Paris Like
An Heiress
By Leah Walker
I
f loving Paris is wrong, then I
don’t want to be right. A mere
mention of the French capital
and I am Walter Mitty soaking
up the scene on Saint-Germaindes-Prés. Shoulder-to-shoulder,
I sit at a sidewalk café drinking
Bordeaux, while second-hand smoke
pervades my lungs. I stroll along
Haussmann’s grand boulevards
with my head on a swivel, not
wanting to miss a single bakery,
buttress, boutique or flower box.
I may be from Texas, but an oil
heiress I certainly am not. However,
during my recent trips to the City
of Light, I gladly stepped into that
role. Paris provides plenty of
opportunities for those looking to
exercise their AmEx Centurion
cards, and in the name of research,
I did my best to adopt that
mentality. Chauffeured cars,
private guides, luxury hotels,
exclusive experiences and gourmet
visitors demanding the best are
still spoilt for choice.
meals all helped mimic what a trip
to Paris must be like for the
average Russian billionaire’s
daughter. The private jet and haute
couture souvenirs, however, were
tragically missing.
Hôtel Fouquet’s
Barrière
Simply being on the corner of
Champs-Elysées and Avenue George
V brings with it a certain cache.
And even with the flagship Louis
Vuitton store as a neighbor, Hôtel
Fouquet’s Barrière holds its own as
a beacon of luxury.
Paris is a place that evokes strong
emotions. Love or loathe, it’s
arguably the most glamorous city in
the world. Here, quality is revered,
whether in fashion, food, wine,
jewelry, art or accommodations.
This is not only demonstrated in
the number of famous French
design houses, but also in the
amount of Michelin-starred
restaurants and luxury hotels in the
city. Currently, there are about 85
eateries that have earned at least
one star from Michelin, as well as
over fifty five-star hotels. Even
with three of its best hotels--Hôtel
de Crillon, Ritz Paris and Hôtel
Plaza Athénée--closed for
renovations until later in 2014,
Although the hotel didn’t open until
2006, the legendary Fouquet’s
Restaurant has been around since
1899. Since the 1930s, Fouquet’s
has been closely associated with
the French film industry, hosting
nominee luncheons and afterceremony dinners in conjunction
with the César Awards, France’s
version of the Oscars. A classic
Parisian brasserie, Fouquet’s
remains true to its glamorous roots
and has influenced the design and
feel of the hotel.
To be fair, I was smitten with Fouquet’s before I even
stepped foot on to the red carpeted entrance.
To be fair, I was smitten with
Fouquet’s before I even stepped
foot on to the red carpeted
entrance. Just after my reservation
6
was confirmed, a two-page
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