Reinauguration of a classic Parisian wedding venue

Last evening Fête in France attended the reinauguration of one of the classic wedding venues in Paris – in fact Anne’s parents-in-law had their wedding there over 50 years ago! This venue doubles as the alumni club of one of France’s prestigious grande écoles.

We were treated to champagne and canapés and chef’s stations that couldn’t manage to churn out the nibbles fast enough (our favorite: crab & caviar served on a potato chip!) We were also treated to some classic quadrille dancing by current students, smartly dressed in uniforms and long red dresses.

The rooms on the main floor have been beautifully restored and the hand-applied gilt details sparkled in the chandelier light. The blue room also caught our eye – very Marie Antoinette!

Gourmet nights: there’s a chef in the kitchen!

A friend of Fête in France’s recently hosted a dinner party at his apartment – a pretty standard occurrence in Paris – except for the fact that a professional chef prepared all the food and wine pairings.

Whatever you call them – “hidden kitchens” or “secret supper clubs” or “gourmet nights” – they are a great way to spend an evening with friends in a nice, homey setting.

Our menu included two different amuse gueules, a delicious velvety asparagus & leek soup, wonderfully seasoned lamb chops, a selection of the *best* cheese I’ve had in a long time, and a decadent chocolate semi-freddo for dessert.  Throughout the dinner we were bien arrosé with champagne and wine and finished off the evening with digestifs of Calvados and Croatian liqueur.

A gourmand way to start the year – balanced out by healthy eating the rest of the week!

Tip: If your group is vacationing in Paris and your vacation rental has the kitchen space, hiring a chef for a private meal can be a memorable part of your trip!