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A Little Paris Café Story

24 May

P1200777So my dear friend Quinn (who has just very recently left Paris for the Land Down Under to follow her ♥ -but she will be back someday, let’s say in like 2-3 years…) has been going to a café in the 9th for well over a year. And she has been going, religiously. I think she’s still the Mayor on Foursquare even though she is no longer in Paris! She kept telling me to go there, and me never “finding the time” to hike over there put it off and off. And then Quinn left… :-( Her café of choice? : Kooka Boora.
P1200752 Continue reading 

Café Hopping in Paris

6 May

So there is this concept that people tend to do in their 20′s, called bar hopping. It happens at night, silliness and debauchery is involved and beverages are drunk.

P1200240I am in my 30′s so my bar hopping days are long gone, but I do enjoy a good bout of café hopping! Coffee was in the late 18th century considered a drug (it was consumed at EXTREMELY high concentrations so people would get practically high off it and start (French) revolutions. So if I were an 18th century Parisian I could be considered to wild and crazy, but now coffee is one of the most civilized drinks, caffeine a blasé drug and it is taken as an afternoon treat when one is trying to relax. Robespierre may well have fallen over in his seat if he had been aware of such an outcome of this substance. But there you have it.

I met Mary of Fox in Paris and we hopped from Café Coutume in the 7th to the Télescope café in the 1st. Continue reading 

Organic Elegance : Rose Bakery Tea Room

14 Apr

Rose Bakery Opens at Le Bon Marché

quinnconnors

By Quinn Connors

Rose Bakery

Earlier this month, the third edition to the Rose Bakery Paris family opened on the second floor at the Bon Marché on Paris’ Left Bank. After establishing a worldwide presence from Paris and London to Seoul and Tokyo, culinary power couple Rose and Jean-Charles Carrarini brought their organic, English tastes into a chic, Parisian atmosphere and opened the Rose Bakery Tea Room. “In respecting our values for what they are, and not what they represent, our move into the Bon Marché Rive Gauche avoids all stereotypes. Each of our locations is always very personalized. The space changes, but our cuisine remains the same.” Continue reading 

Le Petit Parisien – New York

19 Feb

Post by Frank Cierpial

Frank G Cierpial

PetitParisienSometimes the hustle and bustle of New York can be too much for anybody and it is nice to take a short journey into a quiet mountain town. This mountain town is in the Garden State of New Jersey. It is called Montclair and I know it well, because I go to Montclair State University. Montclair is a town full of sidewalk cafés, cute little independently owned businesses, and is known for its French community. Baptiste and Leme Maldonado are part of this French community. They came here from Versailles, France two years ago, and just 8 months ago opened this adorable French Pastry place called “Le Petit Parisien”. Continue reading 

Le Temple – Kitsch your heart out!

20 Jan


Frédérique of The Wedding Tea Room, and I, were heading to grab a drink the other night for some.quick facetime and a chat to toss around promotional ideas for her upcoming DIY workshop. We met at République as it was convenient foot us both. But I didn’t want to go anywhere on the Place de la République which is mostly populated by chain restaurants, cafés and fast food joints. So we walked literally a minute south of the place and stumbled upon a place that had written “Le Temple” on the awning. Obvious name as the metro station Temple is just across the street. Continue reading 

Americana Nostalgia Diner in Paris

21 Dec

So, since Obama has been in the white house, Americana has gained enormous amounts of popularity over here in Paris. I can see a great difference from the days when Parisians were protesting the war in Iraq (protest which I participated in my first year here in the city of Lights and Love).

Hamburger in Paris

Americana diners are popping up all over the city and the hamburger has become a super trendy meal, with popular websites like My Little Paris writing about the “best burger in Paris” and the Ralph Lauren restaurant Ralph’s serving a whopping 27€ but apparently über delish! I don’t know if I could allow myself though to chose that menu item when I go there (as I am planning in it sooner or later) because they do serve Maine Lobster on the menu, and that for me is a vital part of my New England-raised-and-educated desires, much more so than a burger. But that will be for another post. There is also the extremely popular food truck Le Camion Qui Fume, where people stand in line for an hour for street food burger and fries. They have even published a recipe book! Burgers are back and totally popular among the trendy chic in the chicest city in the world.

