I want to plan a celebratory meal for two with my partner, anywhere in the world, on a "meal of a lifetime" scale--a little difficult for two people both of whom travel like mad for business and have fairly lavish (but still financially justifiable) business meals. Do you have any recommendations for me? Assume that miles (UA or DL) and hotel points (Hyatt or Hilton) are no object, and that the budget can go up to at least 2000 USD.

My current inclination is to fly to Paris on UA or AF in F, stay at the Park Hyatt Vendome to recover from jet lag, and dine at Le Jules Verne in the Tour Eiffel. Do you have any other recommendations for me?

Pierre Gagnaire, Paris.

Fly to NRT, NGO or KIX, make your way to Kyoto one way or the other and try to schedule the whole in May ( outside of Golden Week ) or September. Hilton in Osaka or the new (re-branded ) Hyatt in Kyoto itself.

Let the hotel concierges make advance bookings in one of the top notch Kaiseki restaurants located in the mountains surrounding Kyoto. What you get is al fresco dining on tatami mats, first class Japanese haute cuisine, matching fine drinks, the sounds of a mountain stream flowing underneath and beautiful nature just next to you.

And this was only lunch. Now it's time to head to your mountainside Ryokan ( of course civilized by taxi ) for a relaxing bath before sampling another set of local fine cuisine and rolling the futons out for the night. No need to worry about getting down into the valley before next day...

Thanks ... When I saw your user name I thought you would send me to Mos Burger at some point on this itinerary!

I have not been to Europe or Asia, but in the US my recommedation would be the French Laundry in Yountville, CA. The best meal I've ever had.

Right city. Wrong restaurant.

Quite a few restaurants there are far superior to Jules Verne. I'd pick Taillevent, which has and deserves its two additional Michelin stars.

If you want the view, there's nothing wrong with a visit to the Eiffel Tower after your meal.

Highly recommend the rooftop restaurant at Hilton Calvalieri (Rome)- the food, setting and service are unbelievable! I've considered going back just so I can eat there again (not a big fan of Rome as you may gather)

What's the big deal about Le Jules Verne? Another vote for Taillevent if you go to Paris.

On a completely different note, there's Sooke Harbour House near Victoria, BC: www.sookeharbourhouse.com.

I echo Taillevent in Paris; Pierre Gagnaire is also a good choice. Le Moulin de Mougins near Cannes; Le Louis XV in Monaco; Troisgros in Roanne; Auberge de L'Ill are other special places.

Perhaps the Krug Room at The Dorchester is quite celebratory as it is exclusive.

El Bulli or Arzak in Spain may be some other choices to consider.

Yes, definately not Jules Verne. My pick for best special occassion restaurant anywhere would be Taillevent also. Pierre Gagnaire would probably be second choice. In the States, Alain Ducasse, New York.

For another possibility go to Kyoto and stay at Tawaraya Ryokin. Get one of the larger rooms and have them serve the full keiseki meal in your room. Tawaraya has been in the same family for over 300 years and is a spectacular experience. Do some searches here on FT for it. It has been mentioned in a number of threads.

I just thought of something else. At least in NY, and possibly in Paris, some of the better restaurants have "chefs tables". For instance at LeBernardin, a Michelin 3 star in NY there is a special room that is glassed off from the rest of the diners and open to the kitchen. The chef comes over to the diners in the room and discusses the dinner with them, and how he is preparing their food. That might be something to consider if it is available at some of your choices. I wouldnt do it at a lesser restaurant for the sake of having the chefs table. But if you can do it at a Michelin 3 star it would be something to consider.

Buy a RTW ticket and dine at Taillevent and Tawaraya.

I'd start following wine spectator, and find another of their super spectacular meals. the one I recall from a while back:

NYC-CDG-NYC on the Concord

Special meal by joel robuchon upon closing what at that time was the greatest restaurnat in France. I recall 10k/pp.

http://www.salon.com/weekly/robuchon960708.html

The Chateau Robuchon in Tokyo is now the greatest restaurant, being run by the greatest French chef in the world today.

Try to get to one of his super special charity meals....one million yen/pp.

http://www.robuchon.com/

I must be the only person on earth (maybe with the michelin rating person) that does not understand Taillevent. I think it's a tourist trap that has a duck special.

El Bulli or Arzak in Spain may be some other choices to consider.[/QUOTE]

I would second either of these recommendations.

I've posted before that we were disappointed with La Pergola. The food just wasn't that exceptional given the astronomical price. And the service is too theatrical. IMHO.

Tourist trap with a duck special? Sounds more like a description of La Tour D'Argent than Taillevent, which seems to predominantly cater to the French, not us visitors.