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Dinner @ Vin Sur Vin - The One Michelin Star restaurant meal
Having already eating some wonderful meals both the budget & the expensive, I had very excited expectations of this restaurant experience. This joint has been recommended to us by a wine expert buddy of Laurels so we are super excited. Location is one block from the Eiffel Tower so it is wonderfully charming to have this as our guiding point as we waddle around looking for the right street.
First thing that hits - the place is EMPTY. Its 8 pm, maybe a touch early for Parisian diners but bang on for tourists - it is so quiet you can hear a pin drop, a fish fart or my own heartbeat.
Enter Monsieur - he is a wonderful character, with very rotund, beautifully suited out with pocketchief, amazing groomed hair with an equally groomed moustache. The decor is chic with a wonderful table arrangement using lentils of all things - I have taken a picture but with iPhone, somehow pulling out the camera would be tres bad form.
Menu
Amuse Bouche is a beetroot mousse with tiny diced radish at the bottom - I love amuse bouche, mostly because it is free.
Entree's are priced around 35€ - that's um, fair but it's all about perception of value & in this circumstance, I am expecting volume & quantity. I choose the fricassee of mushrooms & it arrives in a modest portion. It is delicious & the variety of mushrooms exotic but 37€?
Mains priced around 47€ & are written up in the menu old fashioned style - just the cut of the portion with the description of accompaniments left to be delivered by the theatrical Monsieur.
I choose milk feed veal - I wonder if that little baby calf knew? Again, modest but cooked to perfection with accompanying delicate miniature vegetables including more beetroot - I am thrilled as I do love a bit of beetroot.
Dessert, all €15 - my favourite course EVER, especially in France. It's a no brainer - Crème Brulee, who can say no? By the time the dessert comes out Monsieur has left so I was able to take a photo. Yes I ate it all, Yes it was delicious, Yes I felt like a piglet but talk about satisfied.
THEN, what's this! Cute FREE desserts to finish out meal - what the! I could've saved myself a little bit of cash there. But they are free, I eat them anyway. Like the credit card, I can deal with the EWG when I get home. EWG = Explosive Weight Gain.
So how many patrons by the end of the evening - us 3 plus one more couple. Yes, 3+2 = 5. It was so quiet the chef & sous chef finished up, cleaned up & left while we were still enjoying dessert.
So what have I not mentioned? The wine. With not one red UNDER €100, it was white all round. I left it to Laurel to choose & yes it was delicious. I don't know the price but we could only afford one bottle between three.
So what were my thoughts on my first Michelin star experience?
The restaurant was beautiful & so was the food BUT, I have definitely had more spectacular meals for far less per head. I would definitely hesitate to spend that much on one meal in the future - if I was paying, of course.
The Day of the Tourist
Friday, the last day in Paris & I am going to nail it Deboir style. What is on my hitlist?
A picnic including baguette & beer
Some sightseeing
Lazing in the grass in the sunshine
French onion soup
It's a relatively decent start of around 9 am out for an espresso then to pick up baguette to binge on for both breakfast & picnic lunch - wow, only one question of are you Italian or Spanish before even 10 am, it's a slow day.
So first it's Invalides and its a cold cold morning but I have learnt to dress for the afternoon.
Invalides is the home of Napoleons tomb plus an armoury museum - quite fascinating actually with all those armours, weapons & historical bits & bobs that help illustrate the French army especially during the revolution.
I am especially looking forward to seeing Napoleons tomb as I've heard amazing things & it did not disappoint. The key thing about his tomb is that the vain conqueror requested that it was inset with a surrounding balcony - why? So that when you enter the monument, to view the tomb YOU HAVE TO BOW. So forever more, the masses will have to bow to the dude - egotistical much??
I think Invalides is a must see, both the monument interior, exterior plus the grounds are gorgeous & how can you miss the significant piece of history that shapes the France we love today.
