Paris Restaurants
Le Train Bleu - Gare de Lyon
Who would think one can find a great restaurant in a train station? And where else than in Paris?
I had not been for over 10 years and I wanted to treat my great friend JPL to a good meal, as I usually stay at his place in Versailles. But this time he had just bought a new place (two doors down in the same street...) and he was still in renovations, so I stayed in a hotel in the 12th arrondissement, and I invited him for dinner.
Obviously, the grandiose decor, and the sheer size of the place makes it a delight to the eyes, before it hits your tastebuds! It can accomodate 500 guests and there is an army of waiters to cater to your every need.
JPL and I share a passion for seafood, so fish it was for main course, but before we could not resist to try some of the starters: see photos below - just the look of them makes me salivating...
I had not been for over 10 years and I wanted to treat my great friend JPL to a good meal, as I usually stay at his place in Versailles. But this time he had just bought a new place (two doors down in the same street...) and he was still in renovations, so I stayed in a hotel in the 12th arrondissement, and I invited him for dinner.
Obviously, the grandiose decor, and the sheer size of the place makes it a delight to the eyes, before it hits your tastebuds! It can accomodate 500 guests and there is an army of waiters to cater to your every need.
JPL and I share a passion for seafood, so fish it was for main course, but before we could not resist to try some of the starters: see photos below - just the look of them makes me salivating...
An interesting thing in most good restaurants in France is how the waiter comes to your table to finish the plating of the dish, usually deboning the fish or adding vegetables to a good slab of meat. Le Train Bleu is no exception, and you can see the pride on the waiter's face!
The fish was cooked to perfection, but just coming back from the coast where one has the coice of "catch of the night" or "catch of the morning", I felt the freshness was not there, and I have to say that it was a common trait wherever I had a meal in Paris.
Nothing can beat local ingredients freshly harvested, and this is something that I like about living in Sydney, as you are not very far from the source of fresh produce, if you choose to go and find them!
We drank a beautiful Menetou-salon, a not very well known Sauvignon Blanc, which appelation borders Sancerre, but at half the price...
It is difficult to find outside of France, but we have been lucky to find it in a few places in Australia. So look out!
The fish was cooked to perfection, but just coming back from the coast where one has the coice of "catch of the night" or "catch of the morning", I felt the freshness was not there, and I have to say that it was a common trait wherever I had a meal in Paris.
Nothing can beat local ingredients freshly harvested, and this is something that I like about living in Sydney, as you are not very far from the source of fresh produce, if you choose to go and find them!
We drank a beautiful Menetou-salon, a not very well known Sauvignon Blanc, which appelation borders Sancerre, but at half the price...
It is difficult to find outside of France, but we have been lucky to find it in a few places in Australia. So look out!
We had a year to catch up with, so to accompany our discussions, although we could not pretend to still be hungry after these beautiful dishes, we left ourselves be tempted by the chocolare feerie...not good for the waistline but definitely a great way to end an interesting evening!
Guy Savoy
Our favourite restaurant in Paris of all times!
We have been lucky enough to go there twice, each time at somebody else expense to a point! And that's a story in itself:
The first time was the result of a sales competition at the European level when I was still working for HP France as a Product Marketing Manager.
One of our most unpopular product lines among our sales engineers was power supplies and related test systems.
The challenge was to get each country in Europe to compete for the highest growth of business within one fiscal year!
The winner PMM would be given a fairly high contribution to take him/her and significant other to a restaurant of their choice!
That in itself was a good enough incentive, but remember, I was not selling anything myself: I had to convince 40 strongly willed sales enginners to achieve this performance for me...
France won, and I got 1200 francs of bonus (in today's money probably around 400euros).
It was certainly not enough for as dinner for two at Guy Savoy, but I was more than happy to fork out (punt intended...) the difference!
To quote a "Trip Advisor" review, "don't pay your morgage for a month, but go and have a meal at Guy Savoy"!
The second time was not long after that. we had befriended a lady who was an air hostess for Air France, and she had met earlier a Scott who was at the time a very successful antique dealer in Edinburgh - so it was the Auld Alliance the other way around and a good deal of fun.
We had them home for dinner once and the next time he was in France, he wanted to return the favor, but had no place or intention to cook.
He had taken the Rolls-Royce all the way from Edinburgh to the French Riviera and was on his way back when they invited us to the now defunct Bistrot de Guy Savoy across the road from the main restaurant.
Fortunately, it was tiny and overflowing with clients, so he asked if they had space at the main restaurant, and by a twist of fate, they just had a cancellation for a table for four...
It was obviously as sensational as the previous time, and when he picked up the tab and paid for all of us, he said: this is a lot cheaper that taking the Rolls around, so it is a very good deal! And this is coming from a Scott...
Now, for the food:
Well, words are not enough to describe the experience, as the menu name the dishes in a minimalist fashion:
"Bar aux Ecailles Grillees aux Epices Douces" - Cod in its grilled scales and sweet spices
Although I have not tasted this particular dish, I am sure you would find the description well short of the ranges of senations you would experience looking at it, smelling it, wondering where to get the first morsel from and then delicately tasting the first bite...and then let it sink into your aroused cells.
In the words of a culinary student in Paris, Christine (http://chezchristine.typepad.com/chez_christine/2006/06/guy_savoy.html)
"Guy Savoy loves surprises. Whether it's being served an asparagus soup, then having the top lifted off the other half of the dish to reveal an asparagus mousse, or being served fish on a perforated plate that revealed a delectable broth underneath it in the bowl, I loved the combinations of textures and flavors."
