Air France is bringing a touch of royalty to its La Premiere lounge at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport’s terminal 2E through a new partnership with the Palace of Versailles that sees its menu and décor given new regal flair.
As part of the collaboration, the lounge’s chef Teddy Merienne has designed a new dish of turbot with Swiss chard. Typically served at the exclusive dinner parties held at the Ducasse restaurant at the Palace of Versailles, the dish can now be ordered at the La Premiere lounge during lunchtime.
For teatime, however, the lounge has taken inspiration from the last queen of France and former Palace of Versailles resident, Marie-Antoinette. Its teatime “Les Delices de Marie-Antoinette” set includes a selection of small treats including marble cake, chocolate chip brioche, and the signature dessert of the Ducasse restaurant, the Louis XIV. All are served with coffee or hot chocolate.
And it’s not just the food that’s getting the royal treatment. All dishes are served on tableware from the Ancient Royal Manufacture of Limoges, reproduced by Maison Bernardaud, that are also used at Ducasse at the Palace of Versailles. Guests are also able to look through “Cuisine de Roi a Versailles” cookbooks from chef Alain Ducasse, as well as co-publications provided by the Palace of Versailles.
Meanwhile, the lounge also now features boxed orange trees belonging to the Palace of Versailles botanical collection on display at the entrance to the vestibule, designed to evoke “the lush green ornamental patterns of French landscaped gardens”.
Originally designed by architect Didier Lefort, Air France’s lounge spans some 1,000sqm and also features a wine list selected by Alain Ducasse.
