Luxembourg CityOct 4, 2010
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View from the Sofitel into Luxembourg City
Luxembourg City
Casement surrounding Lux City
| Marilyn's Musings We just finished with three days in Luxembourg City in a lovely Sofitel where weekend rates were wonderful which was a good thing given I spent the three days in the room. Getting sick is no fun -- getting sick in a foreign and is even less. But I think I've rejoined the land of the living again and we should be more regular with our entries now. And they might even have interesting pictures! Bob continues to narrate. . . Bob's Bits I will be writing the notes on Luxembourg City as M has been laid low with a head cold, that has slipped into bronchitis and required the calling of a doctor on a Sunday for help. Needless to say M has not done much except cough and use up several boxes of Kleenex. I have not done a lot either, but will share a few thoughts and food notes on the last three days. The rain, fog combination has been relentless Friday and Saturday which kept me from walking around the neighborhood. I ate alone on Friday and again on Sunday. M tried breakfast on Sunday, but nothing had any taste. The Sofitel staff contacted a doctor who made a house call and gave me a list of prescription items to put M on the mend. A long walk to open on Sunday pharmacy was very pleasant as the weather had finally turned to sunshine. The temperature was a balmy 70. Dining Alone: it sucks. Dining alone brought back memories of my time as a traveler in the world of business and all the reasons I never liked dining alone. Reading is a solitary pursuit so I read while M tried to sleep and get healthy. On Friday, I had a great view of the fog as I sat and read in the Sofitel’s Mango Lounge with a glass of 09 Lagrein Rosado Alois Lageder in my hand. The book was The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva on the iPad -- good read. (My turn to hype a book!) Friday’s dinner was at Sofitel Roof Top Restaurant -- very modern, stylish, trendily clad servers (ascots ??), and good food. The amuse bouche was fennel cream cheese on top of fish glacé in a shooter glass; I drank 09 Luxembourg Pinot Gris from Mathias Bastian. My main course was lamb with a turmeric sauce, three slices of carrot, and a dab of,chickpea mash. It was all arranged artistically on a stark white square plate, but it was a pretty scimpy portion for the price. With it I drank a 07 Languedoc red, special offer by the glass for 10€. It was a nice blend of several grape varieties. Not wanting to waste the second glass I ordered the Frommage cart. The waiter served me 2 different chevres, a triple creme brie, a soft cheese, an unknown yellow, along with figs and walnuts. Saturday night’s dinner was another story as I walked the streets looking in at the tavernes and restaurants in search of a local joint. Boy did I find one. -- La Fontaine a some what seedy (but it was out of the rain!) place to try the local cuisine. My meal consisted of --two verre (glasses) of Luxembourg Rivaner. --Luxembourgish salad (this was the English translation menu) - fried potato disks, hard boiled egg, fried diced bacon, cucumber, fried onions and lettuce. The dressing was a splash of ranch without the herbs. Once back at the room I took Zantac to keep it down. Sunday night the Sofitel Top Floor dining room is closed to the public. The room service menu is available for guests with table service in a corner room on the 8th floor. This was fine for me as all I wanted was a steak frites dinner. 09 Pinot Gris Mathias Bastian was again a nice aperitif. The steak was a small filet mignon (8 oz) cooked to a very nice pink inside. A bowl of frites and a bowl of salad completed my meal. My wine was an 06 Crozes Hermitage Guigal served by the glass for 13€. This was the most expensive steak frites I have ever had in Europe, but for tonight it was what I wanted. Beside Marilyn told me that I was eating for two these days! |
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