My Paris Day in Melbourne

Sadly we can't always be in Paris. But sometimes we are in Melbourne. Recently I discovered that sometimes you can have a Paris day in Melbourne. And on my last day in Melbourne in December I did exactly that.

First off, to breakfast at Le Petit Gateau for breakfast. Not my traditional breakfast fare, it's true. Fabulous though.

Black beauty
chestnut, chocolate, blackcurrant

Gingerbread, cherry and brandy yule log

Why yes, I certainly did.
White chocolate Hot Chocolate

Then off to the Sofitel, for a quick sojourn. Happily they had an Iconic Paris photographic exhibition to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Sofitel brand.

Later I popped into the amazing Om Nom for a quick lunch.

It's important to only eat small beetroot salads

to leave room for pudding.
 the fabulous Mango Alfonso

Then off for a quick hike to the National Gallery of Victoria to see the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition. It's totally amazing. Do check it out. Or check out my gushing post if you can't.

There were rather strong hints of Paris there too of course. I think it was here that I recognised my Paris themed day. 

I'd barely had anything to eat for hours by this stage. Luckily I had a pre-theater booking at Bistro Guillaume. Where I adopted my Parisian strategy of eating salmon tartare so that I could yet again fit in more pudding.

King salmon tartare, cucumber gazpacho and
smoked oyster cream.
Divine

Twice baked shuffle with roquefort sauce. Exceptional. 

Fresh raspberry macaron. Marvellous. 

Then I had to hightail it back across town. It's always easy to pretend on the Paris end of Collins Street. 

The Hermes window

I was heading for Her Majesty's Theatre to see Les Mis. I'd seen the production the night before. It was spine tingling, and I was moved to become a snivelling wreck. It was so good in fact that I went again the very next night. 

I resisted the merchandise.
I need to read the book. 

After the show it was back to Om Nom. I know, I know, I didn't intend to, really I didn't. But their Mont Blanc is devastatingly good. I had almost burst into tears to find it wasn't available at lunch. It was my last day in Melbourne for who knows how long. My waiter promised me it would be available in the evening after my show. Thankfully It was. OMG. It's so good. 

But I knew that. I'd had it before as part of their fantastic dessert degustations twice previously. I've shown you that before (and the price went down! Now $48. Total bargain). But I really wanted to have a single serve. It's apparently based on the Mont Blanc at the Ritz Paris. Bet you can't guess where I want to go now? Sadly the Ritz Paris has been closed for unprecedented renovations since 2012, and is currently due to reopen late 2015. 

I wonder if the Ritz version could be better than this?
It's hard to believe. It's perfection.

Whilst this day does possibly seem slightly extravagant I did crisscross the length and breadth of Melbourne CBD on foot at least 4 times, and had the blisters to prove it. I think I earnt all those puddings... A perfect Melbourne finale. Melbourne wasn't Paris that day, but it was pretty darn close. 

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