Archive for March 12th, 2009

Le Pré Catelan – Paris

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

Bois de Boulogne
Route de Suresnes Map
75016 Paris
Tel. 01 44 14 41 14
Métro: Porte Maillot (thereafter taxi)
eMail : leprecatelan-salons@lenotre.fr
Website: www.precatelanparis.com
Credit Cards: All major
Prices: Expensive-Very Expensive

On several visits Le Pré Catelan has shown beyond a doubt to be absolutely first rate down to the minutest detail, from service to the outstanding cuisine and not to forget the superb setting in the Napoleon III style pavilion surrounded by forest.

Opening its doors in 1907, in the Bois de Boulogne, the Le Pré Catelan has been visited by royalty, presidents and Captains of Industry over more than a century. It is a lovely location, and an absolute must on any gourmet journey. Chef Frédéric Anton, once next in command to Joël Robuchon, delights guests with his sophisticated culinary artistry and amazing technical insight. The restaurant’s sommelier will guide you through the extensive wine menu with its comprehensive selections from all wine-producing regions of France from the large cellar.

Gaston Lenôtre, Founder of Maison Lenôtre, has passed away

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

Gaston Lenôtre died on Thursday, January 8, 2009 at the age of 88 after a long illness at his home in Sologne, where he retired with his wife Catherine in the early 1990s. He was the founder of Maison Lenôtre, which also operated Le Pré Catelan. Maison Lenôtre was acquired by the Accor Group where it became its prestige signature.

Buddha Bar – Paris

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

photo credit: Buddha Bar

8/12, rue Boissy d’Anglas
75008 Paris
Tel. 33.(0)1.53.05.90.00
Fax. 33.(0)1.53.05.90.09
Email: buddhabar@buddhabar.com
Website: www.buddhabar.com
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Very Expensive

Still Going Strong, the Buddha-Bar’s large dining room dominated by a huge golden Buddha, is much like dining in a fish bowl, as tipplers from the bar mezzanine above are able to look down through lacy wrought-iron balustrades into the dining area, although you might not realize it unless you look up.
The dim lighting, dark mahogany furniture, Chinese and Japanese objet d’art, along with other asian decorations gives the otherwise boisterous night spot a somewhat calm state.
The now well-known albums and DVDs compiled by the proprietor Raymond Visan’s George V Records label also include some original tracks by leading recording artists. Buddha Bars are springing up in many other locations and at latest tally: Buddha-Bar Paris, Buddha-Bar Dubai, Buddha-Bar Beirut, Buddha-Bar Cairo, Buddha-Bar London, Buddha-Bar Kiev. Buddha-Bar Jakarta, Buddha-Bar Sao Paolo, Buddha-Bar Dublin
Buddha-Bar Prague. He also is embarking into the hotel and resort business by opening some properties in far-flung places such as in eastern-european countries and locations as remote as Panama.
The decor is admittedly fantastic, though looking beyond all the press over the years hyping the top-crust crowds flocking to this club it seems to me; that it just may be cubic zirconia posing as diamonds? It really doesn’t matter, as everyone is having a good time, although as an aside, I have observed that the clientele in the mezzanine has increasingly become balanced a little too heavily in middle-eastern customers.