Lire plus →
I thought I had seen the essential of Paris…but that was until I stepped onboard the Bustronme, a bus that takes you for a gastronomic journey through Paris. An unforgettable trip. As it drove by the famous monuments such as the Louvre and the Eiffeltower I realized that Paris can be rediscovered in a new and super romantic way by bus…read about it here…
I stepped onboard the Bustronome around 19h45 on the angle between Avenue Kléber and Champs Elysees in Paris. Already then I could feel the excitement starting to transform into goosebumps on my arms…
Soon after the bus took off and the waiter started serving us champagne. He handed me the menu cart so I could see what was going to be served during the ride.
At noon you can expect 4 dishes, in the evening it is 6 dishes. The menu depends on which trip you are taking: Noon or Evening. You can choose your menu with or without accorded wine.
As a starter we got a tartar of sea bream with chives, artichoke and apricot – with lime zest and capers… fresh and tasty…
We started to drive down the Champs Elysees. I lent back, took a sip of my cool champagne and smiled at the world. It was fantastic. Sooo romantic. Like being in a time capsule – all sound from the street and people was shut out – replaced by french Edith Piaf music. And from my comfortable chair, with the beautifully prepared table in front of me, I could just lean back, relax and enjoy the Arc de Triumf getting smaller and smaller…. I rediscovered Paris.
We had even been equiped with a small loudspeaker, from where we could listen to the story of the momuments as we passed them by.
Did you know that the obelisk at the Concorde square weighs 220 tons ? That it took 15 years to transport it from Egypt to Paris by boat ? That the Hotel Concorde is one of the most prestigeful and oldest hotels in the world ? I didn´t, until this moment…
Then another starter was being served : Fois gras. Yummy. A real wow experience. Not because of the delicious and wellknown taste of Fois gras, or because of the two half strawberrys accompaging it…but because of the extremely well-harmonated choice of white vine that was served with it: the Anjou.
As I took a sip of the vine it immidiately gave caracter to the strawberries and underlined the taste. It was a real wow experience – an great combination that I hadn´t been expecting at all.
As I looked up we held in front of the Opera Carnier. People were dancing tango on the staircase in front of it, while I was simply just enjoying the beautiful piano music and the sound of my glass of champagne approching my mouth.
I turned on the loudspeakers once again. This time they told us about the Opera Garnier. Did you know that the opera was created by an architect as a result of a contest that he won? And that he created the opera in a new Napoleon III style?
As we continued through the streets I thought: Wow…Isn´t the experience of luxury as much in the decoration that we are surrounded by when we are enjoying our delicious food, as in the service and the people that are accompanying us? If so, what more beautiful decoration is there than Paris itself ?
I must say I was both amazed and amused by this trip. It was fantastic.
While we were driving over one of Paris´ many beautiful bridges, people outside were smiling, waiving at us with such an enthusiasm that one could think they had been transmitted the euphoria that we were experiencing ourself at this very moment.
Then another fish dish was served…A sea bass with courgette…delicious…
Something I remarked during this trip was the notion of time. In paris everyone is always in a hurry, walking fast through the streets…But during this bus ride we had TIME, almost 3 hours where we could quietly observe and enjoy the buldings, the lights and the true beauty of Paris..and from an even higher perspective where people were almost not part of the steet picture. A real joy. Normally it is difficult to avoid the street sounds when you wish to observe the extraordinary monuments… but onboard the bus we could.
….and that, at the same time as we were enjoying the delicious meal and beautiful sights…
The dessert was a real masterpiece… white chocolate ice cream with a taste of coconut…yamm.
And as we stopped in front of the Eiffeltower, where we could step out of the bus to take pictures, I knew that the ride had almost finished…
I can only wish for everyone to try the Bustronome gastronomic tour while in Paris… It is one of the most extraordinary and unforgettable food experiences I´ve had…
—
Pictures here