I'm going a bit out of order, but I'd like to share with you one of my most memorable meals to date. As many of you know, I'm living in Paris until December, and my parents decided to spend our Thanksgiving here instead of in the Northwest suburbs of Philadelphia (as interesting as that may sound). My reservation-making skills had been put to the test -- could I find a restaurant special enough to replace our beautiful new dining room on one of my favorite holidays of the year? Yes, I could.
I decided upon Le Jules Verne, making the evening an official anti-Thanksgiving. Besides, what better way to give thanks than to flee the country for France and eat on top of the Eiffel Tower? At 21:00, I ascended up the dimly-lit private elevator, skipping the mobs of tourists waiting in the rain and cold below. At one hundred fifty-three meters, I was on top of the world. If I was thankful for anything that night, and it certainly wasn't the bill, it was for our table by the window -- even in the rain, I had never seen such a magnificent view of the city, overlooking the Seine and the right bank. And to top it all off, since I arrived on the hour, it meant that the light show was about to begin. I had a behind-the-scenes perspective.
I started the meal off extravagantly - warm cauliflower soup with bits of bacon and broccoli, herbs and spices, and a scallop topped with fresh cream and caviar (see top left). My jaw was steadily dropping as the meal progressed (although I had to raise it again in order to chew). Next came the entrée, a melt-in-your-mouth piece of filet mignon served saignant (get used to it) aside duck foie gras in a cognac and black truffle sauce. The triangular sculpture on top is a puffed potato chip, one of many served beside the steak. By now it has become quite clear that I fancy red meat (see above).
Just when I was beginning to think Alain Ducasse had outdone himself, our waiter brought out the pièce de la resistance - pistachio soufflé with confectioner's sugar. This dessert was ordered several hours in advance, but we couldn't possibly have anticipated what was coming. The picture I took is after several bites, because my hunger succeeded my desire for photography at that moment. I believe it's better this way, however, because you can see the inside of the soufflé and try to imagine how your taste buds would feel if it graced their presence (trust me, you can't). Finally, complements of the chef, we received parfaits of vanilla crème and thick chocolate mousse topped with cashews, vanilla macaroons, and dark chocolate with almonds (hidden behind the parfaits). Two light shows, five full stomachs, and several emptied bank accounts later, all I could say was, "DAMN."
Finally, it was time to take the elevator back down to earth. I reflected on my out-of-this-world meal (though probably not worth the price), and thanked my generous father for taking one for the team. As I exited the tower, I realized there was one more thing to be thankful for: it had stopped raining seconds before my new suede Prada boots hit the ground.
Dine at Le Jules Verne:
Tour Eiffel
75007 Paris, France
+33 1 45 55 61 44
Thankful for your Readership,
Amanda
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