A Foodie's Guide to France

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.