It was at least 90 degrees in Paris today, apparently a very unusual heat wave which we are lucky enough to be here for. Despite the heat, we picked up some bikes and went for a culinary taste of Paris old and new. Lunch at Le Dome, one of Paris' most famous seafood restaurants, was pleasant but eerily old fashioned. A step into a place that was perhaps once a very lively and exciting restaurant (as the old black and white photos on the wall suggest) is now an ornate relic, more a museum than a restaurant you would want to dine in (made even more so because of the prohibitive prices). That said, our seafood tower was fresh and very good (though the langoustines were sub par, and I suspected they were, oh horror, previously frozen) and our lobster salad, made with the revered blue lobster from Brittany, was excellent.
After touring the Musée D'Orsay, a totally wonderful museum with an overwhelming collection of incredible art, we relaxed for a bit and then met up with friends for dinner at the new style bistro L'Ardoise. Though it was about a million degrees inside (Paris doesn't do air conditioning, or ceiling fans), we sweated our way through a delicious meal. Bistro style food in the sense that it was hearty, with big bold flavors and sauces, but more modern in preparation and style. A nice combination and a very good 3 course meal, at a good value. And after our experience at Le Dome, dining with a much older and stuffier crowd, it was a nice change.
View the slideshow below to see our pics from today. Don't forget to click Show Info to view the captions.