The Great Parisian Plate Debate

3, Place Alma, 75008
Tel. 01.47.20.70.27

Grand Corona was the first stop on the last day of the challenge. After the ridiculous excesses of Saturday night, let’s just say that I was a bit slow that morning. While Christian had been surreptitiously drinking wine at O’Brien’s, I was lying on my couch feeling sorry for myself.

We met at Grand Corona around 6 and began what was quite possibly the hardest bottle of wine I’ve ever drank. We were both in such a sorry state that for the first hour I think we spent more time calling everyone we knew than drinking as we tried to convince them to come help us for the last three bottles.

So for obvious reasons, Grand Corona does not bring back too many fond memories for me. Overlooking Pont D’Alma, it was a bit touristy and with the exception of the odd statue and vaguely Indian themes inside, it didn’t stand out too much from the other cafés on the same strip.

As we summarily failed to get help with that first bottle, in our minds it was less a bar to be enjoyed, and more one to be hurdled, all the while hoping that the sudden movement (or the alcohol) wouldn’t be accompanied by yet another wave of nausea.

This was a proving ground. Our dedication to The Challenge was in question, yet we bravely ignored our livers pleas and soldiered through. This my friends, is stuff of legends.