I do think that I shall write a post with my review of all the different Americana burger joints in the city, but I still haven’t tasted them all! I am working on that, slowly but surely. My most recent tasting was at Chibby’s Diner. An adorable Americana Diner that brings you back to a nostalgic time in the USA, right here in the middle of Paris.

Continue reading 

Fashion Brunch in Paris

20 Nov

Brunching is THE thing to do in Paris. Make your brunch experience even trendier if you head to the Fashion Brunch IN’a City. For it’s second year in a row, the Fashion Brunch concept createtd by Tiyi of InAcity.fr  is hosting weekend events this winter where you can get a fabulous New York style brunch for 25€ with sweet and savory dishes accompanied with breakfast drinks. You get to go back for seconds, and if you go for the brunch the 2€ entry fee is reimbursed to you.

This new edition will be held at the Café A in the Masion de L’Architecture right next to the Gare de l’Est in the 10th. A fabulous open space in this historic building will host the brunch restaurant and a giant room next door is where all the fashion and fun will try to contain itself!

Prete Moi Paris Continue reading 

Amélie, NYC bar à vin

12 Sep

Post by Frank Cierpial

For the Francophiles on the other side of the Atlantic…

Photo by : Frank Cierpial

Going out in New York is hard to do. There are countless complaints that I have about the New York nightlife. Either the music is too loud, there is no place to sit or walk that does not involve getting drinks spilled on you, or  if you want to keep your shirt clean, it is too expensive. With that said, Going out in New York and trying to satisfy a craving for French culture is even harder. But Francophiles in the New York or San Francisco areas, there is an outlet for your yearning for French culture. Continue reading 

Paris is a moment…

24 Aug

Sometimes that Parisian moment can last a matter of hours, a day, several months, a year, a few years, a decade…more…a lifetime or beyond.

What makes Paris so special? I think it is the moments that are spent here, that go fleeting by, and we try so desperately to grasp them and make them last longer then they do. We bask in this beautiful place, feeling like kings for a day, a month, a year, or more, and think to ourselves…how did we get so lucky? Continue reading 

God Save The Kitchen

16 May

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I came across this place when I was grabbing some supplies for wedding prep at an art store near métro Nation. And it looked so absolutely inviting that I just had to go in! I sat and had a demi pression and chatted with the barman and the owner who is a young woman about my age and she was setting up the tables for the dinner hour. Continue reading 

Ethicando : cultivating community in a café

13 May

So the French Socialist Party has taken over the executive power of the state in France… so let’s hear it for a little social and ethical thinking!

Ethicando, is a place with such values. A cooperative market that is “100% made in social Italy” as they put it.

6, rue de la Grange Aux Belles
75010 PARIS
+33 (0) 1 84 06 18 43
Métro : République ou Jacques Bonsergent

Continue reading 

Le Village: a little café with big personality

1 Jan

We were drawn in by the fun things we noticed in the windows as we were leaving the marché Saint Martin…we went in to see more, stayed for a bite to eat and left completely charmed!

Eric Cormier, owns and runs this cheery deli and épicerie fine, and puts as much enthusiasm and energy into the place as you can imagine. He strikes up a conversation with everybody who walks in the door, treats you like friends and has a joke or a chuckle to punctuate every phrase. Even with all the cute and colorful décor, it is certainly monsieur Cormier who gives this place its irresistible fun and delightful atmosphere!

Monsieur Cormier’s first restaurant is L’Encrier, a well known place in the Bastille area where people gather with friends and strike up conversations with strangers. It’s a place for neighborly friendliness as is his new place Le Village.

Brandade de Morue

Cheesecake

Le Village : A mélange of French and Anglo/American products and menu choices, this place is certainly a great meeting spot of the two cultures, and worth a visit from any respectable Parisian and every vacationing visitor! Go there for the fun and tasty bites and stay for the cheerful ambiance.

