The Boozyest of boozy lunches!

We woke up to thunderstorms but since we didn't have to be anywhere until 1230pm, we relaxed at our apartment.

Today was our booking at Le Pre Catelan, a 3 Michelin star restaurant in the Bois de Boulogne, in the 16th. We couldn't book our favorite (2 star Le Meurice Alain Ducasse) for lunch (now only dinner, due to the pandemic). So we decided to go for our first 3 star experience! 

We took a taxi to the restaurant and were unimpressed by the entrance (and having passed a line-up of "working women" on the way there). 

Non-descript entrance

 

It's in a park

Pretty location

We were immediately greeted and sat a a lovely booth. We ordered my obligatory rose champagne, and husband indulged with a whiskey, for the perusing of the menu. The maitre discussed the choices with us and gracefully steered me away from the main dish (squab) toward a more-to-my-palate chicken. The wine list was extensive and there was no wine pairing, so we asked the sommelier to recommend wines for each course. We have learned to trust the sommelier!

And so began one of the best boozy lunches we've ever indulged. Each course was delicious. The presentation was simple and elegant. The dining room was comfortable and the staff were gracious. We marveled at the infused smoke on the squab dish and the server returned, during a lull, to show us how they did it. 

One must have champagne and a whisky
as one peruses the menu

Amuse bouche 1: Marcapone and caviar
and peas and deliciousness!

Amuse bouche 2: Eggplant and onion with
avocado and caviar

I remember loving it but not its name

 A lobster soup deliciousness

Terrible picture of a happy couple! 

Eggplant

Understated dining room

The langoustines signature dish.

Cod garlic potatoes

Smoked salmon with mild wasabi and
toasted sesame seed sauce

Champagne sorbet with caviar

Squab came infused with smoke

Squab

Chicken with truffles and rich
mashed potatoes

Compte cheese souffle

The server demo'ed the smoke machine

Nectar course. Like the best 
deconstructed key lime pie ever!

Pear dessert

Lagniappe desserts

My cafe noisette

It was an amazing culinary experience! We left happy and full.

The taxi got us back to our apartment where we changed and went for a walk.

Our first stop was the Trocadero. It is usually our favorite view of the Eiffel Tower but is currently under massive construction. Half of the plaza is blocked off and the rest is covered in locks, people, and graffiti. The tower is still gorgeous and I'm sure the construction will reveal gorgeousness again in 2024 for the Olympics.

Stupid locks are everywhere. Ugh.

The neighborhood along the Seine is so pretty and green.

The wall outside the Quai Branley Museum is living with greenery!

The museum was closed but it has a lovely view of the Eiffel Tower.

Our walk continued along the Seine. Since the pandemic, this area has been reclaimed for pedestrians and cyclists, and made into parks and bars and restaurants. 

Our goal was Fluctuart Centre d'Art Urbain. It's a street art gallery with a rooftop bar floating on the Seine. It's only been open since 2019. It's pretty fabulous!

We made our way to the rooftop and chose a table under the awning because it was a bright and still potentially rainy afternoon. We got drinks and settled in.

We watched the boats parade up and down the river. We waved and so many waved back. Pretty cool!

It filled up as the day progressed with (what looked like) locals after work. One group seemed to be having a "welcome baby" party.

Welcome baby! 

I perused some of the street art in the lower levels. I particularly like being at about water level in the bathroom. 

We hung out for a good while and the day turned gorgeous.

Then it was time to head back to Passy. 

So we wandered the pedestrian lanes, over to Pont Alexandre II, and took in the beauty of Paris on our walk back home.

Napoleon's  golden Tomb 

Pont Alexandre II

This was a wonderful cap to a spectacular day in our favorite city!