Okay, yes, I had to go back to tour the Chalet and to eat incredible food in the sweet little village of Fontainbleu. It is an easy train ride from the Gare de Lyon to Fontainbleu, then a short bus ride to the Chalet. Take comfy shoes as there is an enormous amount of cobblestones to contend with in order to enter the Chalet.
There are an incredible amount of personal items from Napoleon, including a silver camp tea service. Ooh, I want one! Napolean said, "Fontainbleu is the true palace of kings!" I have to agree. It is ever so more cozy than Versailles. I would be very happy to sleep in any of the beautifylly adorned beds. I especially loved Marie Antoinettes choice in hand embroidered wall paper for her salon.
If you leave the gardens by the side gate, you will come out in front of the carousel (very charming). Walk up one block and turn left past the fruit and vegetable market and stop in for lunch at Frederic Cassel. We ordered a pot of their Lapsang Souchong, Demann. Very smoky but not too to accompany lunch. It was served in a lovely Japanese bronze teapot. The tea room only seats 16 so come early. Every meal is started with a small shot glass full of egg salad made with horseradish, herbs and mayonaisse. Very lovely. We had a crab and avacado salad and very rustic bread. For an entree, we ordered the duch with green beans. The young beans were steamed in a leek leaf, very sweet and I must try this at home. Of course, we had to order dessert. I had the Baba in cognac with raspberry sauce and creme fresch and mummy had a chocolate mousse bomb covered in a lemon icing, black berry and white chocolate slivers. Beautiful and yummy!
As you leave, you must stop into the fromage shop, "De Fromage, Elles Se Regalent, De Fromage, Vous Bous Regalerez". This is the cheese shop to end all cheese shops. We tried the best in the house, a mild parmassian. We were so stuffed from lunch, that we brought it back and put it on a warm crepe in our hotel room. This accompanied by a bottle of Cote de Rhone was the perfect ending to a perfect day. Bon apetit!
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