Queen of the hill

The Basilica of Sacré Coeur crowns the highest hilltop in Paris.

 

Standing order

No stools or chairs here: find a space and squeeze in at the counter for innovative French tapas and fabulous wines by the glass or bottle. 

Above: grilled croque monsieur of comté cheese and black truffles

Yves Camdeborde, chef de cuisine

L'Avant Comptoir de la Terre
3 Carrefour de l'Odéon 75006


February newsletter

Nouveautés

Graffitiart

There is graffiti and then there is graffiti.

Season's end

 Today ends the holiday season in France.

Above: decorations in the Marais district last night

Bark with bite

Looking back on the holidays there was much activity in our small Paris kitchen.

Above: candied ginger, sea salt, pistachio, hazelnut, almond, fennel seed dark chocolate bark; milk chocolate bark w/sea salt, sesame seeds, fennel seeds and Lapsang souchong (smoked) tea leaves

 

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Some of the sweeter highlights:

 

Several varieties of homemade chocolate bark were paired with after-dinner espresso or turned into gifts.

Vanillekipferl, Austrian hazelnut vanilla butter crescents (below), a family recipe, disappeared as fast as I could make them.

 

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French chocolate: what makes it so good
February newsletter

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"

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