A Grand Finale to our Week…Dinner at Le Train Bleu
Bonjour mes amis,
Inevitabley, we are tourists, mais oui? And we still enjoy what some locals might find rather gauche. Our attitude is to embrace what is fun and enjoyable regardless of how it might rate on the Parisian sophistication scale. Dinner at Le Train Bleu is an example and was our way to create a memorable final night for our visitors, Brooke and Kayla.
They attended a cooking school class from 9am until 4pm yesterday which worked out really well since it rained hard during that entire time. We met them in our neighborhood at 7:30 for our grand finale. They have mastered the Mètro perfectly and were right on time. The sun came out and the skies cleared as if to give them a few glorious hours before saying goodbye.
I have copied some great information here from Le Train Bleu website:
“A LEGENDARY PLACE IN PARIS : FROM 1900 TO THE PRESENT
Paris was about to receive a major new Universal Exhibition in 1900. After the Saint-Lazare train station in 1889, it was the turn of the Gare de Lyon to take the appearance of a palace, and in particular to magnify the new PLM Company (Paris Lyon Marseille) terminal, which operated lines of the Southeast network at the end of the 19th century. The project was entrusted to the architect Marius Toudoire, who built the 64 meters belfry (the Clock-Tower) and the monumental façade of the station.
The Management of the railway company wanted to build a prestigious buffet, symbol of travel, of technical innovation, of comfort and luxury. The project was given to the same architect, who built the buffet in the building at the centre of the station.
The station’s buffet was unveiled in 1901 by the President of the Republic Emile Loubet.
In 1963, Albert Chazal renamed the buffet as « Le Train Bleu » (the Blue Train), honouring the legendary « Paris-Vintimille », legendary train with as its destination the Côte d’Azur.
ANECDOTES
Coco Chanel, Brigitte Bardot, Jean Cocteau, Colette, Jean Gabin, Marcel Pagnol and many other famous people were regulars of the Train Bleu, while several movie scenes were filmed there: « Nikita » by Luc Besson, « Place Vendôme » by Nicole Garcia, « Les vacances de Mr Bean » by Steve Bendelack as well as « Filles Uniques » by Pierre Jolivet.
HISTORICAL MONUMENT AND DECORATION
Gildings, carvings, mouldings, chandeliers and frescoes cover all the walls of the restaurant, giving it the appearance of a museum of the 1900s. Twenty seven French artists, some awarded with the Prix de Rome, have worked on this unparalleled decor.
The 41 paintings mounted on canvas were painted by the most prominent artists of the time: François Flameng, Henri Gervex, Gaston Casimir Saint-Pierre, René Billotte, etc. They illustrate views of the main cities and sceneries viewed from the PLM Company trains during the 20th century: Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Orange, Villefranche, Monaco, Nice, Saint-Honorat, the Mont-Blanc massif, etc.
Along with these bright reminders of the railway sceneries are several portraits, some of the PLM Company’s employees, such as Gustave Noblemaire (General Director), and key figures like Sarah Bernhardt, Réjane or Edmond Rostand.
To preserve this rich heritage, a privileged witness of the Paris of the 1900s, the Train Bleu was classified as Historic Monument in 1972 by Jacques Duhamel.
Le Train Bleu was recently renovated (summer 2014): resuming to its former glory.”
Hope you enjoy these photos, and we wish Brooke & Kayla a safe journey home with many wonderful memories in their suitcases!
Bernie and Kayla had the lamb sliced at the table with WONDERFUL potatoes, and Brooke had a beef filet prepared in flambé style table side. Here’s a video which I’ve never tried to post so hope it works.IMG_0679
Happy Sunday and Happy Fourth Weekend,
L & B
P.S. The “Purely Paris” photo of the day is a typical scene of a man with his dogs sitting at an outside café.
July 2, 2017 @ 7:47 am
Fab photo of the four of you! le Train Bleu may appeal to tourists, but we know plenty of Parisians who consider it a treat for history, architecture and atmosphere 🙂 Love seeing the various fois gras photos.
Safe travels home for your visitors and bon dimanche to you and Bernie!
July 2, 2017 @ 8:18 am
Glad to get your perspective. Maybe we’re not too gauche after all! My favorite reason for dining there is that the immensity of the place affords a quiet dinner where everyone can carry on a conversation with ease. In these tiny restaurants/bistros, brasseries, etc. the noise level is prohibitive to conversation so much of the time.
July 2, 2017 @ 7:55 am
Kudos for sharing the video along with sharing your wonderful evening! I love living vicariously through your post each day. Thank you both for inspiring us all!
July 2, 2017 @ 8:16 am
Merci!
July 2, 2017 @ 11:40 am
LOOKS WONDERFUL…ENJOY
July 2, 2017 @ 12:59 pm
Wow!! What amazing memories were made the last few days! Thank you Linda and Bernie for giving of your time and sharing your tips, advice, experiences and knowledge of Paris with Brooke and Kayla. Their trip was much more than they ever dreamed. And Clip said dinner at Le Train Bleu is enough reason for him to visit. (:
July 2, 2017 @ 1:25 pm
Le Train Bleu looks like a marvelous place to visit and dine. It is rich in history; serves artistically created menu items, and you can dine in gilded splendor. I’d put it on one of my must visits if we ever make it back to Paris.
July 2, 2017 @ 3:30 pm
I loved the purely paris photo.
July 2, 2017 @ 4:00 pm
Wonderful photos especially the one of the 4 of you. Love the gilded paintings and other reminders of the era of the “train”.
July 2, 2017 @ 6:22 pm
Thank you for reminding us of our visit to Le Train Bleu with you and Bernie. California has outlawed your entre. Jim