| There are numerous different types of restaurants in | | | | 1800's. This is where you would usually be served |
| Paris and places that you could choose to eat out at, | | | | aperitifs, yet the restaurant dining room is actually |
| and many of the restaurants have lots of history and | | | | positioned on the sixth floor, which was added in |
| nostalgia, so we thought it would be an idea to focus | | | | 1936, and is accessed via a lift. |
| on one in particular, called the Tour d'Argent. | | | | |
| | | | | And because of its location with the fabulous views |
| This is actually the oldest restaurant in Paris and is | | | | of Notre Dame Cathedral and the boats cruising the |
| known throughout the world for its traditional French | | | | River Seine or looking at the shimmering lights of the |
| cuisine and was first opened as an inn back in 1582, | | | | city and the Eiffel Tower in the distance of an |
| with the idea of catering for the aristocrats of the | | | | evening, becomes another reason why this Paris |
| time. | | | | restaurant is so popular. |
| | | | | |
| By the early 1600's it had become so popular that | | | | Obviously, because this haute cuisine restaurant plays |
| even duels were fought to get a table and savour | | | | host to celebrities, presidents, royalty, etc |
| the delicacies on offer! Numerous dignitaries and | | | | reservations are a must and you will need a healthy |
| royalty came to eat at the Tour d'Argent including | | | | bank balance in which to thoroughly appreciate the |
| King Louis XIV and the Duke of Morny, who resided | | | | gourmet dining experience along with their fabulous |
| at the mansion which is now home to the haute | | | | selection of fine wines, which brings us to another |
| cuisine restaurant called the Taillevent. | | | | reason for its popularity. |
| | | | | |
| But it was in the 19th century that the Tour d'Argent | | | | Their incredible wine cellars hold around 400,000 |
| became even more famous when the owner, | | | | bottles from fine vintages dating back to the 1800's, |
| Frederic Delair created the ritual of the "Canard au | | | | rare brandies and even more rare champagnes that |
| Sang", which is a complex dish known as pressed | | | | date from the 1700's and the wine list itself is like |
| duck or bloody duck that uses a special solid silver | | | | reading a novel presented with its own stand! The |
| press and it was shortly after devising this now | | | | sommeliers are very knowledgeable and can |
| famous recipe, he declared that every duck should | | | | recommend wines to pair excellently with your |
| bear a number. For instance, number 328 was | | | | cuisine, yet prices can become quite high, with some |
| served to King Edward VII in 1890. | | | | vintage wines costing thousands of Euros!! Yet if |
| | | | | you are lucky enough, you may even be able to get |
| Andre Terrail purchased the Tour d'Argent in 1910, | | | | a tour of the wine cellars before leaving, where a |
| but the tradition of the numbered duck continued and | | | | member of staff will escort you down underneath |
| duck number 40,312 was served to King Alfonso XIII | | | | the restaurant and ceremoniously rings a copper bell |
| in 1914. Number 112,151 was served to Franklin D. | | | | to announce your arrival prior to entry into the cellars. |
| Roosevelt in 1929 and duck number 938,451 was | | | | |
| served to President Mikhail Gorbachev in 2001. | | | | For many, to dine at this restaurant is a once in a life |
| | | | | time experience, where you make sure you are in |
| The Tour d'Argent celebrated its one millionth duck in | | | | your best evening dress and the staff are dressed in |
| 2003 and even today this tradition still continues | | | | tails. In fact, this is such a traditional restaurant that |
| where you are presented with a card showing what | | | | even today the menu is presented to the lady |
| number duck you had for your meal, but this is just | | | | without the costs and the gentleman has the pricing |
| one of the reasons why this restaurant has become | | | | listed! |
| such a landmark and famous throughout the world. | | | | |
| | | | | But booking a table for lunch is more reasonable than |
| Now when you enter the Tour d'Argent you will | | | | going all out on an evening meal, so if you are on a |
| immediately see displays in their small museum of | | | | budget, yet still want to splash out, then this is the |
| items such as a menu from the maiden voyage of | | | | option for a wonderful gastronomic experience and a |
| the Normandie through to a table set as it was in the | | | | terrific view you will not forget. |