Savory Saturday

 A sharing planche mixte with a side of hummus warms a winter afternoon.

 

Wine Wednesday

 Midweek apéro of charcuteries and cheeses from Spain and France separated by a vibrant red from Portugal.

 

A sharing planche

 

A generous planche mixte loaded with French charcuteries and cheeses, à partager.

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  Most menus in Paris cafés now include an "à partager" (to share) section with a variety of appetizers and planches.

 

A planche in winter

 

Warming up a Paris afternoon with a classic planche mixte - selected French cheeses and charcuteries - and wine.

 

A Paris planche

 

 

Once a rarity, the planche mixte, perfect for a sharing apéro or even a light meal, seems to be everywhere - and some of the best are at local cafés and wine bars.

June newsletter

Home for the holidays #3

Another holiday apéro, for six.

 

Above: planches of charcuteries w/assorted crackers; home-made variation of Austrian Liptauer cheese dip; sweet-salty pretzels w/nuts mix (recipe: David Lebovitz)

 

 

Cheese is always a good idea

French cheeses and champagne.

Santé!

"Santé!" (to your health...), the standard toast in French, has never seemed so apt.

Above: setting up for Sunday night's multi-time-zone zoom session when everyone raised a glass

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The grissini is Mario Fongo's whole wheat hand-rolled grissini integrali at Eataly Paris (online), many Italian specialty shops, at La Grande Épicerie and other épiceries. Call first.

Sharing

 

 

Canapé seating (pun intended) both inside and on the terrace, it's in Montmartre, it has a fun vibe and street view, and all of the wines are from Burgundy.

Where is it?

Above: our two planches mixtes were plenty for four

October newsletter

L'assiette mixte

Local wine bars and wine restaurants are the surest places to find share-worthy combo cheese and charcuterie plates and planches. Country bread, butter from Isigny and a crisp Bandol rosé round this one out.