Versailles and on to Paris

Here we are in Versailles. We looked for two restaurants recommended by PW. One seemed to have disappeared and the other Jim pronounced a dump. We ate at a delightful place called Au chapeau Gris near the palace. It was established in 1874 as a place where drivers could get a drink while the horses were re-shod. The story is that many a man forgot his hat after an afternoon of drinking. I had as a starter game and mushroom pate. This was accompanied with a wonderful raspberry onion jelly. Jim had melon and ham. The ham was close to our Smithfield hams, very salty. Jim chose a Chateau Pineraie Chahor 2005 for our meal. Jim had duck leg and thigh with a corn potato pancake. I had veal kidney with pasta. The pasta was divine and the kidney was properly soaked and prepared.
Next we visited the Palace. It has been very much restored since our first visit in the 1970’s. After checking in and returning the car the concierge at the hotel directed us to a street of lively cafes. We chose the Café de Paris. We shared mussels for an appetizer. Jim had steak and frites and I had duck pate lasagna. It was very unusual. It was tons of ground meat wrapped in one large noodle. It had a sweet sauce and white raisins. We shared Profiteroles’ for dessert. Great end to a first day in Paris. Walking back to the hotel, we found a street filled with kitchen design stores. See Jim’s duck below.
We are still in IN, with all the reunion events ended. Sunday Jim played golf with his brothers and then last night my brother made the ribs I reported on from the Wegman’s cooking magazine.

Jim enjoying his duck and wine at Au Chapeau Gris