25 rue Bouchardon 75010, Paris

Friday en Français : Je suis comblée

20 May

Le concept : traduire un ancien billet et français, déjà pour pratiquer mon français à l’écrit mais aussi pour faire un geste envers mes lecteurs et lectrices francophones! N’hésitez pas à me corriger mon français.

The concept : translate an old post into French, first in order to practice my written French, but also to be a bit more welcoming to my francophone readers! Don’t hesitate to correct my French.

(Original post in English here)

Originally posted October 25, 2009 / Publication d’origine le 25 octobre 2009

J’ai reçu beaucoup de bonnes vœux dans le but de célébrer le fait que je vieilli (mais ne grandis pas), ainsi j’aime référer à mon anniversaire. Et j’ai été étonné par le nombre de mes amis français qui m’ont dit : “j’espère que tu as eu tout ce que tu voulais!” (Je me demande si c’est une truc français de dire ça???) Ma réponse à cela : je suis déjà bienheureuse!! Surtout grâce à mes proches qui m’ont entouré avec leur compagnie qui m’est très chère dans mon bar préféré dans le Marais, le Yono, rue de Temple. Nous avons bien rit, bien bu, bien dégusté du gâteau que j’ai fait pour eux. On m’a aussi emmené brunché le lendemain matin… et quel brunch! Au Safran situé dans le Hilton hôtel palace, sous un décor somptueux nous avons eu le grand service bien polis et souriant… de tel service est souvent considéré comme rare à Paris. Le concept du brunch est un buffet, mais ce n’est pas le buffet moyen-mange-tout-ce-que-tu-peux. Il y avait des rangées de langoustines, des plats entiers des dizaines de tranches de foie gras, des bols de salade remplis de poulet au curry et aux amandes, tranche après tranche de thon braisé, des rouleaux et des rouleaux de sushi, plusieurs plats de saumon, des bols des haricots verts sautés au noix pécan et des morceaux de bacon, des étagères de desserts tous en couleurs pastels, chocolat, des paniers de croissants, un sous chef qui découpait le rosbif et le jambon rôti au miel…et des roues et des parts de tant de fromage, assez pour une roi.

Je suis retournée trois fois pour me resservir! Ce n’est pas un lieu où l’on irait toutes les semaines si on prends en compte le prix (et les calories), mais pour un événement heureux c’est parfait. On a un choix devant soi qu’aucun restaurant pourrait proposer en menu, et le service, vraiment est impeccable! Nos verres de vins ne restaient jamais à moitié vide, et notre serveuse ne gênait jamais nos déplacement vers le buffet, mais était toujours disponible quand on avait besoin d’elle. Mes gracieux remerciements à ceux qui ont célébré mon anniversaire avec tant de délice et d’amitié! :)

Hermès – Espace de luxe

1 Mar
 

IMG00025-20110217-1638, première mise en ligne par PreteMoiParis.

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Hermès gave itsself last Fall a beautiful new concept-store for everything Hermès, in what used to be the luxury pool of the Lutecia palace hotel. With a stunning wood sculpted interior, a study in flower design at the entrance, a classy café and small scenes of Hermès living, this is not only a place to shop, but a relaxing atmoshpehere to discover or rediscover French luxury.

Hermès s’est offert en automne dernier un magnifique “concept-store” de tout ce qui est du monde Hermès, dans l’ancienne piscine classé monument historique de l’hôtel palace Lutecia. Avec d’étonnantes sculptures en bois qui décorent l’intérieur, une étude du design floral à l’entrée, un café classe et des petites scènes d’une vie Hermès-esque, ce n’est pas seulement un lieu pour s’acheter quelques chose, mais aussi un atmosphère où l’on peut découvrir ou re-découvrir le luxe français.

