Where to Spend Valentine’s Day 2019 in Paris

30 January 2019 by Margaret Kemp    1144  
Where to Spend Valentine’s Day 2019 in Paris
Margaret Kemp
By Margaret Kemp
“La vie est une fleur dont l’amour est le miel – Life is a flower of which love is the honey.” –Victor Hugo (1802-1885) The Ritz Paris François Perret, the tall, dark and handsome Executive Pastry Chef at the Ritz Paris, showcases his romantic Valentine side with signature Proust Madeleines. Why Madeleines, François? “Because beneath their generous golden curves is the perfect alchemy of whipped cream and the strength of wild chestnut honey with a kiss of sweet/sour raspberry!” At the Bar Vendôme, Tea Time is €68 per person or €88 with a flute of champagne. Or go for the sweet menu at the Salon Proust. For his sweet Valentine dinner, François Perret’s inspired by a slow sexy waltz. “Throughout history, regardless of culture, people have always used various forms of dance as art and expression, n’est ce pas?” Opening the ball, buttery toast and jam duet with rosé champagne. Then, eat to the poached beet (root), twerking with exotic sorbet and yogurt sauce. Continue with “Hesitation” puff pastry truffles, green apple / white chocolate. Then, “La Découverte”, an avocado slow dancing with wild wood strawberries. Vanilla millefeuille, the finalé, recalls pastryman Perret’s childhood. He leaves his dancers with a last sensual bite of brioche – a morsel of Ritz classic marble cake – to share the next day at sunrise… what else ? Dinner for two €350 with champagne 15 place Vendome, 1st. Tel: +33 (0)1 43 16 30 30 Cristal Room, Baccarat Culture and gastronomy combine in the regal setting of the sumptuous former private mansion of Marie-Laure de Noailles. Recently given a new look by interior architect Jacques Grange, imagine a flute of perfectly chilled Champagne Roederer served in a Baccarat glass, bien sûr, followed by dinner beneath shimmering crystal chandeliers. Enjoy ravioli of gambas with ginger broth, followed by roast chicken foie gras and carrot confit sprinkled with poppy seeds, chocolate and passion fruit dessert. (€95 per person.) Royal ! 11, places des Etats-Unis, 16th. Tel: +33 (0)1 40 22 11 10 Artcurial Sense Eat You’re A-list, well connected, and love visiting Artcurial Auction House, in the handsome Hôtel Marcel Dassault, placing bids for a Warhol, rare pieces of pottery or jewelery. You’re no stranger to the chic, recently rebranded, ground floor brasserie, making it “the place to be” for art aficionados. Say ti amo with a flute of Spumante Contratto millésimé brut/rosé and tuck into chef Illario Paravano’s Truffled tarte Yin & Yang, Black truffle risotto, and fruit dessert. You know it makes sense! (€60 per person + vino, you’re welcome, from 7 pm to 10:30 pm.) 7, rond-Point des Champs Elysées Marcel Dassault, 8th. Tel: +33 (0)1 53 76 39 34 Mandarin Oriental & Guerlain From Paris with Love – by Guerlain – available between 1st-28th February 2019, from €1,125 per night includes: -A room / suite for two -Breakfast served in-room or at the Camélia restaurant. -A 50 ml bottle of the new fragrance “Mon Guerlain Bloom of Rose” (white flowers, roses, lavender – divine – inspired by Angelina Jolie) -Personalized engraving of the bottle and perfume consultation at Guerlain’s Vendôme boutique (356, rue Saint-Honoré in the 8th) -A bottle of Louis Roederer Champagne and gourmet treats from MO’s Pastry Chef -€100 credit to use at Mandarin Oriental Spa, Paris Or, if you just want a romantic dinner, consider a delicious tête-à-tête at Camélia restaurant on Valentine’s Day with a 6-course menu by ** Michelin star chef Thierry Marx. €168 per person, includes a glass of champagne. 251 rue Saint Honoré, 1st. Tel: +33 (0)1 70 98 73 33 Le Dali Executive Chef Jocelyn Herland invited Suitou Nakatsuka, the award winning Japanese calligrapher (exhibiting at Le Meurice from February 11 – 25), get close and personal in his kitchen for Valentine’s. Dinner’s served on exclusive “Arita” porcelain dishes as the artist swirls her brush before they go to the table! Accompanying the luxurious truffle and duck dinner – with the delicate “Rose” dessert by Le Meurice pastry chef Cedric Grolet – Laurent Perrier champagne – making a food-wine pairing of remarkable finesse. €265 euros per person including bubbles – Reserve on: [email protected] 228 rue de Rivoli, 1st. Tel: +33 (0)1 44 58 10 44 Crazy Horse with Yann Couvreur The show’s “Totally Crazy.” And hip young star pâtissier Yann Couvreur’s the envy of his friends having been asked to create desserts for the famous cabaret launched in 1961 by Alain Bernadin. “I tried to create desserts as beautiful as the Crazy Horse girls,” he sighs. “Crazy Valentine Crazy Horse” includes 1/2 bottle of Laurent Perrier rosé champagne and exclusive desserts “Crazy by Yann Couvreur:” €165 per person. Or, “Crazy Loves You” throws in ze crazy peignoir worn backstage by the dancers. €210 per person. Oh la la! 12 avenue George V, 8th. Tel: +33 (0)1 47 23 32 32 Le Bristol Hashtag #loveisintheair at Spa du Bristol by La Prairie where couples can book double treatment rooms, with jacuzzi, hammam and private terrace overlooking the spa garden. Dine at Epicure (€650 per person), the *** Michelin star restaurant (chef Eric Frechon) or 114 Faubourg, the * Michelin star brasserie, where there’s live music and a raffle at the evening’s end. Prizes include a complementary stay at Le Bristol,…
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Lead photo credit : Rodin's The Kiss. Credit: Auguste Rodin (1840 -1917, LE BAISER, Vers 1882, Crédit agence photographique du musée Rodin/ J Manoukian)

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By Margaret Kemp

Born in Hampton, Middlesex, UK, Margaret Kemp is a lifestyle journalist, based between London, Paris and the world. Intensive cookery courses at The Cordon Bleu, London, a wedding gift from a very astute ex-husband, gave her the base that would take her travelling (leaving the astute one behind) in search of rare food and wine experiences, such as the vineyards of Thailand, 'gator hunting in South Florida, learning to make eye-watering spicy food in Kerala;pasta making in a tiny Tuscany trattoria. She has contributed to The Guardian, The Financial Times Weekend and FT. How To Spend It.com, The Spectator, Condé Nast Traveller, Food & Travel, and Luxos Magazine. She also advises as consultant to luxury hotels and restaurants. Over the years, Kemp has amassed a faithful following on BonjourParis. If she were a dish she'd be Alain Passard's Millefeuille “Caprice d'Enfant”, as a painting: Manet’s Dejeuner sur l’herbe !