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After the Rain Buzz
Michelin just published a great
little guide, in English: Not only France but le tout
Europe, where you may be heading. New additions include Cracow,
Poland, Stuttgart and Cologne. “The guide targets business travellers
and tourists visiting leading European cities, help them find, say,
the right canteen, where to spend the night, a hotel near the convention
centre or a quiet restaurant where they can invite a customer to lunch/dinner
after meetings”, explain Michelin. Athens wins its'
first ** with Spondi. First restaurant to be awarded a * in Central
and Eastern Europe is Allegro, Prague
located in The Four Seasons Hotel. 12 restaurants in seven cities
have won first stars. BIB Gourmand features, the low price terrific
little restaurants only locals know. 231 * stars. 49 **stars and 12
***. Michelin's done the work, all you need to do is, enjoy!
Located between rue St. Honore and Jardin des Tuileries, The Renaissance Paris Vendome, is a handsome boutique hotel (circa 1930). The 97 rooms and 15 suites have been renovated by Pierre Yves Rochon using rich honey, terracotta and chocolate tones. Lovely fresh flowers and contemporary art, do check out the lifts, decorated to make you smile.
Pinxo restaurant, Alain Dutournier's concept, serving Asian-Fusion dishes and a buzzing “Chinese” bar need your attention. Now for the cherry on the gateau, a pool and After The Rain spa.
“The creator of the spa products has captured that wonderful aroma you get, after the rain”, explains Renaissance Vendome's sales manager Delphine Bao. The flagship spa's in Geneva and the unique products Swiss. Treatments can be arranged in your room, by the pool or in the zen spa-treatment rooms, you'll leave with your spa prescriptions kit of After the Rain products (him and her) specially designed for the savvy traveller.
“There's nothing like the aroma after the rain”, sighed Le Meurice's super-chef Yannick Alleno one damp lunctime last week. “I'm never happier than when I'm walking in the rain”, he said looking enviously outside. “But not to-day, I have too much to do”, he grins.
Philippe Starck and his daughter Ara have given The Meurice's ground floor area, including the former brasserie and gastronomic restaurant, an exciting transformation.
The brasserie, Le Dali, is located next to the gastronomic restaurant, now a much lighter, brighter space, possibly the most elegant canteen in Paris. Named for Salvador Dali, who once lived at Le Meurice, dangled animals and all kinds of unmentionables out of his window to scare people beneath. Gave staff signed drawings instead of tips!
“The spirit of Dali reigns supreme”,
says Alleno, who rose to
the challenge of creating his new culinary
concept, designed around a menu FREE OF and 100%. Dali would freak. The centrepiece is a gigantic Ara Starck designed
canvas. Regard the Daliesque seat with feet in the form of a
lady's stilletoes, a lamp with drawers and, on top of the transparent
refrigerated pastry space, a lobster sits on a silver telephone.
Starting with desserts, the concept is, children in a candy store meet Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You stand mouth open, salivating in front of rows of the most wonderful pastry concoctions by head patissier Camille Lesecq.
You could begin with Smoked Balik Salmon and blinis or sea scallops with fresh herbs. Continue with Hamburger and French fries or tender pan-fried calf's liver or Black Angus Prime rib steak or a nice Maine Lobster, shell-shaped pasta with truffles.
You don't have to eat, just come in for the pastry (violet macaroon with wild strawberries, black trufle shortbread tart, Coffee “Opera” etc). A flute of Louise Pommery or a nice cup of Earl Grey/Darjeeling. “It's up to the client to create his own pleasure”, insists Alleno. “I'm just here to make the suggestions, but I have to say the whole transformation has been so much fun, I'm inspired all day long, even if the rain is tempting!”
Address Book:
After the Rain Spa,
Renaissance Paris Vendome Hotel,
4 rue Mont Thabor, 1st (Metro: Tuileries)
T: 01 40 20 20 00
Rooms from 330€
www.renaissanceparisvendome.com
Michelin Guide to Main Cities of Europe 2008
22.90€
Le Dali at Le Meurice,
228 rue de Rivoli, 1st (Metro: Tuileries)
T: 01 44 58 10 44
Average spend Lunch/Dinner 100€ + wine
