Huxley's British Classics, LHR

We had a layover in London. We found Huxley's British Classics at Heathrow (LHR), in Terminal 5.

Beer Battered Fish & Chips--£14. 

Butterflied Chicken Breast in a Smoked Bacon, Mushroom & White Wine Cream Sauce served with Garlicky Green Beans and Crushed New Potatoes--£12.95.

Sticky Toffee Pudding--£6.50

2017 06 04

RER to CDG

Since our hotel was near the Luxembourg station, it was easy to get to CDG.

We hopped on the RER B and it took us straight to the airport. It took 38 minutes and it costs €10.30.

2017 06 04

Bistrot Richelieu

After the Orangerie, we had lunch at Bistrot Richelieu.

It's located at 45 Rue de Richelieu. They have a 2-course menu for €16 or 3-course for €20 at lunch.

We ordered a charcuterie platter, which was not part of the menu. It was delicious and included a homemade pork pate, cured ham and sausage for €8.50.

The starter was a salad with smoked meat.

Homemade "Rougail" sausage with rice.

Hake in Red Pepper Sauce with Mashed Potatoes.

2017 06 03

Musee de l'Orangerie

When we were in Giverny, we purchased a combo ticket for Monet's Garden in Giverny and Musee de l'Orangerie in Paris, so we ended our trip just as we began--with Monet.

Musee de l'Orangerie is located in the Tuileries Garden and houses the "Collection of Jean Walter & Paul Guillaume." Paul Guillaume was an art dealer who amassed the majority of the art. When he died, his widow married Jean Walter, who transformed the collection. 

The museum houses 5 paintings by Modigliani, including this of Paul Guillaume.

There are 25 works by Renoir. 

Monet's San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk.

The highlights of the museum are Monet's Water Lilies. There are 2 rooms devoted to his eight giant paintings. The rooms are bathed with natural light but since the walkway leading to the first room is very bright, when you first step into the room, it looks dim. I recommend closing your eyes prior to entering the room so that you can see the paintings in brighter light.

The paintings are 6-foot tall and curved. 

Outside, you'll find a copy of Rodin's "The Kiss."

2017 06 03

Walking Around Paris

I use Rick Steves' guidebooks when I tour Europe. You can follow one of his walking tours or just meander.

Our hotel was near the 60-acre Luxembourg Gardens. The Luxembourg Palace dominates the north end of the park. It was built as the royal residence for the mother of Louis XIII. Today, it is the seat of the French Senate.

In the summertime, you can see kids playing with their toy boats in the pond.

Plenty of benches to rest and people watch.

A 15-minute walk from the Luxembourg Gardens, you'll find La Grande Epicerie.

It's a fancy grocery store with prices to match.

Eglise Saint Francois Xavier is located on Boulevard des Invalides. It's an impressive church but rarely visited by tourists.

Les Invalides is a complex of buildings made up of museums (relating to the military history of France), a hospital and home for war veterans. It's where Napoleon is married. 

Rue Cler is a pedestrian street filled with great markets. Parisians shop daily for their food and you'll find a great selection of fruit, vegetables, cheese, meats on this street.

On the other side of the Seine is the Grand Palais--a large exhibition hall and museum complex, complete with restaurants.

As you meander, you'll also find covered shopping streets.

Another great market street in Paris is Rue Montorgueil.

Les Halles was Paris' central food market but it was demolished and replaced with a modern shopping complex. There is an outdoor stage where concerts are held.

2017 06 03

Les Papilles

A 3-minute walk from our hotel was Les Papilles, located at 30 Rue Gay Lussac.

It's a bistro and a wine shop. Pick a bottle from the shelf and they'll open it for you.

They serve a set menu for €38 each night. There are no choices but the menu changes nightly.

The starter was Salade de Champignons (mushroom salad), quenelle de creme a l'huile d'olive (olive oil), persil frit (fried parsley), lardons (bacon) et ciboulette (chives).

Veloute de champignons (cream of mushroom) was poured over the salad to create an interesting and delicious soup.

The main was brought to the table and served family style.

Supreme de volaille roti sur la peau (roasted chicken with skin), sauce au pesto, penne, tomates confites (candied tomatoes), ail (garlic) confit, pois gourmands (gourmet peas), fleur de thyme, oignons nouveau (new onions).

Cheese course--wedge of roquefort.

Mango panna cotta.

The entire dinner was quite good. Make sure you make reservations at least a month in advance.

http://www.lespapillesparis.fr/#about-1-1

2017 06 02

Ice Cream Battle

On Ile Saint-Louis in Paris, there are 2 well-known ice cream shops. Try both and decide which you like better.

Berthillon is located at 29-31 Rue Saint-Louis. It was established in 1954.

The line is out the door.

€2.80 gets you a single cone, which is pretty darn small.

At 47 Rue Saint-Louis, just a 1-minute walk from Berthillon, you'll find Amorino. There was no line here.

Amorino is more like Italian gelato.

The gelato is shaped into a rose. €3.60 will get you a small cone with 2 flavors.

I'm partial to gelato so I liked Amorino's better.

2017 06 02

Le Pot de Fer

After we dropped off our luggage, we went in search of lunch and found Le Pot de Fer.

It's located at 12 Rue du Pot de Fer, a 7 minute walk from our hotel. They have a 2-course lunch menu for €12.90. You could choose a starter and a main or a main and a dessert. We chose the former.

One of the options for the starter was a Salade de Magret de Canard Fume--Smoked duck salad. This was delicious.

Another option was the Salade Parisienne--this had ham, potatoes, egg, tomatoes and lettuce. Both salads were huge and could have been the main.

Bavette a l'Echalotte--Rumpsteak with Shallot Sauce. As with most bavettes I've tried, it was on the tough side.

Saumon Sauce a l'osei--not sure what l'osei is but it was a white herb sauce that was delicious.

2017 06 02

Hotel Andre Latin

From Blois, we drove to CDG (Charles de Gaulle airport) and dropped off our rental car. We then took the RER B to Luxembourg Station in Paris. It was so easy--no transfers.

Our hotel was the Andre Latin, located at 50 Rue Gay-Lussac, just a 4-minute walk from the Luxembourg Station.

It's not a fancy hotel but it was clean, quiet and very convenient.

The room was larger than the average Parisian room.

Updated bathrooms.

2017 06 02