Heart of cards

A heart made entirely from playing cards in a boutique window.

Fight club

Inside a men's boxing club in the Church of the Madeleine district.

Krazy for Klimt

.
..and Hundertwasser.

A simple concept: immerse visitors in gigantic light projections of artists' work accompanied by music

Ends November 11, 2018

Viennese artists
Gustav Klimt

Friedensreich Hundertwasser

L'Atelier des Lumières

More photos in upcoming May newsletter

***

Update: This exhibition has been extended until January 6, 2019 

Le Bon Pêcheur

Café meeting point in the old Les Halles District.

No room for dessert

Unseasonably warm weather and an evening stroll on the Left Bank led to:

- Drinks in a beautiful passage with

- Glorious planche mixte (charcuteries, cheeses) to accompany then

- Mediterranean mussels and prawns à l'ail

Often imitated

...but never equaled.

- Espace Dalí opens in Paris -

"a must for art and Dalí fans"

  Article: The Good Life France Magazine

By the gram

Scales used to weigh the leaves of over 600 varieties of tea.

Mariage Frères

- Since 1854 -

30 rue du Bourg Tibourg 75004

(tea room open for refined lunches / tea time)

Seeing double

I. M. Pei's Pyramide du Louvre might well be called, the "Pyramides du Louvre" as there are several smaller pyramids, a large inverted pyramid plus pyramid-shaped fountains.

It was Johnny

A motorcyle, symbol of French rocker Johnny Hallyday, parked in front of a kiosk where a photo of his widow is on a magazine cover that reads, "It was Johnny."

R.I.P. Johnny Hallyday

In the loup

With such beautiful weather we decided that lunch on the terrace of Les Loups de la Butte, a new neighborhood bistrot I've posted about before, might be fun. And it was.

Above: chef's fish soup-of-the-day crammed w/eye-opening textures; a demi magret (duck breast) in its juices w/eggplant and chanterelles; small plates courtesy of the house; excellent wines
 

(click to enlarge)

Asparagus season

It's asparagus season and asperges seem to be putting in an appearance on every menu.

Mani pedi season

Warm weather in Paris means book early.

In this month's newsletter
Nouveautés

 

***

(Merci Danielle for the use of your feet!)


I believe in manicures....
 Audrey Hepburn

Feast for two

Our small window table loaded down with Sri Lankan cuisine.

Kanna Tanna
(in the heart of the old Sentier garment district)
43 rue des Petits Carreaux 75002

The violinist

She stands out in a doorway, her red béret brightening shadows behind.

Crowning view

The golden dome of the Hôtel des Invalides crowns a street view.

Screening: An American In Paris

One night only:

Sensational multi-award winning musical co-production between Broadway and the Théâtre du Châtelet, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS crosses the Atlantic for one unique screening in Paris.

Monday May 28th
8 p.m.
(In English)

Music and songs: George and Ira Gershwin
Tony best choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon

- Find a theater -

Le Cordon Bleu

Some of France's most noted chefs are guest instructors at Le Cordon Bleu. The institute regularly invites renowned chefs and gastronomy professionals to conduct culinary demonstrations and share their expertise with students. These guest chefs, often experienced in cuisine, pastry, or boulangerie, come from prestigious backgrounds, including Michelin-starred restaurants, and present innovative recipes while explaining advanced techniques. This provides students with unique insights and exposure to different professional approaches, complementing the instruction from the institute’s permanent chef instructors like Éric Briffard, MOF Culinary Arts Director. Such demonstrations also offer networking opportunities, as students may later work with these chefs during internships or at pedagogical lunches. - BPJ

Above: fresh potato gnocchi starter; chef and his assistant coordinate on a dish

Program: L'Art de Cuisiner comme un Chef
(The Art of Cooking Like A Chef)

Le Cordon Bleu

13-15 Quai André Citroën 75015

Menu:

Asperges vertes "cuisson minute;" gnocchi de pomme de terre, tomates confites, fritto d’olives noires; côtes de veau en cocotte à la verveine fraiche/citron confit, fèvettes; pommes fondantes au fenouil; jus perlé 

First to arrive

At the Café Marly just before it opens with its exquisite views of the Pyramide du Louvre.

