Le Meurice was my birthday wish come true. A waitress with red lips, a perfectly coiffed bun, and a tailored black dress immediately offered me champagne, hot chocolate, tea, and coffee. I sat under the gilded ceiling by Ara Starck, marveling at the delicate pastries that were zooming by on exquisite hand-painted China. The waitress swiftly ushered out a Bernardaud cappuccino cup for me with a tower of froth on top. The performance had just begun and my tastebuds delighted in the overture of caffeine and sugar.
What came to the table next was an understated three-tier tower with an over-the-top assortment of sweet and savory delicacies. On the bottom level, was a trio of finger sandwiches — tuna, foie gras, and tomato and mozzarella. My gaze slowly moved up to the next level, as the waitress described the warm scones just out of the oven, some bursting with raspberry jam, others buttery and pliant ready for the clotted cream and berry compote that waited to be spread on top. The next level was the crowning glory, an array of pastries crafted with devoted precision — from a recreation of a tiny green apple to a dainty lemon meringue tart.
Later, I returned to the bar with a friend and sipped a chilled glass of champagne with a tart raspberry purée — accompanied by a duo of sinfully rich dark and milk chocolate truffles. I was in heaven. I leaned back on the leather sofas, listening to the jazz pianist croon romantic French tunes. This was a place now firmly etched into my life history that I would never forget.
Le Dalí
228 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
A peek into Alain Ducasse’s 2-star Michelin restaurant, Le Meurice…
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