Vendôme

A Christmas tree lights up Place Vendôme.

January newsletter

Nouveautés

Galettes de foie

 

 
 

Foie gras, that is.

 

This weekend, while traditional galettes des rois were flying off pastry shop shelves, their savory cousins - foie gras galettes and terrines-en-croûte - were taking center stage at a gastronomique gathering on the Left Bank.

As Champagne flowed and groups of men burst into spontaneous song, talented chefs toiled away preparing foie gras tartines, canapés, and lovingly slicing showcase terrines. A giant galette de roi was distributed at the end and, flûtes in hand, we strolled through narrow streets to the cheers and thumbs-ups of well-wishers on café terraces. And it was barely 11 a.m.

All this to support a noble cause: childrens' charity Association des POIC. - BPJ

 

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Merci Dominique, Alexandre et al., and à la prochaine!....

 

(click photos to enlarge)

Feast of Kings

 

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day.

 

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In France, Epiphany is celebrated with a galette des rois. The tarte-like cakes begin to appear in pâtisserie and boulangerie windows in December and children adore this tradition where the youngest goes under the table and calls out each person's name to receive a slice. Whoever's parte contains the coveted fève - usually a small porcelain figurine of one of the gift-bearing Magi (although there are now many variations, including comic-book-like characters) - he/she will be crowned King or Queen and get to crown his/her King or Queen of choice, so every cake is (or should be) sold with two crowns. 

The galettes usually contain crème frangipane, an almond cream, but upscale bakers have been creating away with pistachio cream (my current favorite) and other fillings, trying not to stray too far from the original. I've made my own galettes in the past - it's not difficult - and like to serve the cake warm, heated for a short time in the oven, never micro-waved (quelle horreur!) so its crispness remains intact. And did I mention its classic accord is a cidre doux - or second choice, a bubbly crémant? - BPJ

 

Above: galettes galore at Pâtisserie Gérard Mulot - 76 rue de Seine 75006

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In Spain, La Fiesta de Los Reyes Magos upstages Christmas and is the big day of gifts for children. When I lived in Cadaqués, a magical white fishing village mecca of artists and writers, from my balcony overlooking the bay we could watch as The Kings - Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar - arrived by boat bearing large bags filled with small gifts for the children who'd gather on the shore with lanterns. They’d then follow these Pied Piper "kings" to the main plaza to music, feasting and dancing. - BPJ

Below: bay of Cadaqués, evening; festival of Los Reyes

Schiele Basquiat Gehry

Extensive works of two ground-breaking artists at the Louis Vuitton Foundation.

Egon Schiele - til January 14, 2019
Jean-Michel Basquiat - extended til January 15 - 21, 2019

Architect: Frank Gehry

Fondation Louis Vuitton

8 avenue du Mahatma Gandhi 75116

See link for info re late hours, shuttle, more

Castle en ville

 A medieval castle in the center of the Marais district.

Tree at the Ritz

 

Christmas tree, l'Hôtel Ritz, Place Vendôme.

2019

 

Atop beautiful Montmartre.

Above: Place du Tertre as evening falls

 

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- UNE TRÈS BONNE ANNÉE À TOUS -

 

 🎉