À la vôtre!
France 2024
Day 1 : Paris
I’m not always great at traditions; but there’s one I try to stick to regularly and that’s drinking something delicious before a flight. Not sure if it’s thanatophobia or just an excuse to drink something fancy; but it’s a tradition I’m pretty good at. So I finish packing (definitely forgot a jacket) and I go over to Manhatta for a bottle & some food. The bottle—a beautiful 2017 Meursault Les Criots by Pierre Boisson; which paired quite well with our cod dish. Lots of fun stuff on that wine list!
We get to the airport earlier than I’d like; but Chase loves an airport lounge, so we post at the Centurion Club for a couple Campari sodas. Shoutout to our bartender who might be the best airport service professional of all time. Normally everyone is super grouchy, but she was super attentive and chatted us up in the right moments.
A few movies/podcast/emails later and we’re at CDG. Hop a taxi to Hôtel Dames des Arts in the Latin Quarter. I normally stay on the right bank, so this was a nice change of pace. I learned from my movie-buff friends that the Quartier Latin is a famously artsy part of town and one with strong cinematic associations.
The hotel is solid—nice central location, welcoming staff, thoughtful touches, and a great rooftop with nice panoramic views. It also has a gym, which is clutch on these food & drink adventures. A quick workout; but not before lunch at Ducasse’s Allard. A quick walk from the hotel, Allard is a small, old-school bistro with lots of charm. Not sure if it’s because we were Americans or because we were late; but we were sat in the dining room to the left, which seemed to be the managers office that afternoon.
A lovely lunch—though Paris is full of great bistros at half the price. A quick espresso from Bonjour Jacob: a cool, artsy cafe lined with lifestyle magazines and a trendy crowd. The coffee is good and much needed to keep this party going.
We freshened up, hit the roof, & it’s off to Hotel de Crillon for some wine. There’s few places that feel more Paris than this epic palace-like hotel. You just feel a real sense of place where history and luxury collide. We did a bit of 2017 study with some Lamy-Caillat Caillerets & Jacques Carillon Perrieres. Beautiful wine, beautiful room, and of course beautiful ladies; because you know: Paris. Once the lady on piano starts singing it’s hard to imagine leaving but we gotta keep it moving for an 830 dinner res.
Dinner at Chez Dumonet —another bistro that is quite lovely; but hardly a favorite. Stuffed and ready for a nightcap we head over to Bar Josephine in Lutetia hotel. Another super cool room with ceiling to floor art & a sophisticated clientele. We were going to continue our 2017 burgundy study but opted for some nice Armagnac instead. We walk back to the hotel, but totally enamored by this city—it’s no surprise to anyone we decide on one more.
We wander around and land at Prescription Cocktail Club.
A proper Paris reintroduction... stay tuned for more from our travels to Burgundian wineries.