Focus On Paris: 2022

22 December 2022

Throwback Thursday

3 hours (or less) from Paris:

London, a skip and hop from Paris, makes a perfect Christmas getaway.

Above: reminiscing and fond memories of The Chelsea Wharf Restaurant

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Eurostar

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Reprint from "Throwback Thursday" 11/4/2021

Lobster and prawns Eggs Benedict on a Sunday morning

Hardware Société
(Paris-Melbourne)
10 rue Lamarck 75018 Paris

[Posted November 4, 2021] - The setting was 80's London, and Michael Alexander, who I've written about before on this blog, had opened a restaurant, The Chelsea Wharf, to much local fanfare in the media and otherwise, right on Chelsea Harbour.

In no time at all it became the talk of the town. In the cuisine was enfant terrible now celeb chef Marco Pierre White, the sole person, it's been said, who "made Gordon Ramsay cry in the kitchen." With regulars such as George Michael and Boy George streaming in one would think its success was guaranteed, but it wasn’t. Sadly, it was short-lived. Lax management let a party atmosphere take over and, as Michael would mention more than once over the years with a sigh, he was, after all, a writer, not a restaurateur.

Sunday mornings saw a gathering of "friends and allies" - those dearest and nearest to him - occupy a very long table for breakfast. As Billy Churchill swayed away on piano and a soft light seeped in through gothic windows, we'd regale in bad jokes and good champagne.

Just across the Thames was Saint Mary's Church and almost everyone would order Bloody Marys and the house Eggs Benedict - or rather, as it appeared on the menu, "Eggs Benedict Arnold," so named for the notorious traitor of the American Revolution buried there.

The first - and last - time I pointed this out I was swiftly berated.

“Traitor? From our side of things, Benedict Arnold was a hero!” - BPJ

20 December 2022

Teddy Tuesday

A Teddy Bear poised on the awning of a restaurant.

16 December 2022

Floral Friday

A poinsettia plant brightens a café counter.

13 December 2022

Titanic Tuesday

The tomb of Titanic survivor Léontine Pauline Aubart - known as "Ninette" and played by Fannie Brett in the 1997 film Titanic (director: James Cameron) - in Saint Vincent Cemetery, Montmartre.

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Cabaret singer who sometimes performed at Le Lapin Agile, Ninette had accompanied billionaire Benjamin Guggenheim who kept an apartment in Paris. While she was saved by being able to get a place in a lifeboat, Guggenheim wasn't so fortunate. According to one account, realizing the end was near, he and his faithful secretary Giglio dressed in evening clothes and headed to the grand staircase and ballroom where they would "go down as gentlemen," sipping brandy.

As First-Class passengers, Ninette and Benjamin would have enjoyed lavish meals, even by French standards. Today, menus from the Titanic are quite valuable and sought after by collectors.

"The last meal for first-class diners that fateful night was a grand affair that included starters of canapés and oysters, a second course of consommé Olga (a clear veal soup garnished with scallops), a third course of poached salmon with mousseline sauce, and a fourth course of filet mignons Lili or chicken Lyonnaise with marrow farci (stuffed vegetables).

The mains catered to most people’s tastes. There was lamb, duckling and beef, with buttery roast potatoes, boiled potatoes, minted peas, carrots and rice. After a rum-infused palate cleanser of punch romaine (the sixth course), guests moved on to roasted squab (pigeon) with wilted cress, asparagus salad with Champagne saffron vinaigrette and pâté de foie gras with celery. In fact, with a grand total of 11 courses, it’s hard to imagine how they fitted it all in.

To round off that fateful meal, there was Waldorf pudding, peaches in Chartreuse jelly, chocolate and vanilla éclairs, French ice cream, assorted fresh fruit and cheeses. While some first-class diners would have eaten in one of the cafés or the à la carte restaurant, for others this would have been their last meal – a few hours later more than 120 first-class passengers died, mainly men." - Source: Lovefood.com The Titanic’s incredible menu revealed – for every class - BPJ

12 December 2022

Mocha Monday

A café noisette surrounded by flea market stalls.

9 December 2022

Fouquet Friday

Iconic French brasserie Fouquet's, setting for France's annual César Awards for achievement in French cinéma.

99 Avenue des Champs-Elysées

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Now in Tribeca in New York at the Hotel Barrière

7 December 2022

Window Wednesday

View over Place des Vosges from La Maison de Victor Hugo.

5 December 2022

Mocha Monday

Morning coffee with Italian, American, and French touches. Can you spot them?

4 December 2022

Chez Victor

A glimpse into Victor Hugo's apartment on Place des Vosges, now a museum, his home with his family from 1832 until 1848 where he penned a large part of "Les Miserables."

Sculpture by Auguste Rodin

Maison de Victor Hugo

6 Place des Vosges 75004

2 December 2022

Vive la baguette

From Le Parisien:

"The French baguette is now a UNESCO World Heritage patrimoine."

🥖🥖🥖

30 November 2022

Wall art

A street artist puts finishing touches on a face mural.

23 November 2022

Waiter Wednesday

Two waiters wait.

21 November 2022

Mocha Monday

An early crème at a village café the South of France.

20 November 2022

On high

The highest point in Paris La Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre overlooks the city below.

17 November 2022

New wine

- AOC Beaujolais-Villages -

Today as every year this year's Beaujolais Nouveau takes a bow, which will explain the happy groupings outside (and inside) wine bars, cafés and even wine shops and some restaurants. These are young wines made from Gamay grapes, consumed almost immediately after their vendange. Best way to discover where: Take a pre-dinner evening stroll in almost any Paris arrondissement.

Santé!

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