From beginning to end Paris in Bloom is a glorious affair. Thick with promise, the pages turn effortlessly like petals in the wind, uplifting and exhilarating, and oh so pretty, bringing gasps of joy! In our chaotic world, it offers us all a heartening remedy by celebrating the beauty and fragility of life through flowers, against the beguiling backdrop of Paris.

Blushingly romantic, Georgianna’s love of blooms is strewn across every sumptuous page as she exquisitely captures the fleeting pleasures that come with each passing season.

From parks and gardens to mesmerising floral boutiques and markets, this is a book to cherish, showered with sunshine, hope and dreams. I almost weep with longing as I imagine crunching over gravel paths in the city’s most elegant, flower-filled spaces and peering through the enchanting doorway of une boutique de fleuriste.

Paris’s floral charms have been gathered with careful attention to detail before being tied with a flourish into one artfully-arranged bouquet…Heavenly images of whimsical balcons vie with vintage French ribbons and pale pink peonies, their delicate petticoats of blossom wooing from the basket of a bicycle.

A true delight for the senses, this beautiful book rejoices in French art de vivre and inspires us all to savour the rosy moments in life. If Paris in Bloom doesn’t stir you to book a ticket to Paris, nothing will.

For more information on Paris in Bloom and how to pre-order, click here.

Jane xx

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*마감되었습니다. 감사합니다.
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*6월 12일 출간예정
“집, 회사, 학교… 쉬운 건 아무 것도 없다
그럼에도 나는 파리와 사랑에 빠졌다”

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The doorman takes my luggage and ushers me in with a smile. Swathes of crumpled red taffeta are draped dramatically above, lit by a spectacular contemporary chandelier. Rushing to arrive, and with my mind elsewhere, I am suddenly brought into the moment and taken by surprise. It’s a theatrical entrance, almost like walking into the foyer of an opera house, setting the mood for what is to come.

The imposing building dates to the early 20^th century and was designed by talented architects Cassien-Bernard and Paul Friesé. From the street, it’s classic and stately, jutting out like the bow of a cruise liner at the junction of Rue La Fayette and Rue Pillet Will, home to headquarters of the Figaro newspaper.

Once inside, the space opens up to a jaw-dropping rotunda crowned with a soaring glass ceiling, a grand lobby indeed, where Vincent is waiting. Marble pillars, imposing archways, a beautiful mosaic floor and the original wooden bank counters rub shoulders with 21^st century red leather sofas, gold banquettes and perspex bar stools; an opulent blend of Neo-Baroque and modern design. It’s a unique, striking space filled with burgundy, gold and beaucoup de bling. Refurbished as a four-star hotel in 2009, the building is classified as an historic monument.

The doorman accompanies me up to my suite on the sixth floor. It’s inviting and serene with hardwood floors and 60 square metres of space.

Stylish pendant lights flank the leather headboard, and the king-size bed is made up with luxurious burgundy taffeta and crisp linen. Beyond is a bathroom of black marble.

The afternoon sun plays on the sheer maroon curtains, dropping away before flooding the room with light; a double exposition.

Located in the 9^th arrondissement, the hotel is conveniently close to a cornucopia of delights. A dash to the end of the street will take you to Boulevard Haussmann and les grands magasins for a shopping spree at Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. An added bonus is that it’s not far to carry those shoeboxes back to your hotel! Also just a short stroll away is Opéra Garnier, for a special evening out, and a little further, Place Vendôme and the Tuileries Gardens. To the north lies rue des Martrys, a lively merchant street that leads up to Montmartre, while a meander east will take you to a labyrinth of nineteenth-century covered passageways, dusted with old-world charm.

A tour of the hotel by the lovely Emilie takes us down to the diamond vault in the basement. Originally used by the bank there are around 400 safes here  – some inconceivably large. The metro rumbles above us. It’s a movie moment. Today the room is dark and shadowy, leather sofas empty, but the room can be booked for photo shoots, film, and private events such as cocktail parties.

