Here's the grand finale to sweet week and what a finale it was.
My two cousins from New York, Pamela and Arlene have been visiting and we've been painting the town from the Palais Royal to the Marais to Montmartre all week. As a thank you to the fabulous time we've been having, they invited Vincent and I for lunch at Le Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower. I have never been and neither have my cousins, so I thought what more festive and Parisian way to celebrate their trip to Paris.
The restaurant was completely refurbished to the tune of 10 million euros about a year ago and is now owned by master chef Alain Ducasse. It was a not so cold gray day and we were whisked in the private elevator up to the restaurant. The sleek interior of smoky gray and tan was a combination of retro seventies modern and futuristic Jetsons. It was surprisingly quiet with only three or four tables full, considering it's one of the hardest reservations to get in town.
The lunch was excellent but I will skip what we had and cut to the dessert chase since this is sweet week. The girls ordered bittersweet chocolate souffle with Bourbon vanilla ice cream,Vincent, light wild strawberry and coconut cake with lime-coconut sorbet, and moi, Tower bolt, dark chocolate praline, and hazelnut ice cream. Right before the desserts were served, a tray of petit fours including macarons, almond financiers, a lemon & chocolate concoction, a bowl of marshmallows, and petit cubes of chocolate truffles were put on the table. I guess they were the appetizer desserts. Then came the main course desserts and we just stared in awe at this cavalcade of unbelievable desserts and confections. That moment of awe didn't last long as we chowed down on this dessert orgy. In between the oh-my-god's, ummm's, and uhhh's, the girls said it was the best chocolate souffle they ever had and with the sweetest expression on her face, Arlene said she had dreamed for a long time about having a chocolate souffle in the Eiffel Tower. My chocolate dream was so rich and intense I couldn't finish it. The wild strawberries and coconut in Vincent's dessert were light and refreshing and the coconut cake sublime.We all agreed the desserts were the best part of the meal and a sweet, divine send off before the girls leave today.
Arlene's dream come true of having a chocolate souffle at the Eiffel Tower
Pretty Pamela enjoying her almond financier
Vincent seriously enjoying his dessert in black & white
I couldn't think of a better way to end sweet week. Now I am on a strict no sugar regime for a while but it doesn't mean I will stop my eternal quest to bring you the latest and greatest sweet shops and dessert updates in Paris. Until the next sweet week.
http://www.lejulesverne-paris.com/
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook. First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 3 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Dessert appetizers! ::swoon::
Posted by: Style Spy | August 24, 2009 at 02:29 PM