I'm about to dash out the door for a tasting tour of the Left Bank with Paris by Mouth, but first I want to tell you about the dinner I had last night at a little resto near the Eiffel Tower on the recommendation of my friend Jocelyn, an American who has lived here for many years.After a long, bracing walk in the cold, the charm and beauty of Paris an enchanting backdrop, Jocelyn and I are ravenous and enter the cosy little dining room at Phillipe Excoffier to a warm welcome. It's elegant Parisian bistro chic without being stuffy, with a glam red ...
A Morning with Sébastien: Concierge Extraordinaire
On the dot of 9 am Sébastien pulls off the busy rue St Antoine and I jump into his shiny black Mercedes. Owner of the company Chauffeurs de Maître, this morning Sébastien has offered to show me a few of his favourite, insider spots.We cross town in the morning peak hour traffic to the posh 16th arrondissement for what he tells me are the 'best, best pain aux raisins'! On the rue de Chaillot we enter La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac, a sleek pastry shop that's only been open a few months and order two sweet, golden scrolls. Lignac also owns Chardenoux, a favourite old-school ...
Soul Kitchen, Montmartre
Yesterday, I flew out the door early for a cooking class in Montmartre only to arrive to find a mix up of dates. With changed plans and in search of a light breakfast and a good coffee, I decided to continue on from Jules Joffrin metro station up the rue du Mont Cenis, which climbs all the way to Sacré-Cœur via a series of steep stone steps.Some things are meant to be for on the way I stumbled upon the sweetest little spot. Nestled right against the ancient steps is Soul Kitchen, a coffee shop with a delightfully warm feel run by three lovely ...
An Afternoon Stroll through Paris
After a busy morning catching up on correspondence (the release date of Delicious Days has been moved forward), I couldn't wait to grab my notebook and camera and meander through the city, footloose and fancy free. Just a hop, skip and a jump from the Louvre, one of my favourite city parks is the Palais Royal and today I find a riot of pink blossom and magnolia trees bursting ceremoniously into bud. It's a wonderful place to sit and dream. I crunch my way along the gravel paths and out through the back of the gardens, stopping for a drink at Le Pain Quotidien before peeking ...
L’Eclair de Génie
Just a couple of blocks from where I'm staying, I was excited today to stumble upon a striking boutique devoted to one of the pâtisseries du moment, the éclair. I'm not talking about your ordinary, run of the mill éclair here...Oh no. These are new-age, think-outside-the-box technicolour dreams with innovative flavours and creative designs. It was the rainbow stripes of pop-art colour that drew me in to L’Eclair de Génie, the sleek, modern store on rue de Pavée that is the creation of exceptionally talented French pâtissier Christophe Adam - who must have the wildest imagination. Formerly a pastry chef at Fauchon, this risk taker is part of ...
Paris in the Springtime
I have had the most extraordinary Sunday. The weather has been perfect, there is joy in the air and everyone is out and about celebrating Paris in the springtime - and I mean everybody! Meandering around le Marais and through the islands today I found mile-long queues at Berthillon icecream outlets and there were literally thousands of cyclists and rollerbladers.Place des Vosges was full of locals revelling in the beautiful spring sunshine;Roses perfumed the air along the footpaths,And spring bulbs made an appearance.Jazz floated through city streets and over the bridges and there were buskers everywhere,Even outside the famous English bookshop, Shakespeare & Co.Cafes ...
Paris…je t’adore
I know I've been neglecting you all lately but it really has been a mad March! Hopefully I can make it up to you over the next four weeks with some posts on Paris. Oui, I arrived just a few hours ago and I can't put into words how excited I am to be here. Rather than my usual stories, this month I shall bring you delicious short snippets, photos and teasers of all the wonderful things I see, taste and discover.Yesterday afternoon, Sébastien kindly picked me up at the airport in a very posh black Mercedes...Rather handy having a chauffeur with ...
Explosion at L’Etoile d’Or
I was saddened this week to learn of the gas explosion at Denise Acabo's legendary A l'Etoile d'Or confectionary shop in Paris - on Valentine's Day. Denise Acabo at A L'Etoile d'OrL'Etoile d'Or is renowned for stocking only the very best from all over France, and recipes for many of the traditional French sweets and handcrafted chocolates date back to the 19th-century. A L'Etoile d'OrI'm so glad that Denise, who is as sweet as her shop, is okay. Let's hope that she has support to rebuild and that the forced closure of this adorable little spot near the Moulin Rouge is ...
On Christmas Traditions
I don't usually reblog, but in the spirit of Christmas, today I am making an exception. The Nutcracker is a treasured family tradition and this post is a recent entry from my daughter's blog, 1001 Children’s Books You Should Read Before You Grow Up. Georgi has given herself the challenge of reading as many of these classic tales as she can before she grows up (much more). I hope you all have a happy holiday season filled with your own treasured traditions that will, in time, become precious memories.
A Magical December in Paris
Baby it's cold outside but if you're lucky enough to be in Paris right now there are plenty of things to do and see to warm the cockles of your heart. December is an enchanting time to visit, when the City of Light transforms into a magical winter wonderland and Christmas is just around the corner. Rug up, take an evening stroll through the streets and marvel at the Christmas trees that twinkle from apartment windows and foyers. Grab a warm crêpe sprinked with lemon and sugar and soak up the festive atmosphere as you pass plush hotels - their doors and archways ...