European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 28, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Review train Bleu can be on track by sgt ret Clement Lounder very Vern Decatur and me were in the City of the powerful Pate the other weekend for some Man to Man talk about his sister Olen Decateur sprig anti How she has been a constant aggravation in his Cheeks Ever since she lightened her life of or. Sprig and moved Over Here to Europe to be close to her older brother. And As it Happy cd to Vork out close to me. But that is another Story. Right off i got to say that very Vern and me like to handle life s problems in much the same manner and that is on a full stomach. Or at least one that is heading in that direction if you under stand what i m saying. So instead of just sitting Down at the local Rod and gun club where very Vern is a senior grand life member with honors or whatever they Call members who spend at least two thirds of their annual salary on handguns very Vern and me headed off to Paris to feast and hopefully Settle his difficulties. About eight hours later we pulled the Toad my 1969 6-Volt Beetle which i Call Toad because it acts like one in several different performance categories up to the care de Lyon in the City of the big Arch and headed up the one flight of stairs to be train Bleu one of your classic restaurants in the whole of Paris. Now normally i would not recommend eating in a train or bus terminal although you used to be Able to get a very Fine onion Bagel in the basement of Penn station because the variety of people you re going to find there Are not usually going to be doing anything for your digestion. But be train Bleu is different because it is a Fine restaurant that just happens to be in a train station and not the other Way around. If you get my Drift. Anyway very Vern and i wandered in and were immediately ushered Over to a table by a Guy that has got to be the oldest working waiter in France and the next two Guys in line for that Honor were working other tables in the same room. Despite his advanced age the Guy seemed pretty Snappy so we ordered up a couple of Kir to Yolks which is Creme of Cassis mixed with Champagne and which is Var Vern s favorite aperitif after Apricot Brandy and Ginger ale which he figured they did not have. While we were waiting for what very Vern Calls the "4-drinks" . Talk for aperitif we had the Chance to sort of gawk around at the Interior of the restaurant. Now the train Bleu is done in your Belle Poque style which is one of the most outrageous of the Many styles of Interior decorating that the French have permeated the world with. In this particular be train Bleu is done up in one of France s most flashy styles. Case we re talking about the Walls and ceilings being covered with swirls and dancing cupids and some of them naked Type lady statues and All manner of paintings and Gilt and plaster mermaids and other designs. In Short the equivalent of chowing Down in the sistine Chapel. There is also a slew of Crystal chandeliers and brass Racks and red leather scats and what is supposed to be a very famous painting of Sarah Bernhardt but which we could not see because there was a crowd of japanese tourists gawking around it for most of the evening. After a reasonable amount of neck twisting very Vern and me ordered our meals with him going after some Little beef medallions and a salad me deciding on the menu of the Day which featured Pate a couple of pieces of veal and some assorted potatoes and steamed vegetables. Knowing we had some serious problem solving ahead we decided to splurge on the wine and settled on something from one of the Rothschild boys a 1976 Mouton Baron that added nearly $35 to the . Trade deficit. I was nibbling on the Pate when very Vern who was using a disposable lighter to Torch a couple of Loose threads on the Down Hunting Vest that he is known to Wear almost everywhere finally spoke. Clem he said i think you have had the Opportunity to get to know Polcen almost As Well As me and i am hoping that you can help me with this problem concerning  i was about to say that considering certain state and local statutes i was fairly certain i knew Polcen s whole lot better than he did but before i could very Vern began to soundly lambaste his sister saying How he had to get her out of his House because she was always fussing with her coiffure and using his 20-Pound test line to hang up her unmentionables and clogging up his razors and doing All the other things that men will tolerate with their wives but which they will not and should not take from their Sisters. The main course had come by this time so i waited until grandpa the Garcon had put Down the dishes and shuffled off before telling very Vern that i would handle his problem. Very Vern i said consider your problem  and the problem was solved because As soon As we got Home i arranged for Joleen to move into one of the few House trailers in Europe a Pink trim air Queen deluxe in which is parked on a Quarter hectare lot not far from where i Hole up. Very Vern is Happy and Polcen is Happy and when Polcen is Happy old Clem is a Lucky Man. But before that coaxing the Toad Back Home very Vern and me worked out our rating. The food at be train Bleu is so so. Some Days it s pretty Good and others it is slightly noise than that. But the service is Good even if the waiters arc a bit old and the decor is the real Ireat. Since 1972, in fact the restaurant has been protected As a museum piece by the French government. Be train Bleu is at 20 Boulevard Diderot on the second floor of the Garc de Lyon in Paris 12th arrondissement. Open daily. In the City of the tall Tower Call 343-09-06 for reservations. Expect to pay about $25 a head not counting wine. The restaurant has luncheon specials which include wine and service for about $20. All in All very Vern and me give the place three pointy fingers. Ratings & & be b & awesome eats. We re talking Paradise on a plate Here. 2 2 b 2 very line dining. Crack service and memorable food and drink. 22s solid Chow. Good food of atmosphere and pleasant service. 2 55 decent. About equal to a Ponderosa Steak House. J path butt. Crummy Chow so so service Semi ratty Interior. November 23,1ms stripes Magazine 17