Teddy Tuesday

 A Teddy Bear poised on the awning of a restaurant.

 

Floral Friday

 

A poinsettia plant brightens a café counter. 

 

 

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. 

***

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

Mocha Monday

 

A café noisette surrounded by flea market stalls.

 

Fouquet Friday

  

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

 

 99 Avenue des Champs-Elysées

 

 ***

 

Now in Tribeca in New York at the Hotel Barrière

 

Window Wednesday

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

 

Mocha Monday

 

 

 

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

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

 

 

 

Vive la baguette

 

 From Le Parisien:

 

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

 

  🥖🥖🥖

 

 

 

Wall art

 A street artist puts finishing touches on a face mural.

 

Waiter Wednesday

 

Two waiters wait.

 

Mocha Monday

 

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

On high

 

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

 

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!

🍷🍷🍷

 

Cat nap

 A cemetery cat on a family gravesite.

A place in the sun

Taking advantage of the sunshine on a late November afternoon.

 

Cheese tease

A café cheeseboard of five classic French cheeses with toasts, butter and, to assure un bon transit, a simple mixed salad.

 

Mellow cello

 Barefoot at a private recital.

 

Mocha Monday

 

 

A coffee tasting.

 

On this day:

 

- Jamaican Blue Mountain

- Haitian 

 

Malongo Atelier Barista

50 rue Saint-André des Arts 75006

Sumptuous Saturday

Her designs were eccentric, uniquely glamorous. Think Mae West, Salvador Dalí, Jean-Paul Gaultier.

Les mondes surréalistes d’Elsa Schiaparelli

 Musée des Arts Décoratifs
 107 rue de Rivoli 75001

Ends January 22, 2023

 

 

 

Floral Friday

La Toussaint is marked by flowers, predominantly mums, which are sold for days after.

 

Toussaint Tuesday

 Today France celebrates La Toussaint, a solemn holiday when those who departed are remembered.

 

***

 

La Toussaint: All Saints' Day 

1st November

 

 

 

Jacques-O-Lantern

 

 

Though Halloween is not a French holiday it is celebrated with enthusiasm nonetheless.

 

 Above: a giant carved pumpkin keeps watch over the city from the top of the butte

 

***

 

- Happy Halloween 2022 -

👻 

 

Tout en croûte

 

French bread the way French bread used to be made.

(click to enlarge) 

Du Pain et Des Idées

- 1875 - 

 

34 rue Yves Toudic 75010

 

Above: "pain des amis" - bread among friends

 

 

 

Floral Friday

Flowers decorate an outdoor café-restaurant atop the butte on a late October afternoon.

 

A winding road

Fall colors accent a Montmartre side street that leads to the last vineyard in Paris.

 

Marilyn Monday

 

Framed Andy Warhol rendition of Marilyn Monroe at a neighborhood flea market.

 

Canalside

 

View across the water at the Canal Saint-Martin.

 

Another day

 

 

 

A street artist prepares for the day atop the butte.

 

 

Sun seeking

 

The church of Notre-Dame de Lorette as a backdrop to a bustling café.

 

Towers

 Notre-Dame Cathedral's towers through trees.

Metro

 Metro station entrance at the Paris Bourse.

 

 

Miam Monday

 

Croissants worth admiration.

 

Fountain Friday

October in the gardens of the Palais-Royal.

 

Wine Wednesday

 

A fine red to enhance a fine meal.

Fabuleux

 

The Musée Carnavalet is making good use of its enchanting garden.

 

RESTAURANT FABULA

23 rue de Sévigné 75003

 

- Closed Mondays -

10 a.m.- 2 a.m. daily

 

More Dior

 

 

The Christian Dior exhibition is a must-see during Paris Fashion Week.

 

La Galerie Dior

 

 

Fashion weak

 

 

Starting today until Tuesday October 4 fashionistas from all over the world will be all over the city.

Paris Fashion Week

 ***

- Tomorrow: glimpses from the Christian Dior retrospective -