Parisian Dessert of the Month: Ice Cream Bar at Mini-Palais

One of the most beautiful terraces in Paris is located in the Mini-Palais restaurant in the Grand Palais. Opened a few years ago, Mini-Palais was supposed to be a pop-up restaurant for six-months to promote the Mini-Cooper car from BMW. It was such a run-away success, it is now open all the time.

I had dinner at Mini-Palais a few times in the past and enjoyed it very much. The pastry chef Eric Frechon had the clever idea of installing an ice-cream bar for the summer, scooping over 20 flavors of handmade ice cream and sorbets. He has intensified classic flavors like vanilla and coffee by turning them into Madagascar Bourbon vanilla and Arabica coffee plus he has created some exotic flavors such as Absinthe, violet, Poire William, and bergamot.

I was with my friend Michael House and it was a perfect warm, sunny day to have an ice cream. I decided to go exotic and ordered Verveine and Honey Rosemary. I had to have at least two scoops in order to do my precious research for my readers. Michael chose two scoops of Praline Rose. When they arrived, Michael’s certainly looked prettier than mine with two pretty summer pink balls of ice cream nestled in a clear glass dish as opposed to mine, which was more tone on tone with one beige and one off-white scoop. I was expecting a lemony taste to the Verveine but it turned out to be more of a strong liqueur taste, much like licorice. The Honey Rosemary was more subtle and just a hint of the Rosemary came through. I felt as though I made the wrong choice, as one flavor was too strong and the other too subtle. I may have been better off with the more classic flavors. I had a taste of Michael’s and it was more flavorful and I liked the crunch praline inside the rose flavor.


Verveine and Honey Rosemary

 I didn’t care so much about the outcome of my ice cream choices, as I was immensely enjoying the cool cross summer breezes on the beautiful terrace, which overlooks the magnificent Petite Palais. The terrace is quite long and has about 30 tables, which are well spread out, and the sky-high ceilings and intricate mosaic floor tiling plus the beautiful pillars and statues make the terrace so outstanding.

So take in the last great days of summer and indulge in some scoops on the grand terrace of the Mini-Palais.  Each scoop is only 3 euros, a pittance for such luxury.

Mini-Palais Ice Cream Bar
Till September 30
Grand Palais
Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008
Metro: Champs Elysees-Clemenceau
Open everyday 10AM till 2AM
Tel. 01 42 56 42 42
http://www.minipalais.com/en/minipalaisdesglaces.html

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
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, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). 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: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 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.

Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. 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

Comments

[Kiki]

Richard, you confuse me - I have been more than once in the cafeteria of the PETIT PALAIS (but never in the Grand Palais) and your shots as well as your description look just exactly everything I know about the brilliant and very reasonable cafeteria of the PP!!!!
In 'my' case, I absolutely LOVE the coffee shop with its excellent little lunches and the vast space on their archaded terrace and the pool in the middle - in my humble opinion it's one of the best deals for a quiet moment in busy Paris.

[Jeff - too far from Paris]

Hello Richard!

Like Kiki, I've stopped by the Petit Palais cafeteria (love the outside gardens), but I had no idea the MiniPalais existed. Thanks again for taking time to post the great photos and narrative.
Merci,
-Jeff