17 rue de Sèvres, 75006 Paris, France

Sometimes less frills is better – Grizzli café

25 Feb

Le Grizzli Café

7, Rue Saint-Martin, 75004 Paris

Tél : 01 48 87 77 56

We went there for an after work apéro, and ended up staying for dinner!
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A cosy little place snuggled in the Beaubourg neighborhood, that is un-assuming yet full of charm. Bistrot style decor and fare, on two levels with café tables in front and a beautiful bar, there are so many surprising things on the menu.
I had “nems” or spring rolls that were the best I have ever had, EVEN better than some I have had in Vietnamese restaurants! Maybe it was because I was hungry. But I really think they were the most delicious I have ever had. My dinner dates had creamy fennel soup that they seemed ecstatic over.
We had magret de canard as the main dish, and it was so succulent and the sauce so juicy that we Ooo-d and aahh-d over every bite.
The first half of dinner was almost void of conversation we were so enthralled in our food.
The kitchen was not visible, but the food arrived by one of those old pantry pully systems, and arrived in a tall cupboard where the servers would open the doors and pull out the plates, and returned the used ones down to wash.

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The service was kind, open and friendly. they were even meticulous about inquiring on ingredients (for my, the lactose-intolerant nightmare). I thank them kindly for that.
A menu and a moment that you will enjoy, guaranteed!
Bon appetit!

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Sew what

13 Dec

I love this little tea shop / fashion café – café couture / sewing station … As hard as it is to define this place, there is one thing that you definitely go there to do : sew! You ca rent a machine for 6€ an hour, buy vintage patters, sit have a coffee or tea with cookies and knit, chat, learn, create…
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Started by An Austrian fashion designer and a Swiss artiste de maquillage, who came to Paris and noticed a need for a place such as this. Kind of like the internet-café concept, only instead of computer stations there are sewing machines! The Sweat Shop, in the 10th arrondissement.

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It’s a lively place where conversation strikes up easily between strangers and where there’s always someone around to help you when the thread gets stuck in the machine you are using.
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Fashion is personal again, because…you make it, or modify it. You have the ability to use your bare hands to create something, and that holds more satisfaction than any store purchase.

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While I was in there the other day, a woman who had successfully finished a lovely computer bag made out of a pretty cream canvas fabric with big lipstick-red flowers on it, was so happy and proud of her creation that she showed it to anyone who would lift their head up from their stitching to look. I was quite impressed, for I was working on my first item ever and it was not coming out very well, but then I learn better by making mistakes. But it’s just goes to show, how much more satisfying it is to make your own computer bag, than it is to buy one…besides who sells cream and lipstick-red flowered computer bags? Gotta make it yourself!

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You can attend a couture class in order to perfect your technique or take a beginners class to start from stitch one.

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Sugarplum Holidays!

11 Dec

My pals at the Sugarplum Cake Shop are already ridiculously talented and amazing, but you should see them when the holidays come around, they transform into Sugarplum fairy-godmothers-tinkerbells-and Titanias before your very eyes!

(see the Christmas menu video at the bottom of the page)

The Sugarplum Cake Shop : 68 rue Cardinal Lemoine, 75005 Paris France. Cake shop, tea room and land of the sweets!

Zee tree getting zee decorations
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The fabulous choclate cupcakes that I can eat becauze they don't have any lactose (minus the frosting)!

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The gâteau Yule log! (order one for your holiday party!)

Here’s just the tip of the iceberg of what these ladies fairies are capable of :

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The snowboarding snowmen, they are made out of sugar.

 

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Ok ladies, the attention to detail is increddiiible! A polka-dot scarf!

 

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I came to help decorate the tree.

 

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The tree is getting more decorations!

 

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The sugarplum fairy Laurel

 

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Bring their recipes home and make them yourself!

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Cutest gingerbread house I ever saw!

 

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This is called : ATTENTION TO DETAIL!!!

 

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Oriental Xmas!

 

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Not a creature was stirring, except for the mouse...

 

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...to all, and to all a good night!

 

"à couper le souffle" = Breathtaking

18 Oct


Want a stunning view of the Parisian skyline, while you kiss your sweetie, sans the tourists??? STOP! