Robert Pink is a company that specialises in walking tours around Paris, my guide was founder and director Marion Proteau, she was to take me on a tour of the food shops of the 3rd and 4th Arrondissement, she had chosen 11 of her favourites.
Delicate shortbread cakes in the Patisserie Bontemps, cheese in Fromagerie Jouannauly, wine, salami and ham in the market and 8 shops later choux pastry in the choux shop. For a sense of where savvy locals go to buy the best produce, this was an unbeatable expedition.
Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athenee
Alain Ducasse is one of the great names in French cooking. At the Plaza Athenee he has developed a new menu based on much healthier foods and here, gone are meat and poultry, the menu is mostly confined to fish, shellfish, vegetables and grain.
What Ducasse does today the others do tomorrow.
In its simplistic form after two or three tiny amuse bouche appetizers, the meal was caviar, bass, lobster and chocolate pudding with some exceptional wines. However to do full justice it would require a special supplement, it was quite simply magnifique. For a more detailed review click here