The Ile de France is a historic region of France that encompasses Paris, Versailles, Fontainebleau, Saint-Denis, Marne-la-Vallée and Disneyland Paris. The fertile grounds and flat, limestone plains are surrounded by the Seine River and its tributaries; the Marne and Oise rivers. Most of this area has been paved and industrialized around location Paris, but further-out suburbs grow wheat, barley, corn, sugar beets and dairy cattle. Fontainebleau and Compiegne house tall forests and parks as well. When most people visit France, they spend some time in this economically important region.
The Ile de France is world renowned for having some of the best food in the world. To partake in local cuisine, visitors should order bouchées à la reine, navarin of lamb, potage St. Germain, beef mironton, tête de veau vinaigrette, pot-au-feu, fricassee of rabbit, or French onion soup. Paris is also famous for its locally grown mushrooms, asparagus and beans, as well as fruits like Groslay pears, Faro apples, and Montmorency cherries. Cheese is a popular food produced locally, with the most popular varieties consisting of brie de Coulommiers, brie de Meaux, brie de Melun and brie de Montereau. To go with that cheese, red wines from Argenteuil and Butte Montmartre should be sampled. People with a sweet tooth can try: the Paris-Brest, the Saint Honoré, Parisian king cake, chouquettes, Nanterre brioche, Parisian brioche, the Bourdaloue tart, the Moka, puits d’amour, the Opera, mille feuilles, the savarin, and Parisian flan. Guests staying in Paris Hotels often eat like kings!
In the Travel Smart newsletter, Elizabeth Cawdry Thomas recommends bistros to Paris travelers looking for local Ile de France specialties. At Les Caves Solignac (9 rue Decrès), visitors will sit at one of six intimate tables in a 1930s styled eatery and sample dishes like sautéed rabbit kidneys on frisee salad or duck confit with Sarlat potatoes. Two course lunches run around $23.40, while two course dinners are around $35. Chez Maître Paul (12, rue Monsieurle-Prince) is adorned with mirrors, exposed stone and fresh-cut flowers; here, guests are advised to try creamy cheese sauce chicken and fresh vegetables for $37.70. Au Trou Gascon (40, rue Taine) is decorated with cream pillars, linen walls and Victorian antiques; guests should try the Gâteau de Cèpes, cassoulet and confit, where three course lunches run around $52 or $78 for an a-la-carte dinner. Lastly, La Truffière (4, rue Blainville), set in a 17th-century chateau, will serve up salmon, slow-cooked lamb and cod with mushrooms for $24.70 (lunch), $71.50 (prix fixe) or $93.60 (a-la-carte).
The most popular destination in Ile de France is obviously Paris, with the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe and countless other wonders. Yet, this region also encompasses the castle of Versailles, the Chantilly horse racetrack, the Marne guiguettes, medieval Provins, the rocky Roche-Guyon valley and the Seine River. There is much to this region of France, so travelers are advised to ask their travel agents about other activities outside of Paris or visit the website www.new-paris-il-de-france.co.uk.
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