Romantic.
Ravishing. Rejuvenating.
In between
adventures, food trails and the joys of exploring all things beautiful, I
experienced a heart-stopping journey of romance at Paris, the City of Lights. This
was something I had always dreamt of and in spite of a short transit, I was
determined to absorb the essence of culture in a sophisticated and beautiful
city. Paris je t’aime! This was the Oh
la la moment I had been waiting for and it was time to display my principles of
‘aime beaucoup’ which means, ‘Eat well, laugh often, love abundantly’ and here was
a chance to prove my ideals!
I think that every
tourist loves to visit ‘Gay Paree’, a city with a 19th century
cityscape, cultural and oh so cosmopolitan. Historic and everlasting, the
environment of Paris brims over with romance, art, design, luxurious fashion,
entertainment, media, music and gourmet
food trails. Was I thrilled to be here or what!!?? Being a chef with
aspirations of sampling rare and exotic cuisines, I was about to experience the
second highest number of Michelin restaurants in
the City of Lights.
The
Bon Appétit Experience
What
can I say about my first-time ever in Paris? Je suis enchanté!
As I walked through the boulevards lined with monuments, bistros, museums,
galleries, maisons de haute couture, enchanting wine bars, boutiques and
leveraged with tech start-ups, I was amazed by the romantic atmosphere of
tree-lined avenues and the camaraderie of the French. Having heard so much
about the landmark icons of Paris, I visited the famed Eiffel Tower, the iconic
Louvre and the Notre-Dame. Flowing through Paris is the famous Seine which is a
777-kilometre-long river known for its inland waterway traffic and which is the
subject of divine songs and poems.
With
every fiber in me screaming for the luxury of the popular and delicious dishes
of Paris, I threaded through the cobbled street or ‘rue’ to find the delectable
offerings of one of Europe’s much-talked about culinary centers. Though my trip
was short, I was determined to make my Parisian fantasy come true by delving in
to at least the tip of a culinary iceberg. The chef and the gourmet in me arose
to meet this gastronomical journey with moules
frites which is steamed mussels and French fries, Bordier Butter
with baguettes, falafel sandwiches and galettes. Fulfilling the taste buds with
awesome encounters, Paris offers a mouth-watering array of deliciously crafted French
favorites such as sea snails, oysters, venison, boar, seafood, lamb, veal, beef
and pork.
Satisfying the Senses at an Abode of Delicious Delights
My
sweet sojourn took me to a haven of delights with Kouglof, Moroccan pastries,
pain au choclat, cream puffs, puff pastry, Berthillon ice cream, caramels, crepes and other incredible concoctions. Oh, I
could go on forever in this paradise for food lovers! My taste buds were
dancing with delight with macaron ice-cream sandwiches, gelato, Crepe and Creme
Brulee, Pistachio, Giunduja with chocolate and hazelnut, ‘dessert soups’ and
Paris-Brest with choux pastry and praline flavored cream especially from La
Patisserie des Rêves.
My
time was filled to the brim as I popped into the renowned restaurants and
eateries of Paris to revive my sense of mangez bien and joie de vivre. This was
a complete paradise and repository of gourmet delicacies! I managed to taste Jamon
(Foie Gras and Roasted Pepper), Skewers with Balsamic Reduction, the inspiring Chateaubriand,
Jamon
(ham) and Artichoke Cream on Waffles, Roast Chicken and Macarons at Pierre Herme.
As echoes of ‘Sante’ filled the
air at the mind-boggling wine bars, I regaled the senses with the popular
brands of wine and listened with awe to the language, the French, the customs
and culture. Filled with innumerable boulangeries, Paris offers the
world-famous cheese or fromage, bread, croissants and other daily staples. But
I could go on about the dishes that the French cook up with their famed
culinary intelligence which evolve over some of the Jewish Ashkenazi dishes,
escargots, tapas
and cold cuts plates. Paris eateries brim over with delectable dishes from all
over world including A Pho, a Vietnamese dish, Kimchi Ramen, veggie stew,
noodle bowls, tacos and a spectrum of culinary delights.
