No surprises there,
but France is dangerous for those of us who love to eat. I could write a thesis
driven essay on the ways in which the bread is better, the cheese is
legitimately life altering, and don’t even get me started on patisseries. I’ve
been so lucky to be able to eat at some of the best restaurants in the country
so far, and will be in a deep black hole of depression when I leave.
I started off my
degustation in Paris. The Time Out Paris app helped to locate some of the best
places to eat by area, and I helped myself to one of the best patisseries in
Paris – Angelina. This was contrasted to Ladurée later on – they both are
delicious and more than worth seeking out.
I hiked up to
Montmartre to see Sacre Coeur and my favorite view of the city, and stopped in
at a little restaurant called Le Mirroir. One of the best things I’ve ever
tasted was the “poulet rôti” with mushrooms and fingerling potatoes. Prefaced by
fresh asparagus with butter lettuce and mustard vinaigrette, the only thing
missing was Owen Wilson and a journey to the 1920s.
We then went to one
of the best restaurants in Paris off of the Champs-Elysées – L’Atelier Etoile
de Joel Robuchon. The amuse bouche was actually the most flavorful, delicious
thing I had tasted up to that point. A truly emotional response, and if you
have the means, you can go there and get a prix-fixe lunch for under 45 euro.
Do it.
Upon returning to
Chateau Calisanne, we took a day trip up to Baux-de-Provence for a trip to
Oustau de Beaumaniere. Now, if you are unfamiliar, this place is where Bill
Gates used to spend a couple of weeks every summer. It is absolutely stunningly
beautiful, but the view doesn’t come close to the food. Our main course was a lobster
cooked with fresh local peaches. I can’t even talk about it without drooling. I
wouldn’t have thought to put the two together, but the combination was pure
ecstasy.
I know that I have
being using very absolute statements thus far, but they aren’t exaggerations. These
meals have literally been the best of my life. And that’s not to discredit the
every day meals that we consume at the house – fresh baguettes, Niçoise salad,
apricots and figs from the Chateau itself. Oh yes, and the wine.