Espace Dalí

The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents.

Salvador Dalí

Salvador Dalí loved Paris and today, after months of renovation, the museum-gallery Espace Dalí re-opens its doors in Montmartre where few realize the Catalan artist resided, at 7 rue Becquerel.

Espace Dalí

11 rue Poulbot 75018

Article: The Good Life France Magazine

Luxurious lunches

Where to enjoy a luxurious lunch in Paris?

- Article: The Good Life France Magazine -

Chocolate and bunnies

Last vestiges of Easter fill the window of historic pâtissier-traiteur Stohrer on rue Montorgueil.

Strike land

    

Local artist Gregos weighs in on the local train strikes.

Spring flowers

A fleuriste has set out flowers and small plants on a sidewalk in Montmartre.

Back view

Behind Notre-Dame Cathedral on an April day.

All that's jazz

Live jazz has returned to Paris' most notorious literary café, Les Deux Magots.

6 Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés 75006

 Thursdays starting at 7:30 p.m.

The bride wore pants

A bride and her groom manage their own photo shoot at The Love Wall.

A night to remember

Last week The Honorable Jamie McCourt (below, center), United States Ambassador to the French Republic and Principality of Monaco, hosted the first ever beer and food pairing at her private residence in honor of The Brewers Association.

 

  - With special thanks -

A Night To Remember:  American craft beers paired with fine French cuisine

  by Barbara Pasquet James

Traditionally, beer in France has been regarded as a refreshing pause, taken on a terrace or standing at a counter. But thanks to a surge in awareness of creative and flavorful American craft beers, all that’s about to change. 

Last week The Honorable Jamie McCourt, United States Ambassador to the French Republic and Principality of Monaco, hosted the first ever beer and food pairing at her private residence in honor of The Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade body that represents over 4,000 small and independent American craft brewers.

 
The elegant setting was perfect for a well-thought-out gourmet menu executed with great attention to detail by noted chefs de cuisine Edward Delling-Williams of Paris’ Le Grand Bain and Dave Harrison of Au Passage, while Adam Dulye of the Brewer’s Association contributed his pairing expertise. For the occasion, representatives of several brewing companies came over from the U.S. to demonstrate just how compatible beer can be with food.

 
On the menu:

 
Carpaccio de céleri fumé en croute de sel et sa sauce de vinaigre de malt / Carpaccio of smoked salt-baked celeriac. The beer: Seafarer Kolsch - crisp, cheerful, refreshing (Three Weavers Brewing Company Inglewood, California)

 
Truite fumée à la crème fraiche / Cured trout, raw thick cream, crackers. The beer: Tropical Torpedo - subtle notes of mango, papaya, pineapple (Sierra Nevada Brewing Company Chico, California)

 
Lapin braisé accompagné de lentilles et ail sauvage /  Braised rabbit, lentils, wild garlic. The beer: Port City Porter - complex malt flavors; hints of dark chocolate, coffee  (Port City Brewing Company Alexandria, Virginia) 

 
Grande finale: Mousse de chocolat blanc et rhubarbe / White chocolate mousse, rhubarb. The beer: Pineapple Mana Wheat - smooth, full-bodied; think ukuleles (Maui Brewing Company Kihei, Hawaii)


Did it work? Zut alors, mais oui!
 

Special thanks to the US Ambassador, the Brewers Association and brilliant team of chefs - Adam Dulye, Edward Delling-Williams and Dave Harrison.

 

In this month's newsletter

Nouveautés 

A walk along the river

Notre-Dame Cathedral beyond bare branches.

Crêpes are always a good idea

 

Buttery crêpes de froment - topped with fresh rhubarb compote, salted butter caramel and house vanilla ice cream and melted dark chocolate - taste better accompanied by crisp apple cider from Brittany.

Breizh Café
1 rue de l'Odéon 75006

Pop op

A painting by brilliant French artist Patrick Rubinstein: stand in front of Mick Jagger's portrait face on, then move to one side and lo behold it becomes the Mick Jagger iconic mouth.