To continue with my absolutely magical Sunday in Paris, we decided to celebrate Mother’s Day with an exquisite dinner at Monsieur Bleu in Palais de Tokyo. Monsieur Bleu is one of the trendiest restaurants in the 16th Arrondisement with the best location at Palais de Tokyo as it is one of the most famous modern art museums in Paris, right beside the Seine River and across from the Eiffel Tower. A meal consists of stellar food, drinks and a truly one of a kind experience since you have direct views of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River at sunset and well through the magnificent light show at night.
It was a fabulous dinner and I loved that I got to experience Paris and French cuisine in such an elaborate and breathtaking fashion. The food was anything but boring as it merged French brasserie classics with international (somewhat Asian) flavors. I especially loved the Crispy Skin Pig dish and the Peking Crispy Duck as it brought me back to my Asian roots and because I have especially been craving for Asian flavors during the trip. I have to say that this was one of the best dishes I’ve enjoyed in Paris as the suckling pig roasted and served skin-on with a dark brown wine reduction and a side of mashed potatoes was cooked perfectly and had that wonderful melt-in-your-mouth texture.
The Ambiance
The designer of such iconic spaces as Balmain and Rick Owens’ Paris flagship as well as Distrito Capital in Mexico City, architect/designer Joseph Dirand puts his fashionable signature on a showcase eatery at Palais de Tokyo in Paris. The formal dining room incorporates a towering central space with elements of the building original stripes of veiny black marble, sculptural adornment and dramatic terrace with an Eiffel Tower backdrop. Elements of emerald green velvet upholstery leave a lasting impression with French deco-inspired chairs, onyx-encrusted banquettes and grand bar with sexy buttoned-up staff outfitted by Alexis Mabille.
The Food
Chef Benjamin Masson narrates an epicurean French brasserie menu that begins with a selection of classic raw bar specialties in addition to a full caviar presentation.Since its opening, several chefs have brought their knowledge and expertise in French cuisine, but have mixed it with elements of international cuisine, therefore bringing innovative dishes to the table.
(Source: Jetset Report)
After the amazing dinner, the girls were able to enjoy a night out on the town as our group of four enjoyed the Feerie show at The Moulin Rouge. I have to say that this one was quite an experience!!! I’ve dreamt of going to The Moulin Rouge and watching a show ever since I watched the Baz Luhrmann movie and fell in love with it. Proof of my obsession for the film was when I dressed up as Satine, the heroine of the film, for Halloween circa 2007… complete with the lace-up corset, crimson hair and diamonds (as they are a girl’s best friend…) which is why it was another Parisian bucket list item I knew I had to tick. One thing I learned is that to be able to attend a show would be expensive- tickets are at €100 per person with half a bottle of champagne included per person- but absolutely worth it! I always love watching shows as much of my childhood (and adult life) was spent accompanying my parents to the theatre and for someone who enjoys performance arts like me, this show is a dream realized. While the Moulin Rouge is a burlesque cabaret (yes, you’re going to see lots of breasts and legs for days), the show is by no means ‘erotic’ and something I would compare the show more to Cirque du Soleil. As with Cirque, where following the plot and storyline would be a tasks, I focused instead on the artistic choreography, sensational talent and the amount of work to pull off a show as entertaining as this one was- with the abundance of feathers, sequins and rhinestones. I did find myself enjoying the performances between the acts and found these to be the most memorable ones for me. The performances that topped my list include a duo of roller skaters who defied gravity, the funniest ventriloquist and his sidekick Wendy the dog (they were featured in Britain’s Got Talent) and this woman who was clad in nothing but a thong while swimming around a water tank filled with boa constrictors. It was out of this world, jaw-dropping awesomeness…definitely a must-see!
A lot more about Paris in my next post!