melon delight.
Connor had been enjoying coffee gourmand which had a number of mini-desserts accompanying a cup of coffee.
Adrienne ordered the rhum baba. It looks innocent enough until the rhum is poured and poured.
We all enjoyed our selections, the meal, the ambience and the company.
While this may not be a stop for every trip, it is definitely a special place for a special French meal.
Darden Travels 