Pair up to Dine at Piaf
The moment I walked into the Grand Velas’ Pairing Restaurant, I recognized how modern and chic it was. Right away I saw a huge glass piece of marble hanging from the ceiling; it was beautiful! This was the ideal backdrop for a great evening meal. We were seated at a crisp white table, and I loved that we were seated next to each other because it added more intimacy to our meal.
This restaurant features an incredible pairing menu, which we were to find out included 13 courses! Each course is quite small, so you are able to fully enjoy everything on the menu. Another great element to the pairing menu was that each course was accompanied with a specific choice of wine or champagne. This did cost an extra $55 per person, but I thought it was so worth it because it elevated the overall quality of each dish. If you prefer, you can bypass this option and you will get the house wine for the entire meal.
First up on the menu was a sorbet, which cleansed our palates and prepared us for the delicious food coming our way. Next up was a gin and tonic foam, which was an experience in engaging with food and the senses. After that we tried a green ball olive, which we ate with our hands rather than with utensils. The following course was an exquisite mushroom quesadilla, and after that was ahi with green sauce.
The restaurant also gave us a taste of other cultures as well. For instance, our next course was snails, followed by squid and brown pudding. I just need to say that the presentation of the food was amazing. After all, we eat with our eyes first! Next up was a yummy rockfish plate, and then fig berries and peanut butter for something sweet. We also had duck, and I must say that this was one of the best restaurants I’ve been to in my life. Both the food and the overall dining experience were unforgettable and highly recommended. I also suggest trying new things and savoring new flavors. It really expands your palate and even if you don't particularly like something, you can still say that it was a new flavor that you had never experienced before!
One more thing I need to point out is that the waiters served our wine from huge glass vases. We were told that they cost $600 each! All in all, we spent over 2 hours enjoying our food and the spectacular ambiance.
Have you ever gone to a mind-blowing restaurant? What was it and where? What did you eat? Let me know in the comments below!