Hotel Meurice Paris, Chocolat Chaud

Croissants and Chocolat Chaud at Le Meurice, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

Everyone needs at least one grand breakfast when visiting another town.

Paris offers many choices - few better than Hotel Meurice.

Chocolat Chaud at Le Meurice, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

I visited a year ago and was curious to see the interior changes made by French designer, Philippe Starck, best known for his New Design style.

Some changes were subtle - the dining room is lighter, brighter, but still just as grand as ever.

Even a new menu cover.

The hot chocolate is still 12 euros.

The roses are now deep red instead of pink.

The croissant is the same. Thanks M. Starck

The pots of chocolat chaud are HUGE! Too much for one person.

The pour in a soup bowl-sized cup...YUM 

My dining companion wanted the works. An omelette and the "continental petit dejeuner". I stayed true to THE EURO DIET and had just the chocolat chaud.
C'est la vie.

Getting ready for the lunch guests.

After breakfast we walked through the new "Le Dali" dining area. I love the quirky Empire touches Starck added like this rocking chair - did Josephine ever sit in a silver rocking chair?

More unusual details, like these metal faux wood tables in reception.

Reception awaits you at the Le Meurice for your grand breakfast. Don't miss it!

Bright, Shiny Things...

While Paris has grey skies and grey Baron Haussmann buildings. People wearing neutral-colored clothing. Paris also has glitz - really, I mean shine and shiny things
 I'm not talking about high glossy tartes - the L'abricotage. But tons and tons of silvery, reflective tableware that make French tabletops so delightful. Here, the window of L'Argenterie at 19, rue de Turenne, 75004, le Marais

 Alexi Worth commented in the NYTimes on, Jonathan Miller's book, ON REFLECTION:
Reflective surfaces, from puddles to pewter to mirrored glass, have always been catnip to artists. What makes these images so especially puzzling and delicious?

I can't keep away from shiny things. V. says I have Shiny object syndrome (SOS). I am always chasing one bright, shiny thing after another.

The Vaissellerie shop in Paris has lots of silver bargains.
I found a terrific silver-plated chocolatiere for a song 🎵 

Teapots are a delight and an ongoing challenge.I've painted this silvery teapot at the Petrossian Boutique over and over.

Last but not least a silver water flask for the watercolor artist. Surely something you can not do without. For more silver, visit the Musée de l'Argenterie 109-113,avenue Daumesnil. From the French book of silver marks, Poincons d'Or et de Platine :
"Silverware will always be the most beautiful ornament of the table" And they're a real challenge to paint.

Hotel Meurice & 12 Euros...

Hotel Meurice Chocolate Chaud, watercolor, 9" x 11"
You all wanted to know why in heaven's name I would spend 12 Euros for merely a cup of hot chockie.

Welcome to Le Meurice. These grayhounds are Hotel Meurice's logo and stamped on the butter, the bill, on the Canderel sugar.

You partake of your hot chocolate in this grand salon.
This is a BIG picture so click and lap up the luxe.

A blurry pic of the pink roses in the dining room. I'd rather steal a shot than get carte blanche but sometimes the pictures come out blurry. Le Meurice didn't mind a bit my taking pictures of everything in sight.

The glorious chandelier - the whole damn room is pretty glorious!
Le Meurice says on their site:
A showpiece filled with ornate gilding, Louis XVI period crystal chandeliers, antique bevelled mirrors and large bay windows framed in rare marbles, the 3 Michelin star Restaurant ‘le Meurice’ recreates the lustrous effects of this period's architectural detailing.
Landscape paintings on the wall and a ceiling depicting a blue sky with angels create an uplifting, open feeling. The floral-infused decor echoes the Tuileries Garden, with chairs and curtains in floral patterns of yellow, salmon and green. The china, specially created by Limoges for Le Meurice, matches the mosaic patterns on the floor. Against such a background, guests feel as if they have been invited to a private dinner hosted by Louis XV.

The chocolat chaud.

The pour - equivalent to a soup bowl, so filled only 1/2 way. Enough hot chocolate in the silver pitcher to easily satisfy 6 people. The taste - divine.

I didn't order anything besides chocolat chaud nature,
Le Meurice kindly brought croissants, confiture and famous logo butter to make the table look pretty.

Ze bill / l'addition...Belliflora said...It's very funny for the French girl I am to look at the pictures of your little treasures but i have to say that when I saw that you paid 12 Euros for a chocolat i felt pity for you.

                             No pity please - it was painless. Anyone want to feel like Marie-Antoinette for an hour? Your table waits Madame, Monsieur

The Parisbreakfast Diet

Petit Dejeuner, watercolor

OK, so what's THE PARIS BREAKFASTS DIET you ask?
 

1st step is get yourself over to Paris for 5-7 days. Simple right? At least as far as most diets go.
 

Next step is very pleasent too. During those 5-7 days you want to have a good "Parisien" "petit" dejeuner EVERY DAY. No skipping is allowed on this diet.

The "Parisien" petit dejeuner might also be listed as it is here, A La Francaise. Any number of appealing, seductive menu titles can be used to draw you in. Nevermind, just go for it.
 

 I certainly did. Sometimes in the name of research for my Paris Breakfasts readers I had 2-3 so-called petit dejeuners in 1 day. Please appreciate what I go through for you.

While at Dalloyau doing Easter egg research I did double duty and went upstairs for their petit dej'.

Here's another carte / menu for the visiting wannabe "Parisian".Don't be fooled No Parisien in their right mind is gonna eat all this for P.D.

Nevermind that. Stick to your diet.

The last morning of my trip I felt courageous.  I sashayed into the Hotel Meurice just for a cup of chocolat chaud nature. This "cup" is more like a very generous soup bowl. Limoge too. The silver pitcher could well serve a table of 10 easily.AND they load up your table with beautiful croissants and confiture/jam as temptation, but more about that later.

So you're wondering when does this PARIS BREAKFASTS DIET begin?

As soon as you get home, that's when.

Your petit dejeuner/ petit dej'/BREAKFAST is now going to be PETIT.

1-2 boiled eggs

1 apple/pomme

1 cup of hot chocolate (that's allowed. It can be some hot chocolate you dragged home)

1 chocolate friture if you have any.

All this is eaten enroute to the pool or gym or wherever you go to sweat off all those Paris PDs.

You can save the eggs for AFTER your workout.That's allowed.

I guarantee you, after 1 week you will lose weight, without question!

I am...Ooops I'm late for the pool.

BONNE CHANCE!