Back in the lobby, we peer up the iron spiral stairwell, an allegory of the snake. It also has something of the Eiffel Tower about it. Emelie tells us that one of the architects who designed the bank was in fact from the Eiffel School.

We sweep up to the first floor, originally bank offices, and walk along the balcony that runs around the walls, offering a dramatic view of the lobby below. Peeking into a room or two we discover an exuberant mix of golden age spirit and crisp contemporary design, with plaited leather rugs, marble bathrooms and designer furniture. There are 94 rooms and 16 lavish suites in all, dressed in hues of cream, chocolate and cassis.

Number 106 is the former office of the president of the bank, and one of the best suites. It’s dripping with glamour, red and gold. The romantic circular room has a bay window, marble fireplace and gilded moldings, not to mention a white leather bed and chairs from Bretz, the German manufacturer of luxuriously designed furniture and cult sofas. On the way out we pass a collection of Chinese artefacts. Each floor of the hotel showcases an impressive collection of art – it’s almost a boutique museum.

The Banke is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World and part of the Derby Hotels Collection, a small group of eclectic hotels run by the Spanish ‘Clos family’, with addresses in Barcelona, Madrid, London and Paris. CEO Jordi Clos is an Egyptian archeologist and his wife is the artistic director of the hotels. Señor Clos owns and runs the only Egyptian museum in Barcelona, and each address features part of his private art collection of historically priceless jewellery, sculptures and artwork from different continents and civilizations. ‘At the Banke we have remarkable jewellery collections originating from Oceania, Asia, Africa and the Americas,’ says Emilie.

She explains that the hotel’s inspiration comes from the wife of the CEO – and her flamboyant style, flair for design and eccentric touches are everywhere. The lobby, for example, features an assortment of intriguing treasures preserved under glass domes: shells and starfish, old pharmacy bottles, a vintage globe of the world.

Next, we climb up to the rooftop (not open to guests) for a breathtaking view of the city. Sacré Cœur with its giant meringue dome sits across the rooftops. One of the suites boasts a dress circle view of the magnificent basilica.

Afterwards, we head back to the lobby for an apéro at the LolaBar, which serves cocktails and traditional tapas, before dining at the hotel’s Josefin gastronomic restaurant on the opposite side of the lobby. In such a cavernous space, the bar is not such a cosy place for a drink, and personally, I find the seating rather uncomfortable.

The black leather chairs and glam gold banquettes of the Josefin make up for it, a comfortable designer setting with mood lighting and sheer black curtains. Spanish and French cuisine are served, with Mediterranean specialities. We start with a plate of delicious Iberian bellota ham & pan con tomate. The staff is friendly and the service excellent and there’s a small selection of Spanish wines to choose from. Mains include pluma of Ibérique pork with black pudding spring rolls, and beef tartare with gaufrette potatoes. Vincent opts for the succulent lamb with a tajine of legumes confits, while I choose the delicate sea bream, with a flavoursome piperade of jambon de bellota. The Millefeuilles Josefin with caramel & pear sorbet for dessert tastes as good as it looks!

And then I say goodbye, enter my soundproof room, close my blackout curtains and, on a very comfortable bed, fall straight to sleep. Here at the Banke, you can bank on a good night’s rest.

 Photos by Vincent Bourdon ©

Accommodation courtesy of L’Hôtel Banke

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If you would like to purchase a copy of the original hardback, please note that there is limited quantity remaining, so drop into your local bookshop soon. Alternatively, head to www.amazon.com, www.fishpond.com.au or www.booktopia.com.au.

Included this week in Ten Best Memoirs for Summer Reading by Kay Sanger.

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To read more about Cook’n with Class go to www.cooknwithclass.com

Cook’n with Class; a boutique cooking school nestled in the backstreets of Montmartre. Photo: Vincent Bourdon

Scallops in orange butter sauce with candied citrus zest and white asparagus. Photo: Vincent Bourdon

A warm chocolate fondant with a molten stream of striped chocolate lava. Photo: Vincent Bourdon

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Living the Dream. Photo Vincent Bourdon

To read my guest blog for Paris Perfect on my stay in their beautiful rental apartments, and the pleasures of apartment living in Paris, click here.