Next! Picnic time! Nothing recharges the battery than a combo of espresso + beer + a rest in a beautiful location such as the lawn that gracefully announces the le Tour Eiffel. I could've stayed here all day especially when the sun broke & it was just glorious. Again - the place wasn't deserted but not packed as I would've expected in the middle of the high season but I aint complaining. What I love about Europe is the ability to pick up a pint size can of beer for less than $3 from the local tabac or tiny grocer - so sensible. What's next? Condom machines at the Metro - wait! They have those too, why the Metro, I guess it's convienient while you are en route to well, en route.
I even think there are less of those annoying street hawkers as usual - you know the ones trying to con you out of 10€ for an Eiffel Tower key ring & snow globe. But what I don't get is - Minnie Mouse ears? Goofy puppets? WTF does that have to do with France, Paris, Eiffel or anywhere outside of Disneyland. Heck, wait - children, pestering children. These money wasters are to shut the kids up so the parents can actually have 2 ½ minutes peace to enjoy the view. Those illegal immigrant vendors - don't underestimate their cunning.
It strikes me that an excellent way to balance out the excess of Vin Sur Vin & now fortified from the lunchtime Kronenbourg is to do the walk UP the Tower - it's cheap, the queue is non-existent & I'm in the mood for a bit of huffy puffy.
It's not easy but it's not hard & the view just gets better & better as you go up. Up to the 1st level is about 10 minutes then it's a quick catch breath then up to the 2nd - the view is magnificent, I am so glad I did this & no need to take the elevator to the top.
I can't help but ponder that at only round $4, this was one hell of a leg & butt workout, if you did this around 3 times a week Buns of Steel would have nothing on you, certainly outdoes any gym membership subscription.
Next! It's a lovely ambling walk towards the Champs which gets me to Pont Alma - the location of the tunnel of Diana's death. Sniff.
Moving on past along the very posh streets of the 1st, Hermes, Cartier, LV - oh I'm getting dizzy!! Finally reaching the Arc de Triomph & it really is wonderful & even better up close. Talk about a Magic Roundabout.
By then it is what time? The best time of the day - COCKTAIL HOUR! Yippee! My last evening is rounded off with a few mojito's, french onion soup with rose, a pisco sour at a very happening Chilean bar & a whole packet of macaron while lying in bed watching overly dramatic French tele.
What never fails to catch me off guard is how French TV suddenly turns into French soft porn. You're watching some crime show, the late news then what? What's this? A tourist ad for some wine region close by - wait, no, what the! Crikey! OMG! Should I keep watching? How did we segue from world affairs to THIS. Tele off. Pronto.
The next day is departure is to Rome. 3 days in the Eternal City - can't say I've heard huge amounts of good press & besides the adventure of a new location, it is always a bit of a blue moment leaving Paris without any concrete certain plans to return in the very near future. Or that fantasy of never having to leave. Ever.
And the PAIN of having to pack, AGAIN. Jesus, that little designer shopping spree has taken the final 2 inches spare I had in my case - this is going to be hard work. It's time to leave a few things behind, nothing necessary or essential, just replaceable items - who wouldn't make room for Armani heels?
- comments
Surjeet Sounds like you are having a ball!! you should turn your blogs into a book :)
Kim Hi Deb, great to get your latest Paris update. Can't wait to hear and see all about Rome and Florence when you update again. Keep up the good work and the other good work of having a ball over there. xx
Joseph Pulvirenti Hi Deb, so pleased you adde me onto your blog. I am so excited for you and enjoying reading up on your adventure that you inspired me to join up and do the BLOG :) Look forward to reading more of your adventures. xo
Philip Love your work. Keep it coming, although its costing me a bit, because our next trip will require longer in Paris.
Deboir thank you for reading everyone!!!! Hey Jo Jo - so glad you got the noise cancelling headphones, you won't regret it! are you going to do a blog for your holiday? I think you will be so great at it Phil - Laurel spent 2 full weeks in Paris, she said it was the best trip she's had there - that was her 9th time. For us Francophiles, we could spend at least that & not be bored or hankering for something better! Kim!! I miss you too!!! Can't wait to catch up when I get home :) thank you for reading :) Thanks for reading Taank - if it was a book would you buy it??!