Saturday 21 September 2013

Le Jules Verne - le deuxième fois

Back in 2010 I had a magnificent family holiday in Europe. It was amazing. We spent a week in Dublin, then two weeks in an apartment in Paris. Happily, while in Paris I had my birthday celebration at Le Jules Verne, the iconic restaurant on the second level of the Eiffel Tower. But I've shown you that before.

It was such a wonderful meal in a wonderful setting that I planned to return this year to celebrate my Big Deal Birthday in the same way. So I did. This time though there were a few more hangers on. Ten intrepid Australians made the journey to Paris and came together for an amazing lunchtime celebration.

And it was wonderful all over again. The Eiffel Tower was unexpectedly closed this day, for a strike.



Tourists were disappointed of course, and being turned away. Happily the private entrance to Le Jules Verne was open.


And soon we were being whisked up to the second level of the Tour Eiffel in their private lift.


Very soon after we were seated, nibbling away excitedly.


And having a drink. The bubbles flowed of course.



 The butter was sublime.

Still styled to look like the second stage of the Eiffel Tower,
with the restaurant logo

As were the breads.



Our amuse bouche. Cucumber jelly.


And then the courses started flowing too. The vegetarian entree. Bouillon glade de petits lois, oeuf de ferme et champignons des bois. Chilled garden pea soup, farm egg and wild mushroom.

So good that the carnivores were almost jealous. 

The non-vego entree was similarly fabulous. Saumon marine citron/caviar/vodka, garniture mimosa. Lemon/caviar/vodka marinated salmon, mimosa garnish. 


The fish course. Filet de Saint-Pierre cuisine en cocotte, legumes et condiment printanier. Fillet of John Dory cooked in a cocotte, spring vegetables and condiment.


The pork course. A last minute substitution for the planned rabbit course, so I don't have a full descriptor.


Paris mash! Wow. So much butter. So good.


The vegetarian had a cheese course while we were eating pork. 


 Dessert. Palet chocolat/framboise. Chocolate/raspberry palet.


Served with an astonishing raspberry granita. Someone at our table may have nearly taken the waiters arm off when he attempted to remove the not quite finished serving. So he brought another one.  No it wasn't me!


Petit fours. Because we may not have had enough desserts by now...


Astonishing marshmallows. I don't like marshmallows here in Australia. Those terrible styrofoam-like substances sold in supermarkets don't do much for me. I can say no. Easily. Good French marshmallows (guimauves) are like flavoured pillows of air. Extraordinary. I can't say no. And why would I?


And chocolate truffles. So fabulous.



Normally after lunch you can use a private set of stairs to go down to the second level of the tower, but that was ferme because of the strike. The restaurant has magnificent views though of course, and by the time we'd finished our luncheon it had all but emptied out, so we weren't hard done by. 

The views were still amazing
We still got to see the newly installed Aboriginal painting
atop the Musee du Quai Branly
which I still haven't visited
And the fountains at the Trocadero
(haven't been there either, still more to do on the next visit....)
Paris, je t'aime

We had the 140 euro 4 course lunch menu. 

Saturday Snapshot is a wonderful weekly meme now hosted by WestMetroMommy

This post is linked to Weekend Cooking
a fabulous weekly meme at Beth Fish Reads

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh my my, why are you so torturing your readers, lol!!

Louise said...

I prefer to think of it as inspiring my readers Emma! To go to France and have their own amazing meals and memories.

Christine Harding said...

That looks looks delicious - my mouth is watering! And the views of Paris are wonderful. I'm sad I didn't manage to get there this year. http://goo.gl/O2D5sX

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

A perfect day: your birthday, Paris, Eiffel Tower, amazing food. Perfect day.

Beth F said...

Oh wow, wow, wow. What an awesome meal and the views of Paris are stunning. Wonderful experience! Fantastic.

skiourophile said...

What a wonderful meal. The arrangement of the food and the colours are so thoughtful. I am as green as that jelly with envy!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful restaurant, cuisine, and Parisian views! Wonderful post. BTW, I've something about Jules Verne too on my Sat. Snapshot. ;)

Joy said...

Thanks so much for sharing this! I'd been looking forward to your report. I gasped at the raspberries and chocolate dessert. Goodness! Such a glorious meal and terrific views. Happy birthday to you!

Joy's Book Blog

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Absolutely gorgeous...and yummy looking! Even that cold pea soup. I love hot pea soup, so cold might be just the ticket.

Thanks for sharing...what a lovely experience. And thanks for visiting my blog.

Peggy Ann said...

What a wonderful birthday!

jama said...

WOW oh WOW! What an extraordinary meal. Everything looks sublime. I'd need to bring along at least three extra stomachs to be able to eat that much just for lunch. :)

Love Paris -- what a great place to celebrate a special birthday!

Dana Tanaro Britt said...

What a lovely walk through your evening in Paris--thank you!

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JoAnn said...

Oh, my... this looks like heaven!! Thank you for sharing your Big Deal birthday with us.

Irene said...

What a Happy Birthday!

(Diane) bookchickdi said...

Such a lovely trip, and your photos have me salivating. Thanks for sharing these with us, I feel like I was almost there.

Ginx Craft said...

The food looks gorgeous, but as I am scared to heights I think even all that lovely food would not have got me up there.

Unknown said...

What a tempting dishes/desserts/views... I would like to visit Eiffel Tower one day... hope very soon... very nice pics...

Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) said...

That was fabulous. After a lunch like that I'd have to sit, rest, and gaze at the wonderful views for quite some time before I could get moving again.

Carole said...

That food looks great - good to know because I usually assume that restaurants in tourist attractions are awful. Cheers

Heather Webb said...

From a fellow France lover--LE SIGH. The food is just gorgeous. You almost don't want to eat it because it's so pretty. And I'll never ever grow tired of the Eiffel Tower!

Anne@HeadFullofBooks said...

My goodness. This isn't food. It is artwork! What a lovely vacation memory to revisit today!

Anne's Snapshot Saturday

Tami said...

What a fabulous way to celebrate a birthday. I'll start planning now for my next "big deal" birthday. Thanks for sharing.

Esme said...

what a great birthday celebration-it looks amazing. you do need to visit the Branly museum-I went on my last visit and was impressed. how typical French The Eiffel tower on strike.

Parisbreakfasts said...

Yes, Absolutely gorgeous.
I don't think I've ever done anything as grand as that with all those "fabulous views! This really takes the cake. Maybe on my next birthday I can celebrate this way.
One can dream at least...
Thanks for sharing.

Susan Lindquist said...

What a day! Am more than a little green-eyed after looking at the views and the luncheon pictures!

Anonymous said...

What a special way to celebrate! The food looks SO elegant--and I love raspberries, so those especially look amazing. Not to mention the views--the opposite of my view from Notre Dame!

Marg said...

Oh my goodness, this looks amazing!

When I posted about my Paris trip (the one in my imagination) this was one of the things I want to do!

Maria said...

Hello Louise, I just had buffet dinner but this post is making me hungry again!

Thanks for the visit to my blog!