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When Nikki and I first booked our trip to Reims in the Champagne region of France our imaginations instantly began to conjure images of a huge chateau set in rolling hills basking in sunshine whilst the two of us sat out with a glass of champagne and some fine French cuisine.
We took the TGV (Train a Grande Vitesse, meaning high speed train) from Paris to Reims and as we pulled in to Reims station it looked a lot more built up than we had both imagined. Our hotel was a 5 minute walk from the station and as we crossed the road from the station to head towards our hotel our image of Reims was shattered. Our hotel was just off of the main street and along that street it was lined with a number of bars, clubs and restaurants. Outside one of the bars was a man dressed as a condom on his stag night, in fact outside almost all of the bars were groups of people absolutely smashed, this was not the image of tranquillity we had imagined, it was the exact opposite.
We had a table booked at Table De Anna with a three course
meal, each course to be accompanied by a different type of champagne. After a quick check in, shower and change of clothing we made our way to the restaurant, when we arrived the restaurant from the outside looked like what you’d expect a take away restaurant in a small town back in England to look like. We sat down and looked at the menu, I wasn’t holding out much hope that the food here was going to be anything other than moderately ok but how wrong could I be.
My starter of duck terrine complimented by a glass of Patrice Aubert champagne was very good and the presentation was amazing. I had beef for my main accompanied by a glass of Duval Leroy champagne, when the beef was bought out everyone in the restaurant looked over at me as it was served hanging on a skewer from a rather artistic looking piece of metal attached to my plate. After I manoeuvred the metal so that it didn’t take my eye out I tucked in, the beef was amazing! Nikki had the duck for main with a number of side dishes including stewed pear, we’re not usually the type of
people that enjoy sweet and savoury things together but I’ve got to admit after trying it I’d definitely have it again.
Finally the best bit, I had chocolate rolls with a glass of Prestige Des Sacres champagne whilst Nikki has a selection dessert consisting of apple crumble, fruit trifle, and a few others I can’t remember (I blame the alcohol). The bubbles had filled Nikki up so I had to eat her dessert, it was a hard job but somebody had to do it lol. The saying ‘never judge a book by its cover’ could not have been more true when it comes to this restaurant. Our meal, the service and of course the drinks, were all exceptional.
Unfortunately our first night we didn’t get much sleep as the clubs close at 2am and a group of people in the room above us woke us up at 2:10 having a party, when I spoke to reception about it in the morning they just shrugged their shoulders and said “well, it was Saturday night!”.
We spent a day walking around Reims and once you get away from the main street it is actually a very beautiful place with
quite a lot of very historical buildings. We visited Notre Dame Cathedral, our second one this trip and then just took glancing visits to the Palace of Tau, a former palace of the archbishops of Reims. Hotel La Vergeur, a Renaissance style townhouse from 13th-16th centuries and Mars Gate, the only remaining monumental gate built in the first part of the 3rd century which gave access to the Roman city of Durocortorum.
For us Reims was not what we had hoped for but for some it would be ideal, restaurants, bars and clubs all concentrated in one area and all walking distance to most of the historical sights and a few small champagne houses. Although it was not what we expected or wanted I suppose you might say 'one man's trash is another man's treasure' but it certainly wasn't our treasure lol.
You may be wondering why I have not wrote about all of the lovely champagne houses we visited, well that is to come in our next blog about Epernay.
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Evaa Gonzalez
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Awoseme place to visit
The pics you just displayed are really awesome feel like traveling there right now too bad money doesnt grow on trees :P