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The Best Croissant I Ever Ate

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No vacation in Paris is complete without indulging in a few buttery French croissants, and why not eat the best of the best while we’re here? 🙂

To find the best croissants in Paris, we looked to the annual Fete du Pain, aka the Festival of Bread – a week-long celebration of the city’s most accomplished bakers and their creations. One of the most anticipated events each year is the awards ceremony and recognition for Best Baguette and Best Butter Croissant in Paris, and last year’s croissant winner was Benjamin Turquier of the acclaimed 134 Rdt, who also happened to win second place in 2013.

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Review: Du Pain et des Idées

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When it comes to pastries and all things baked in butter and sugar, no better city in the world does it better than Paris. As many soon discover when they arrive, Paris is a true carb-heaven with its hundreds of boulangeries and patisseries decorating each street corner. From croissants to macarons to baguettes, the array of baked goods is truly endless. But if there’s one bakery that’s on virtually everyone’s list, it has to be Du Pain et des Idées, an award-winning boulangerie located in the heart of Paris.

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Review: David Toutain

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David Toutain was our first fine dining stop in Paris, and it also happened to be one of our favorites. When we were doing our research on where to eat in one of the best food cities in the world, we noticed that the name David Toutain kept appearing over and over again. After digging a bit deeper, we knew we just had to eat here.

With one Michelin star already, Chef Toutain is reputed for his modern French cuisine with a slight Asian twist. The restaurant offers two options nightly: a 5-course Menu Carte Blanche (“blank slate” tasting menu) for 80 euros or a longer 8-course one for 110 euros. Note that there are also many complimentary amuse bouches throughout the meal, so for the quality and quantity of food we were served, we thought it was one of the best deals in the city. 

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Review: All Senses Gastronomy

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Have you ever experienced a multi-projection movie? What about a 24-course meal? How about both at the same time…? 

When we were booking accommodations for our Greece leg, we were only planning to stay in Athens for one night, which made me think, How could we try as much delicious Greek food as possible in one dinner? When I came across All Senses Gastronomy on TripAdvisor, I was intrigued by the concept of the place: a creative dining experience that seeks to stimulate all five senses while paying homage to classical Greek food. It was a perfect match.

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Review: L’Arcangelo

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Ahhh, gnocchi – one of my favorite things to eat. Nothing beats light, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth gnocchi, and where else to get better ones than in Rome?

If you’ve set your heart on trying the gnocchi here, however, make your reservation for a Thursday, when gnocchi is a special on the menu at many restaurants throughout the city. Otherwise, you won’t find it on many regular menus, and the restaurant you visit might not be able to offer it at all. Thursdays are known as Gnocchi Giovedi (Thursday) in Italy, similar to Taco Tuesday, except restaurants actually enforce this by usually only offering gnocchi on this day of the week. And if you’re looking for the best gnocchi in Rome, look no further than L’Arcangelo, a popular and famous traditional ristorante located a few blocks away from Piazza Cavour and Castel Sant’Angelo. While I do confess that their menu isn’t perfect, if you know what to order here, you’re guaranteed to have one of the best meals in Rome. 

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