My priorities when travelling are a little skewed. I book flights, then restaurants and months later, panic and book some accommodation. I have a comprehensive list of must-visit restaurants and normally miss half due to crippling indecision. There's one I never miss when in Paris: Les Ambassadeurs at Hotel de Crillon.
The first time I visited, it was my very first Michelin-starred restaurant. Not that that means much for the average Australian: the guide hasn't rated anything here yet and, given the tyranny of distance, is unlikely to do so any time soon. Regardless, this was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. An innocent three course set lunch descended into approximately 12 courses of creative, delicious, playful food. Even a rule-breaking dish of fish with rice and cheese was comforting and satisfying, but didn't feel out of place in the flow of courses. I suspect the platter of petite fours was intended for a table of four diners: I polished them off with little trouble (close your eyes and picture a young woman ramming a macaron into an already-full mouth and you'll be pretty close to the live-action picture). Like I said, amazing.
