Thursday, October 2, 2008

Glamorous dining - the French way,



Les Crayeres is a Relais and Chateau Hotel - Restaurant in the centre of Reims. As Reims is in the heart of the Champagne district in France it is a favoured stopping off point for travelers wanting to indulge in a little wine tasting.

Apart from the glorious idea of tasting champagne, the Chateau's restaurant is one of those slightly serious, old fashioned and glamourous rooms that make you feel like a real grown up. As it was my husband David's birthday earlier in September I thought it only right we indulge him - he deserves it.



The service was everything one would imagine in an establishment such as this, the champagne blissfully bubbly and the food, the food was sublime. But the thing I really fell in love with were the trolleys (I am sure there is a much more glamorous word to describe these quaint service tables - but I can't think of it right now... 'moving buffets', 'traymobiles'....I don't know). Anyway I thought they were adorable and somehow seemed so very French  - maybe the panelled room with the gilt wall sconces, the fireplace with elaborate clock and vases of roses at either end, the big oil painting above and the large mirrored doors were all part of the attraction. 


These 'trolleys' were wheeled around with a selection of champagnes for the aperitif, different varieties of bread for the savoury courses and then the final indulgence - the sweets and chocolates at the end of the meal, truly mouth watering temptations. Nougats, chocolates, marshmallows, tiny puddings, jellies......





Maybe it was the trolley's contents that I loved, not the trolleys after all... 

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