We set a wake-up call and got up and out the door by 8:45 so we could take a day trip to Epernay, which is the Champagne region of France. We hired a driver, Amadeus who was referred to us by Rick and Joan Murphy and he was a trip in himself, super knowledgeable and crazy funny the whole time.
In Beautiful Epernay
Saint Dom Perignon's statue outside of the Champagne house of Moet and Chandon. We have been paying homage to this saint every Christmas Eve without even realizing it when we indulge in a bottle of Dom P (wink, wink)
At Moet and Chandon
The caves, so similar to the ones at Schramsberg in Napa. Just on a much, much larger scale.
Apparently a perk when Amadeus is your driver is that you get to do your tasting privately in one of Moet and Chandon's private salons. Very hoity-toity but I was not about to complain.
Talking champagne (quite possibly one of my favorite subjects) with our Moet and Chandon tour guide
Tasting the Vintage Brut and Vintage Rose. Both excellent, coincidentally.
Enjoying a little sunshine in the gardens at Moet and Chandon
And what do you do after a day of wine tasting? Go to the bar with your driver of course! Amadeus wanted to take us to his favorite local bistro where he bought us a glass (or two) of wine. I could have hung out with him all night. He had me in stitches with his very unpolitically correct comments yet really taught us a lot about Parisian life. I'm already looking forward to seeing him again the next time we return.
After returning from our day with Amadeus we had just enough time to freshen up and head to the Louvre for an hour before dinner. We had reservations at Benoit, a fabulous, small bistro that both Ina Garten and Gwyneth Paltrow suggested. It did not disappoint. Preston had the foie gras appetizer and I had the smoked salmon that was incredible. We shared the chicken and morels and I would have licked my plate had the restaurant not been filled with other customers. Shameful perhaps, but it was that good!
The chicken and morels below, one thing I have come to LOVE about French dining is all the special and unique dishes and the beautiful presentation. Check out this plate, engraved with the restaurant's namesake. You can't help but smile when you are served your meal on a dish like this.
