Alpaca Likes it Shaken, Not Stirred, In the Principality of Monaco

The 370 acres of Monaco (http://www.visitmonaco.com/) are just right for the dashing Alpaca. Everything in Monaco is surrounded by beautiful gardens that the principality maintains, despite the absence of an income tax. The state raises funds by the substantial sales tax (nearly 20% on all goods, including food and hotel) and from proceeds from the Casino in Monte Carlo (http://www.casinomontecarlo.com/en/). In fine Alpaca 007 form, he waltzed into the casino... and didn't gamble at all. Not his thing.

Instead, Alpaca decided to check out the fabulous Hotel de Paris (http://www.monte-carlo.mc/lodging-monaco/sbm/index.php?hotel=hotel-paris&lang=en), located directly across from the Casino. The Hotel de Paris is where Michelin three-star chef Alain Ducasse operates a restaurant. Sadly, it was closed so we couldn't make a reservation (although I'm not sure we could have afforded to dine there anyway), so we went instead to the famous Cafe de Paris (http://www.visitmonaco.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageID=190). Everything was delicious, from the appetizers (garlic tortellini) and entrées (mushroom ravioli, herb ravioli and steak) to the fabulously good crème brulee trio (coffee, chocolate and vanilla) and the exceptional fruit tarts.

Prices at the Cafe de Paris were a bit steep by our standards, but the fare and service were both very good and, given the options in Monaco, it was very reasonably priced. Also, we expected that it would be pricey, so when it wasn't as high as we expected, we were very pleased. An annoying woman (actually a Venice-based tour guide for Abercrombie & Kent) we'd met on the train told us that she and a friend went to the Cafe de Paris and paid $70 per person for tea and a few finger sandwiches, which made us think twice before going there for dinner. However, Alpaca decided that they probably charged her the ugly tax, which we thankfully did not have to pay.

The Traveling Alpaca highly and enthusiastically recommends the Cafe de Paris to anyone traveling to Monaco.