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Phyllis cuts the baguette open and we each rip off a piece to sample. It’s ever-so-crisp on the outside, tasty and chewy. Inside it’s cream in colour with large holes.

As contented customers push past with their luscious fruit tarts and Sunday morning bread, our knowledgeable guide produces another baguette of much poorer quality, in order for us to compare the two. This one is limp and squishy with a cotton wool centre. It is also tasteless from being over processed. ‘There are no nutrients left,’ says Phyllis as she turns the baguette over to show us a pattern imprinted on the dough. A red flag that the dough has been frozen.

These are the kinds of invaluable food tips that participants learn when they join a Paris by Mouth tour. Our small group is standing outside the original store of Maison Kayser, one the best boulangeries in the city, and this is our first stop on a three-hour walk enticingly named Taste of the Left Bank.

Tours by Paris by Mouth are a relatively new venture, run by contributors to the wonderful website Paris by Mouth, a great source of information for food and wine lovers. Reviews are gathered from a stable of established writers who spend their days tucking in their serviettes and tasting, and the site is edited by professional food writers. With a collection of exceptional addresses at their fingertips it makes sense that these contributors also use their local knowledge to lead food and wine tours through some of the most delicious neighbourhoods in town. Participants are introduced to a trail of treats from artisan bread, cheese, wine and charcuterie to mouth-watering gateaux, chocolate and ice cream. The most difficult decision is which food crawl to choose.

Our next stop is just around the corner at one of the most reputable cheesemongers in France, Laurent Dubois. ‘He is also an affineur,’ says Phyllis. ‘Look for the sign affineur on the façade of a fromagerie.’ This means that it is a serious enterprise, she explains. Cheeses are sourced from the countryside and the ageing process is finished in cellars beneath the shop, giving control over the final product.

We learn a little about artisan and farmhouse French cheese before an assortment is wrapped for us to try later with more good bread and some wine. ‘Trust the cheesemonger and rely on them to suggest a selection,’ says Phyllis. ‘They know exactly what’s in season and ripe.’ Being a cheese lover, I can hardly wait to taste our stash. We have a Tomme d’Oudry, a new season goat cheese from Burgundy; a soft Brie de Melun; an Ossau Irraty sheep milk cheese from the Basque country; a washed rind Langres from Champagne and a Carles Roquefort, a sheep milk cheese from Midi-Pyrénées. Oh, and a Comté AOC – a hard, pressed cheese that comes from the Swiss border. Most Comtés are aged for 5 months or so but this one has been aged for 3 years! 

Next, we ooh and aah over our samples of chocolate from one of the most reputable chocolatiers in the country, then head towards a boutique devoted to the olive oils of Provence. Along the way we talk about the word maison (house/homemade) on menus, a word that is bandied around with far too much liberty.

We taste tiny spoonfuls of olive oil from micro producers and learn what to look for in an authentic olive oil, before sampling an extraordinarily good caramel macaron at a store nearby.

The maze of ancient streets lures us like lollies, but we push on to arrive at Place de Furstenberg. One of the most romantic little squares in Paris, it’s magical at night, lit by a central, antique candelabra.

By day, you can buy a great cream puff or choux à la crème, a trend in the city with bite-sized shops popping up like mushrooms. Here, the puffs are filled to order so they don’t go soggy, and offered in just three flavours: natural, coffee and chocolate. Phyllis orders a little box-full and we hoe in. They are light and fluffy and not too sweet.

Our last stop is the most adorable little wine shop in Paris, where we make ourselves comfortable and sample our cheeses with more beautiful bread and boutique French wines.

We sip and swirl, talk and learn. I leave, satisfied and stimulated, and yearning to know more about cheese. Perhaps I’ll sign up for the Tour de Fromage!

