Baron Philippe de Rothschild Dinner at Le Diane : & Piscine Molitor

Le Diane When the suits at Châteaux Rothschild, Pauillac, decided to host a dinner at the Michelin * Le Diane restaurant showcasing a selection of their exceptional wines, they asked MOF Executive chef Jean-Yves Leranguer and award winning chef pâtissier Claude Ducrozet to create dishes to match the Rothschild vintages. Go to this site. « We have total confidence in the chefs » confirmed Philippe Dhalluin, Director Général and Director du Pôle d’Activité Châteaux. « The duo work in perfect tandem. One inspires the other, producing contemporary spins on  classics of French gastronomy, reminiscent of the couture spirit of Le Diane’s rotunda restaurant », he added. Le Diane, designed by Jacques Garcia, overlooks the calm sculpture gardens of Hôtel Fouquet’s Barrière, just behind the Champs Elysées. « It’s a décor you love or loathe » admitted General Manager Fabrice Moizan, before dinner one night. « It’s intimate, couples come for this atmosphere. In fact we have Parisians who spend petits weekends here and I don’t blame them ! » On the menu : The Starter : Langoustine poêlée au poivre de Sichuan Vert, celery purée, Granny Smith apples. The wine : White Aile d’Argent 2011 Château Mouton Rothschild. “Full bodied, rich packed with ripe, crisp, refreshing citrus, lemon, green apple, grapefruit: The middle course: Rouget Barbet, jus made with the fish bones, topped with discs of marrow and crunchy croutons: Château Clerc Milon 2005, 5ème Grand Cru classé de Pauillac. With 92/100 from Robert Parker, Philippe Dhalluin remarked: “This was very restrained in the barrel but is really opening up in bottle”. The main : Spring Lamb, grilled on the bone, perfumed with sarriette, baby turnips and épine-vinette (a type of acidic berry) married well with Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild 2003, Second vin du Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac. And, to finish: Pâtissier Claude Ducrozet’s sexy, intense spin on Black Forest Cake, Crémeaux chocolat Alpacco, morello cherries, Chantilly kirsch, confit & morello cherry sorbet. With Château Mouton Rothschild 1996, Premier grand cru classé de Pauillac: notes of truffles, blackcurrants, ripe and rich, just like the dessert. “These dishes feature in our Spring Collection”, explained chef Leuranguer, a calm, charming man, born in Brittany, Executive chef at Fouquet’s Barrière since 2003. Son of a chef, his mission statement: “il n’ya pas de secret, tout est dans la rigueur.” 46 avenue George V, 8th M : George V T : 01 40 69 60 60 Shut Sat Dinner – Sun-Mon Average spend from 88€ Website Located, in the 16th arrondissement, between Stade Roland Garros and Parc des Princes, Piscine Molitor, architectural gem and chic swimming pool of choice for celebs in the 1930’s, shuttered since 1989. Launched, in 1929, by Olympic swimmer “Tarzan” Johnny Weismuller: the world’s first bikini was paraded here by its’ designer Louis Réard in July 1946. Who Knew? In the movie Life of Pi. the Indian boy living in colonial-era Pondicherry, Piscine Molitor Patel, is named by his Francophile father after this Art Nouveau swimming pool. Architect and designer Jean -Philippe Nuel has created a contemporary version of the listed site, enriched with elements of its architectural past, and history. According to his office three words sum up the new theme : pool, art, life. The star-chitects who undertook the reconstruction of the ‘ White Liner ‘, as it was known in the 1930s, have carefully kept Molitor’s art-deco spirit alive, restoring the water areas in the form of two rebuilt pools. One interior, 33 meters, the other outside 48 meters, both heated year round.   Other facilities include gym, 1,700 m² Spa by Clarins and poolside beach, open in summer. Cherry on the gateau is the 5-star, 104-room Hotel MGallery by Accor with penthouse overlooking the city. The roof-top bar and gourmet restaurant are designed with in-put from Yannick Alleno.   2 avenue de la Porte Molitor, 16th M : Michelange Molitor/Porte d’Auteuil T : 01 56 07 08 50 104 Rooms & Suites from 215€ Website