by Editor | Dec 1, 2004 | Europe, France, Paris, Simon and Baker Travel Review
Le Bristol’s elegant dining room, well trained staff and delicious dishes made it a natural for a return visit. In addition to Chef Eric Frechon’s creations, the dining room was elegant and inviting, and the wine menu offered many affordable and desirable choices. With 80 staff members in the kitchen and another 13 in the dining room, we wanted for nothing. We appreciated the wine steward’s selections (from wine cellars of more than 30,000 bottles) and the pastry chef’s talents which provided a worthy ending to a well prepared lunch. Favorites included the scrumptious varied pre-appetizers and delicately flavored turbot and oxtail, with steamed fois gras enveloped in cabbage leaves, main courses.
by Editor | Dec 1, 2004 | Europe, France, Paris, Simon and Baker Travel Review
: Entering Le Bristol through the main revolving door on a cold winter day was like catching a ray of sunshine in the snow. Two uniformed doormen helped us out of our taxi and inside the warm building.
by Editor | Dec 1, 2004 | Simon and Baker Travel Review
At the Hotel de Crillon, one of Paris’ see and be seen addresses, we encountered bejeweled surroundings, guest oriented service, an up-and-coming gourmet restaurant on the premises and a fabulous location. Once a palace dating back to 1758 and later acquired by the Comte de Crillon, this exclusive Paris hotel was formerly a private residence. The hotel, part of the French Concorde Hotels Group, is situated on the place de la Concorde near many of Paris desirable venues and adjacent to the U.S. embassy compound.
by Editor | Dec 1, 2004 | California, North America, Simon and Baker Travel Review, United States
: We cherished the Honor Mansion resort inn for a quiet, romantic or de-stressing get away. It offered delicious gourmet breakfasts, luxury amenities (including a private Jacuzzi, wet bar, and a modern fireplace) a sense of privacy and the comforts of home in a wine country setting. For those inclined to explore or be active there was a swimming pool, tennis, bocce, basketball and more. Nearby activities and attractions included fine dining, antiquing, golf, wine estate and bicycle tours and shopping.
by Editor | Dec 1, 2004 | Simon and Baker Travel Review
Located in the former café de Chartres , this historic restaurant still maintained much of the original style and famous mirror decorations. It was purported to be one of the “ideological centers” of the French Revolution. It was fun to think we dined where so many famous figures dined before including Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine, Victor Hugo, Colette (our seat) and Jean Cocteau, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir . Although we appreciate and enjoy the rarified ambiance, it is the extraordinary food and culinary growth that has attracted us there time and again.
