Gift list

A sign inside a boulangerie on my street yesterday.

Much to be thankful for.

Eat street

I used to live on narrow rue des Trois Frères on what locals call "the Abbesses side" of the butte, a street reputed for its diverse restaurants such as (recommended):

Le Potager du Père Thierry #16
Le Refuge des Fondus (wine / all drinks served in baby bottles) #17

Le Dan Bau (Vietnamese) #18

Le Jardin d'en Face #29
La Famille #41

Summer cafés

Less people in Paris means squares can be turned into terraces with tables and chairs.

Below: with room to spread this café takes up an entire square

Good starts

All over Paris the traditional French breakfast of coffee, or tea, and a tartine is being pushed aside for more substantial fare.

Above: 1) fruity chia bowl of grains, strawberries, blueberries and raspberry coulis 2) organic eggs, spinach French toast, crisp bacon 3) poached egg atop sweet potato purée, toasted hazelnuts, fresh herbs and button mushrooms 4) feta and shredded zucchini "quiches" with peaches and tomato

Thanks to:
Le Pain Quotidien
Hardware Societé
Frenchie To Go
Ten Belles

The dance

The original of this sculpture on the façade of Opéra Garnier is in the Orsay Museum.

Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux
La Danse (1868)

Three top chefs

Three great men.

Paul Bocuse, Anthony Bourdain, and today, Joël Robuchon.

R.I.P.

"Cooking is an act of love..."

Day trip: La Piscine #2

Along with a small group of French journalists I recently had the unique experience of a behind-the-scenes exclusive look at the ongoing expansion work of La Piscine Museum, site of a former municipal swimming pool in an Art Deco building on the outskirts of Lille.

Above: artisans at work reminiscent of Caillebotte's Les Raboteurs at the Orsay Museum


Below: boxes of artworks yet to be unpacked; display bases for sculptures; 19th and 20th-century art fills back-room ateliers during construction works

(click to enlarge)

La Piscine Museum
23 rue de l'Espérance 59100 Roubaix
 Scheduled re-opening date: October 20, 2018


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Day trip: Lille

[The museum restaurant / café is managed by Méert of Lille, famous luxury chocolate and pastry makers]