January 24, 2010

A 21 Cheese Salute!

C’est fini! We have finished our container! Our last day of shopping was fabulously successful. Look at this incredible zinc window with its original glass. This thing measures five feet high by four feet wide. It is a work of art!

Other finds of the day include…

A pair of 19th century painted Directoire bergeres

Two 19th century bronze repousse drapery valences

So to celebrate the day, we had dinner at the oldest auberge (inn) in France called La Couronne (The Crown). It dates to the year 1345 and is located across from the site where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in the city of Rouen in the year 1431. This is also the restaurant where Julia Child had her first lunch in France and where she fell in love with French cuisine. The chef’s gastronomical menu was exactly what we needed after almost three weeks of intense shopping!

We treated ourselves to a seven course, five hour dinner that included foie gras, lobster, duck, a platter of 21 cheeses, and a Grand Marnier soufflé. We were also given a private tour of La Couronne, including the kitchens, by Candice, the charming proprietress whose parents have owned the restaurant for the past twenty years. The dark wood and stone fireplaces speak of its long history, and the photos and autographs of famous writers, actors, politicians, and athletes who have eaten here line the walls in every room.