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December 27, 2019

Romantic Day Date in DC

In front of Le Diplomate

French Inspired Romantic Day Date with Le Chef in Washington, DC

After the birth of our daughter, a romantic day date in DC has become our favorite way to reconnect.  Around the holidays, we love going downtown in DC. With all the decorations and the chic French shops – add in a stop at Le Diplomate and it is like visiting Paris at Christmastime…well, almost 😉 This romantic day date has become our Christmas gift to each other for 3 years in a row now – it brings us more pleasure than gifts under the tree!

1st Stop : Le Diplomate DC

Holiday Bustle at Le Diplomate

Reservations open 30 days in advance on Open Table so I always try to book our holiday meal as far in advance as possible as tables fill up quickly. I was a little late this year and was only able to get us a 10 :45am reservation – pas de problème!

The festive decor, the hum of holiday merry making, the waiters moving quickly in long white aprons and black ties – the rapid thump of baguettes being sliced as you enter – all of these are reasons why we love Le Diplomate, especially during the holidays. The buzz in the restaurant is contagious -it is the closest thing I have found to a busy Parisian Bistro on this side of the Atlantic.

Le Menu :

Petit Plateau de Fruits de Mer

For our holiday date we always order the same thing. There are lots of great dishes on the menu (including Le Burger!) but this is not what we come for. This is our special gift to ourselves and nothing feels more French during the holidays than Champagne and Seafood. The crisp champagne, the saltiness of the oysters…very quickly I am transported back to the South of France and to Café de Turin, in Nice where Le Chef and I used to spend hours lingering over fresh seafood towers in those indulgent pre-kid years.

First : Le Champagne

We order a bottle and request that it be placed on ice – we will be here for a few hours. Santé mon amour!

Mousse de Foie Gras Le Diplomate
La Mousse de Foie Gras

Second : La Mousse de Foie Gras

Le Diplomate does a great job with their Mousse de Foie Gras. Light and fluffy, it is served with toasted brioche and blackberry jam. We also love spreading the Foie Gras on the crunchy baguettes that are served with the meal. (we ALWAYS ask for seconds on the bread basket )

Third : Le Petit Plateau 

Petit Plateau Le Diplomate
Le Petit Plateau

A generous seafood platter – Le Petit Plateau is more than enough for Le Chef and I as a meal. Served on Ice on a stand in the middle of the table – this is such a great date food. Le Chef cracks the crab legs for me. I dip a chilled shrimp in cocktail sauce and pass it to him. We sip champagne, discuss the merits of the different tartares or assortment of oysters and allow ourselves a moment to feel like a young, carefree couple in France again. Très Romantique!

Lastly : La Gourmandise 

L’île Flottante. Even after a copious meal, we can find room for an Île Flottante. Essentially whipped egg whites floating in a sea of English Cream topped with a drizzle of caramel sauce. So good and refreshing and also very difficult to find in the US, so we always indulge. We saunter out of the restaurant into the chill of winter feeling refreshed and in need of a brisk walk so we are off to the next stop on our French Inspired Day Date: City Center DC.

City Center DC Holiday Decorations
City Center DC Holiday Decorations

Next Stop: City Center DC 

Sky Valet Shoes at City Center DC (they also do shoe repair too!)
Champagne and Macarons at Longchamp

The closest you can get to shopping in France while in DC. All of our favorite boutiques are here! Longchamp, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Christofle or Sky Valet for my husband’s shoes. Each store is decorated so beautifully for the holidays, even window shopping feels decadent. The sky high outdoor Christmas tree as well as the hanging sculptures and lights that decorate the main pedestrian street make City Center DC feel absolutely magical during the holidays.

My personal favorite store is Longchamp. We always pick up a few treasures here. Carole, the Store Manager, greets us with a smile and a tray of Macarons. Longchamp has become one of my favorite brands. Chic and feminine but with a decidedly Parisian edge and more reasonably priced than other French luxury brands, I keep my Longchamp pieces for years and wear them over and over again. I still wear the belt my husband bought me nearly 15 years ago and the black chain shoulder bag in the photo is a wardrobe staple from last Christmas. My new love affair is with their shoes – the black loafers Le Chef bought for me last Christmas are my favorite shoes to wear to work – so comfortable but chic too! 

Iconic Sac Pliage

P.S. There are always great sales in December (-50% off on some pieces!), making investment pieces actually within reach.

Do you enjoy Day Dates? What is your idea of a romantic day date in DC or where you live?

Do you have a ritual during the holidays that you enjoy with your significant other? I would love to know how you reconnect during the holidays.

Au plaisir,

Filed Under: Family, Lifestyle, Uncategorized Tagged With: City Center DC, Date ideas, DC, francophile, French lifestyle, french restaurant, le diplomate, romance, washington

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Le Chef's Wife

Bonjour! My name is Anina Belle. I am a Canadian/American working mom who went on a study exchange to the South of France in my early twenties and fell in love with a French Chef. We were married in Nice and now live in Washington, DC with our toddler daughter with another baby on the way! Our time in France gave me a deep appreciation for French food and the French joie de vivre. Read More

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lechefswife

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« Pocher » as in « Asperges vertes pochées, « Pocher » as in « Asperges vertes pochées, accompagnées d’une petite vinaigrette au Champagne et citron » or « poached asparagus with a Champagne Citrus Vinaigrette »that I will be cooking for Saturday’s cooking demonstration with @afwashington_dc . There is still time to register (link in bio), participation is only $5 and all proceeds go to Alliance Française. Who is joining me? #cookingdemonstration #cookingclass #frenchcooking #frenchwords
A question for all you Mamas - at what age did you A question for all you Mamas - at what age did you move your babies to their own rooms? Our pediatrician suggested 9 months old, but I would give anything for a full night’s sleep at this point... #4monthsleepregression #stillregressing #motherhood #sotired
Super simple recipe for oven baked Branzino with s Super simple recipe for oven baked Branzino with sauce Vierge is now up on le blog (link in bio). 25 minutes total for a delicious, light meal with flavors of the French Riviera 🇫🇷💙🍋. Bon Appétit mes amis. #branzino #loupdemer #ovenbaked #mediterraneandiet #frenchriviera
The Poached Asparagus with a Champagne Citrus Vina The Poached Asparagus with a Champagne Citrus Vinaigrette recipe @lechefsebastien and I created for @edible_dc last year is up on the blog. If you are joining us for the cooking demonstration with @afwashington_dc , we will be opening with this dish! I am so in love with these photos by the talented @thejenchase 💙 Link in bio #springrecipes #asparagus #frenchcooking #foodiefriday #francophile
Want to learn to cook this menu? I am hosting a vi Want to learn to cook this menu? I am hosting a virtual French Riviera Spring themed cooking demonstration, Saturday April 17th, 3pm. Registration is $5, all benefits go to @afwashington_dc . Reservation link is in their bio. @lechefsebastien will, very gratefully, be lending me a hand. ❤️Who is ready for a taste of the South of France ? 🇫🇷 🍋 🥖 🥂 #cookingclass #frenchriviera #frenchcooking #cookinginfrench #francophile #frenchfood
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