Angelina's Easter Window
Paris: A Perfect Day, A Perfect Meal
by Victoria Challancin
Do you know the French word flâner? It means to idly stroll, to lounge about, to walk and absorb your surroundings. A perfect thing to do in Paris--or perhaps anywhere. Live in the moment. Drink in Life.
It all started with a casual stroll down rue de Rivoli in Paris, a saunter, if you will, on a bright Spring day. I was heading to the Musée d'Orsay to see the current Manet exhibit, an extravaganza of works including many I had never seen and was greatly anticipating. Easter week. Mistake. The crowds were daunting. I left unfulfilled and meandered instead to the Grand Palais, where an exhibit on the works of Odilon Redon was showing--and another on the countryside of Renaissance Rome. OK. I was in Paris; I wanted to see a new exhibit; I was game, if fairly ignorant on the subject. I didn't know that much about Redon, I confess. I was aware of some of his more recognizable works, I knew he thought the Impressionists silly, I knew he dabbled in the spiritual and symbolic realms, in fact, I knew little. What a wonderful surprise. I was dazzled.
Passing Angelina's tea room, I pause to marvel at the beguiling Easter window display. Angelina's is a landmark in the world of tea salons in Paris. Usually, I stop and at least purchase something to go. On this day I just looked...and drooled.
And then I made it to the Restaurant Le Soufflé, on rue de Mont Thabor in the first arrondissement. I had known of this restaurant by recommendation for years, but had just never made it. This time I made a late afternoon reservation, determined not to miss it. The entire menu is only soufflés. Savory and sweet. Wow! What a concept! And never a fear of failure, I am certain. This is a formula that works.
An entire restaurant dedicated to soufflés? My kind of place...
Why did I snap a photo of a piece of bread on a plate near a pat of butter? Because it was impossibly good. Impossibly tasty. The bread...the butter...the fat...the calories...perfect!
A mundane salad? Non, non! A plate of the freshest mesclun dressed with a flawless mustard vinaigrette. Flawless in that way of French simplicity. And so good. And refreshing.
For the main course I selected my soufflé to be accompanied with chicken in a creamy wine sauce and primeur baby vegetables, which included fennel, spinach, haricots verts, and potatoes aligot.
More soufflé? You bet. Was it possible that I ate the entire Grand Marnier Soufflé by myself? Sadly, it is true.
A Perfect Day? Oh my yes. A stroll, a great museum, a memorable restaurant, and Spring in bloom all around. I feel thankful and lucky indeed.
Victoria Challancin
Flavors of the Sun Cooking School
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
©Victoria Challalncin. All Rights Reserved.
1 comment:
Victoria thankyou for taking us along to Paris with you! And a place that is entirely dedicated to souffles? I can see that only being in Paris :D
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