 The Taste of the Left Bank tour was taken in the spring, courtesy of Paris by Mouth.

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Photo courtesy of Un Dimanche à Paris

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Promenade through the Tuileries Gardens

For an elegant introduction to the City of Light and to soak up the full splendour of Paris there’s nothing like a stroll through the gold-plated first arrondissement. The neighbourhood is classic Paris, dominated by the Louvre Palace, a patchwork of elegant squares and breathtaking gardens. Start at the Cour Carrée at the eastern end of the Louvre, with its grand splashing fountain. As you walk towards Pei’s glass pyramid and on through the archway of the Place du Carrousel, a fabulous panorama slowly comes into view. You step into the beautiful Tuileries Gardens and suddenly it seems all of Paris is before you: a thrilling, unbroken vista of grand monuments and thoroughfares. At this moment you know you are in Paris. When you come down to earth, head to the tea salon Ladurée on rue Royale or Pierre Hermé’s flagship pâtisserie on rue Cambon. You can’t visit Paris without sampling a great macaron!

Visit a market and have a picnic

For the food-lover, a jaunt to one of the city’s open-air produce markets is a quintessential Parisian experience. It’s a delightful way to sample a bounty of the fresh, regional produce packed in the city’s hamper, and also throws light on the rhythm of everyday Parisian life. An all-time favourite is the atmospheric Marché Président Wilson on avenue de Président Wilson in the 16^e arrondissement, renowned for its breathtaking flowers, artistic displays of pristine produce and great location near the Eiffel Tower. It’s open on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Grab a crusty baguette, a thick slice of chunky terrine and some perfectly ripe farmhouse cheese to enjoy with a rustic fruit tart and some sweet-scented strawberries. Spread out a picnic lunch on the banks of the Seine and watch the barges pass, or relax on the grass under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

Meander along rue du Bac

One of my favourite streets in Paris is the charming rue du Bac in the 7^e arrondissement. Take a ramble along the village-like street that starts at the river and winds right through to the fabulous Left Bank department store, Le Bon Marché. Along the way you will find florists overflowing with fragrant roses, artisan ice creameries, pretty home décor boutiques and a bijou bunch of pâtisseries and chocolate shops. Don’t miss Chapon, a tiny, old-world chocolate store, and La Pâtisserie des Rêves, the pastry shop of dreams. Here, you will swoon over the lemon meringue pies, mille-feuilles and innovative éclairs slid into sleeping bags of chocolate. More chic pastries can be found at Des Gâteaux et du Pain, and Jacques Genin. For a reviving pause and afternoon tea, sink into a seat at an outpost of the celebrated tea salon, Angelina.

Pop into the Musée de Cluny

There are dozens of intriguing small museums sprinkled throughout Paris and these appetising little gems offer a warmth and intimacy impossible to find in vast galleries. Their manageable size means they can be enjoyed in the space of an hour or so, creating a delightful refuge in a hectic day of sightseeing and eating. I adore the Musée de Cluny and return each time I visit Paris. Deep in the Latin Quarter, it’s full of intriguing bygone treasures, a medieval attic offering valuable insight into the art and life of the Middle Ages. The flamboyant ogee arches, turrets and dragon gargoyles make it hard to believe there’s not a princess locked up in the tower at the top of the spiral staircase.

Dine at Joséphine ‘Chez Dumonet’

For a classic bistro experience, book a table at Joséphine ‘Chez Dumonet’ (117, rue du Cherche-Midi, 6^e). The narrow vintage dining room with cracked-tile floor, zinc bar and white-linen-draped tables makes you feel as though you have walked into la vieille France. What you will find here is excellent, old-fashioned bistro cooking, a rarity in Paris nowadays, with many dishes available in half-portions.  Book from 8.30 pm to dine with the locals in the evening, and finish with the Grand Marnier soufflé.

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A picnic stop on the Monet’s Garden Tour

To find out more about my day, read my guest post written for the Fat Tire blog here.

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