To see my full interview with Paris Perfect, a company that offers hand-picked, luxury holiday rentals with dazzling Paris views, click here. Jane Paech, Alsace apartment, Paris Perfect 2014. Photo: Vincent Bourdon To read a review of Delicious Days by Paris Perfect, click here.
My greatest challenge during the creation process of Delicious Days was keeping abreast of changes from afar. Addresses can vanish in a puff of smoke or suddenly close their doors for renovations. Chefs can change, standards can drop, and even from day to day meals, staff and the ambience of a place can vary. As the process of creating Delicious Days was nearing its end, however, I had to say 'enough' and draw a line, for there will always be more changes. As a writer, it's also important that you trust your instincts, for often a passage reflects an experience on just one particular ...
Romantic, mouth-watering Paris – with so many wonderful things to do and see – where do you start? The dilemma becomes even greater if your time is limited. Below, I share five classic ideas if you have just 24 precious hours in my favourite city. 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 ...
With my head still in Paris, I just had to share this post on beautiful bookshops in Europe, reposted from my daughter's blog, 1001 Children's Books. Thanks Georgi!
The sun is shining as I walk the streets savouring my final precious hours. Yes, it's time to leave my beautiful Paris and tomorrow I fly home. It's been a busy few days with two dreamy nights in lovely accommodation: firstly at L'Hôtel Banke, housed in a former bank headquarters (with the original diamond vaults in the basement), and secondly at another splendid Paris Perfect apartment, so close to the Eiffel Tower that you can almost reach out and touch it.I also enjoyed the creative Primevère lunch menu at David Toutain in his new restaurant in the 7th arrondissement; a spontaneous trip to ...
With just a few days left until I leave Paris, I decide to spend my last Saturday afternoon in and around one of the best shopping streets in Le Marais, the long rue des Francs Bourgeois. Crammed with interesting and upmarket boutiques, it's dangerously close to where I am staying. Armed with packages and having given up on finding jewellery to match an outfit, I start to dawdle back to the apartment when I stumble upon Monic. I step inside to find an enchanting, timeworn store simply bursting with wonderful vintage jewellery, affordable costume pieces and designer creations. It's not your standard store in ...
With the release of my book and a mountain of correspondence to address, it has been a busy few days! I've also kept a punishing schedule scouting out wonderful things for you to do and see, and my head is exploding with information. On the verge of not being able to fit one more pâtisserie in my notebook or head - or one more bite of baguette slathered with cheese in my mouth - this Sunday I have decided to stay in the apartment and put the backlog in some king of order before I am bombarded some more. Achingly ...
Delicious Days is now available in bookstores in Australia and New Zealand, a little earlier than expected. A big thank you to Julie Gibbs and her wonderful team at Lantern, and to everyone who has supported me with this exciting project. Book events will be posted on the Events page of the blog shortly. Take a peek inside here. Jane Paech with Delicious Days in Paris. Photo: Vincent BourdonMerci mille fois to Vincent Bourdon for the photo shoot!
A lot of time and effort goes into researching, writing and photographing a story and today I thought I'd bring you a 'behind the scenes' glimpse of my time in Paris.Yesterday afternoon, Vincent Bourdon, a friend and professional photographer who also took some shots for Delicious Days, joined me at Le Pavillon de la Reine to create a blog post. A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the hotel is hidden down a cobbled lane right on the breathtaking Place des Vosges: I shall bring you the full story at a later date. Jane Paech, Hotel Pavillon de la Reine. Photo: Vincent Bourdon.While Vincent photographed the ...
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 ...