One other surprise is the range of "amuse-bouche" served between courses. One that we still remember vividly 15 years later(!) was a cherry tomato into a light "concassee" of tomatos underneath and a dash of the best olive oil ever, with a bitter sweet explosion of taste
in one's mouth...
We have been lucky enough to go there twice, each time at somebody else expense to a point! And that's a story in itself:
The first time was the result of a sales competition at the European level when I was still working for HP France as a Product Marketing Manager.
One of our most unpopular product lines among our sales engineers was power supplies and related test systems.
The challenge was to get each country in Europe to compete for the highest growth of business within one fiscal year!
The winner PMM would be given a fairly high contribution to take him/her and significant other to a restaurant of their choice!
That in itself was a good enough incentive, but remember, I was not selling anything myself: I had to convince 40 strongly willed sales enginners to achieve this performance for me...
France won, and I got 1200 francs of bonus (in today's money probably around 400euros).
It was certainly not enough for as dinner for two at Guy Savoy, but I was more than happy to fork out (punt intended...) the difference!
To quote a "Trip Advisor" review, "don't pay your morgage for a month, but go and have a meal at Guy Savoy"!
The second time was not long after that. we had befriended a lady who was an air hostess for Air France, and she had met earlier a Scott who was at the time a very successful antique dealer in Edinburgh - so it was the Auld Alliance the other way around and a good deal of fun.
We had them home for dinner once and the next time he was in France, he wanted to return the favor, but had no place or intention to cook.
He had taken the Rolls-Royce all the way from Edinburgh to the French Riviera and was on his way back when they invited us to the now defunct Bistrot de Guy Savoy across the road from the main restaurant.
Fortunately, it was tiny and overflowing with clients, so he asked if they had space at the main restaurant, and by a twist of fate, they just had a cancellation for a table for four...
It was obviously as sensational as the previous time, and when he picked up the tab and paid for all of us, he said: this is a lot cheaper that taking the Rolls around, so it is a very good deal! And this is coming from a Scott...
Now, for the food:
Well, words are not enough to describe the experience, as the menu name the dishes in a minimalist fashion:
"Bar aux Ecailles Grillees aux Epices Douces" - Cod in its grilled scales and sweet spices
Although I have not tasted this particular dish, I am sure you would find the description well short of the ranges of senations you would experience looking at it, smelling it, wondering where to get the first morsel from and then delicately tasting the first bite...and then let it sink into your aroused cells.
In the words of a culinary student in Paris, Christine (http://chezchristine.typepad.com/chez_christine/2006/06/guy_savoy.html)
"Guy Savoy loves surprises. Whether it's being served an asparagus soup, then having the top lifted off the other half of the dish to reveal an asparagus mousse, or being served fish on a perforated plate that revealed a delectable broth underneath it in the bowl, I loved the combinations of textures and flavors."
One other surprise is the range of "amuse-bouche" served between courses. One that we still remember vividly 15 years later(!) was a cherry tomato into a light "concassee" of tomatos underneath and a dash of the best olive oil ever, with a bitter sweet explosion of taste
in one's mouth...
Amuse Bouche of Asparagus & Surprise - courtesy of 'Chez Christine'
And last but not least, the service is exceptional, attentive but not intrusive, ready to explain the dishes if needed and not trying to push more water or more wine on you if you don't ask.
The whole experience will be remembered for ever, so start saving, book your flights and make a reservation well in advance.
The whole experience will be remembered for ever, so start saving, book your flights and make a reservation well in advance.
Annapurna - Our favourite Indian restaurant in Paris
The last time someone counted, there was over 800 Indian restaurants in Paris!
So, you are spoiled for choice...but this is truly special...
First of all, it is the most ancient Indian restaurant in Paris.
Let's say that a long time ago, we had dinner there with Ravi Shankar playing the sitar...
Obviously, the chances of that happening today are remote, but you will still enjoy the music of some of the most talented Indian musicians, either living in Paris, or visiting.
The quality of the food and the level of service are matching the talent of the musicians, as if the tabla provided the syncopea for the chefs in the kitchen, the sitar the subtlety of the spices, and the appropriate subdued lighting and discreet but attentive waiters the final touch to a perfect evening. I have entertained numerous people there from every country in the World, amateur of Indian music or not, connoisseurs of the food or shy first timers, and all were delighted.
And all recent reviews on various sites still rank this place very high. So if you are in the mood for a spicy romantic dinner, rush to 32 rue de Berry!
So, you are spoiled for choice...but this is truly special...
First of all, it is the most ancient Indian restaurant in Paris.
Let's say that a long time ago, we had dinner there with Ravi Shankar playing the sitar...
Obviously, the chances of that happening today are remote, but you will still enjoy the music of some of the most talented Indian musicians, either living in Paris, or visiting.
The quality of the food and the level of service are matching the talent of the musicians, as if the tabla provided the syncopea for the chefs in the kitchen, the sitar the subtlety of the spices, and the appropriate subdued lighting and discreet but attentive waiters the final touch to a perfect evening. I have entertained numerous people there from every country in the World, amateur of Indian music or not, connoisseurs of the food or shy first timers, and all were delighted.
And all recent reviews on various sites still rank this place very high. So if you are in the mood for a spicy romantic dinner, rush to 32 rue de Berry!
Paris, Ville Lumière
A picture is worth a thousand word, so here are some taken over our last trip.
Walking from the 15th to the Eiffel Toewr and then to the Champs-Elysees, including inside the Espace Citroen, and some good examples of modern French architecture, sometime wondering if we are in Paris or Pyrmont...
Another day in the Marais
