The Cesars are France’s equivalent of the Oscars.  Toddrickallen was invited to the luxurious Hotel George V to honor a dear friend’s 70th birthday which ended up doubling as a private viewing party for the Cesars because the host of the party was  the producer for the  nominated film, La Premiere Etoile (The First Star).  Unfortunately the film didn’t win, but that was the only disappointment in an otherwise flawless evening.  The lavish hotel, one of Paris’ loveliest, was fantastically decorated with mountains of purple flowers everywhere one looked.  The lobby and dining room were populated by the most beautiful people, all dressed to the nines.  The soiree was held in the Salon Anglaise.  The Georges V’s Michelin three-starred chef, Eric Briffard is a holder of an MOF, (Meilleur Ouvrier de France).  He had created a vegetarian menu exclusively for us.  The first course was a tarte fine aux champignons de saison marines, chutney d’aubergine legerement fume (seasonal marinated mushroom tart with smoked eggplant chutney).  It was divine and full of flavor.  The main course, risotto carnaroli cremeux, artichauts cuits et crus, tuile craquante au vieux parmesan (Artichoke risotto with parmesan tuile) was expertly executed.  Rich and creamy, it had just the right bit of tooth to the rice.  The satisfying umami kick of the parmesan tuile finished the dish perfectly.  Fabrice Lecleir, the pastry chef, ended the meal with a wonderfully decadent chocolate mousse cake.  The wines that were served were a Macon-Bussieres Domaine Saumaize 2008 and a Cote de Castillon Chateau Manoir du Gravoux 2006.  After dinner, we danced to music spun by a DJ, and ended up in our friend’s suite with its jaw-dropping view of the Eiffel Tower.  It was a perfect evening.

For me, no trip to Paris is complete without a visit to Laduree in Place de la Madeleine.  It’s just sooo French.  I love the tiny boite of a dining room with its antique paneled walls and tiny tables squeezed in so tightly that you’re in everyone’s conversation.  Sitting at the tables are patrons right out of central casting; grand ladies dripping with pearls sizing everyone up over barely touched salads.  The food is always wonderfully consistent.  Readers may remember an earlier post on Laduree London, when I drool over the veggie sandwich.  This time, I started with an amazingly creamy and rich butternut squash soup.  For my main, I chose the black truffle souffle. which was thoroughly delicious.   After dining, I headed straight into the crowded patisserie to stock up on cocoa powder, marron glacee, and the most spectacular pastries to nibble on later.  There are a number of Laduree shops and tea rooms around Paris as well as in a few select countries, but this one, in the shadow of the magnificent Madeleine church, is always my romantic favorite.  www.laduree.fr

Without question, the best ‘OMG-I’m-so-glad-to-be-off-the-plane’ meal I have had in a long time was at Le Cafe de Joel Robuchon in the wonderfully impressive department store Takashimaya, Nihonbashi, Tokyo.  It was a simple egg salad sandwich, but the execution and tastes were perfect.  In addition to the herbed egg salad, the bread was spread with a tomato confit and the sandwich was served with crispy french fries, house-made ketchup, Japanese pickles, and gazpacho.  After a long flight of indigestible slop masquerading as plane food, I nearly wept with joy at the sight of this meal. (I asked for ‘Asian Veg” on JAL.  They brought me some mysterious substance that looked and tasted like a loofa sponge in flavorless cornstarch sauce.  I asked the attendant what it was.  She told me the name in Japanese.  When I looked confused, she disappeared briefly.  She must have consulted a Japanese/English dictionary because she returned and proudly stated that it was a “sub-aquatic fungus”.  A SUB-AQUATIC FUNGUS!!!)