You couldn’t get more romantic than this: the Eiffel Tower in the snow on a sunny December afternoon.Then, you walk across the Pont de l’Iena bridge to the right bank and catch the #72 bus west a few stops to Versailles–Exelmans, just across from 137 Avenue de Versailles, the Tierny & Co restaurant, a cozy almost provençal place with one of the most interesting “ardoise” I’ve ever seen. Natalie Tierny, the owner along with her chef husband Philippe, speaks English, if that’s helpful. he will hold up the chalkboard and explain what a “Piece du Boucher de l’Aubrac” is or the “Margates au pastis,” two of several exotic but classic French offerings. Richard and I had heard about the food and one “romantic” afternoon took ourselves there with a friend of mine, Ron. For 19 euros we could have a “plat” with a glass of wine and some coffee, the lunch special. But it was the Christmas season, so we went for the 25 euro entrée and plat: Richard started with butternut squash soup with coconut milk, to die for; I had the fabulous house foie gras with a perfect Pinot Gris wine (I’d asked for a Macon Village but Natalie came back and said: “You know, a Pinot Gris would be perfect with the foie gras.” And she was absolutely right). Ron chose a seafood tiramisu of crab and avocado, as beautiful as the snowy Eiffel Tower itself. For our main dish, Richard was tempted by the Beef Bourguignon and was not disappointed, and I had the white emperor fish with a sauce of peanut butter mango and coconut milk. It came with an astonishing violet potato puree, those “vitelotte” potatoes grown in Brittany. Oh, my! Beautiful and delicious. The sauce was divine, although the piece of fish was large. I could have done with half of it. Ron had the white truffle ravioli. What an amazing variation on this usual Italian dish.

137 Avenue de Versailles, 01.46.47.72.00, Metros: Chardon-Lagache or Eglise d’Auteuil, Bus: #72 Versaille –Exelmans (the bus leaves you closer to the restaurant than the metro)
>more