30 January 2019

Reading for pleasure


Paris' kiosks remain a mainstay of urban life despite the internet and go hand-in-hand with its café culture.

Above: a weekly news magazine issue devoted "to the pleasure of women"

29 January 2019

À la Bastille


In Paris, everyone has their favorite cafés, and this is one of mine.

Café de la Bastille
8 Place de la Bastille 75011
 

28 January 2019

A Christmas table

 
 
 In France, the holiday season officially ends January 31st. Until then, decorations and crèches de noël in churches and homes are left up, cartes de voeux sent out, galettes des rois consumed. Wishing shopkeepers and anyone else you run into a Bonne Année won't be considered unusual and, as the month wanes, "It's still January!" ("C'est encore janvier!") might be added. Like now.

Christmas Day with its sumptuous sit-down lunch is bigger than New Year's Day or even La Fête des Rois, January 6th. Celebrated mostly among family, it's an occasion to dust off that wedding gift or heirloom china, crystal, and silver, and when the pre-lunch apéritif is taken into account, it can easily stretch into five hours. At the end of the meal, a digestif (to help digestion, as its name implies) will also get its own glass. - BPJ

Above: multiple courses mean several plates and glasses per setting, w/each course requiring its own wine

See post: En famille

***

  - L'art de la table dans la tradition française -

Where to find it:
 
Europe's biggest flea market
rue des Rosiers 93400 Saint-Ouen
[best Saturday or Sunday; try to avoid lunch time 12:30-2:30 p.m.]

Upscale antique shops for glassware, tableware, crystal, silver on
 rue des Saints-Pères
[start at the river and zig-zag up the street until you arrive at rue Jacob]

26 January 2019

Coquillages



Seafood lovers will be heading to Montmartre's annual Fête de la Coquille all weekend as Paris celebrates shellfish in all its forms.

Above: a Sunday lunch
 
***

Merci Marcel 
 
 

January 26 - 27, 2019