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