After a whirlwind of activities the day before, it was finally Mum’s birthday last week Thursday!
We had moved from Hotel Costes to the timeless, legendary and unabashedly elegant Hôtel de Crillon, the illustrious landmark overlooking the Place de la Concorde.
I wore my bow tie to be suitably attired.
The Butler Team was on hand to make sure Mum was celebrated! They had balloons, cake, champagne in our room – note the doggy balloons!!!!
Margaret had planned for another full day! It began with pastry making, before we met Isabelle for lunch. As I wasn’t allowed at the pastry making class, Clare, our butler, took care of me.
And she took me out for walkies!
I’ll let Mum tell you about the Pastry making class as I wasn’t there. After a miraculously successful baking session making Choux pastry, she came back to pick me up and we went to meet Isabelle for lunch at Nomad’s Paris, a hip, retro-chic bistro in Rue du Marché Saint-Honoré.
I guess the restaurant’s logo was an indication that dogs are welcomed! LOL! There was indeed a large black lab who was the in-residence dog. And yes, I did bark at him.
The interiors of Nomad’s were creative and lots of crafts on display for sale – a feast for the eyes.
After lunch, we had the all important appointment at the vet – to get my deworming and Animal Health Certificate signed before we headed back to the UK. We are still working on getting my EU Passport sorted … more about that in next week’s blog.
Back at the hotel for some down time before we headed out for the GRANDE FINALE of birthday celebrations. Mum’s only requirement for the evening – that the restaurant should be dog-friendly. And her wish was granted – dinner at La Tour d’Argent, the oldest restaurant in Paris. It was first mentioned in 1582 as “a good place to stay as have a meal.”
We were advised by the hotel concierge that I needed to be in a bag. I obliged but actually they love dogs at La Tour d’Argent and it was reported that there was a Golden Retriever there the week before. So I really needn’t be in a bag after all.
From the restaurant, a view of Paris! As the hoomans took in the setting sun behind the Notre Dame, champagne was poured and they toasted to life and friendship
As duck is their specialty, Mum felt she had to have it. And it was Duck Nr. 1,177,142 served at the restaurant! I guess when you have been around for over 400 years – that’s a lot of time to serve over a million ducks!!!
The duck was shared with Lauren – and it came in three courses!
The dinner lasted from 8pm till way over 11pm. It was the longest dinner I ever had to sit through – and even though I could have sat on the floor, I stayed in Mum’s handbag the whole time. I even dozed off!
Only to be woken up by more singing!
Let’s hope that will be the last time for this year. Bon Anniversaire, Maman.
May’s comment: To be honest, I was hesitant about a pastry class at La Cuisine Paris. But what fun it turned out to be!
There were eight of us and the pastry chef. We all chipped in to make the Choux pastry – kneading and rolling. Then we made creams for filling –
And the end result …
… chouquette, Choux a la Creme Chocolate, Paris-Brest (my favourite), profiteroles, éclairs, Gougères, etc.
And of course there was more singing!!!
It was another action packed day!
This birthday celebration was also to celebrate Meg turning 60 last month, and for being a 10 year cancer survivor. To many more birthdays, Meg! We will continue to celebrate life for as long as we have birthdays. Thank you for sharing and celebrating these important milestones of life with us.
One Response
What a fabulous birthday celebration! I do think the pastry class was amazing and you got to eat your creations, yum. Will you try your new skills at home?
Happy Birthday!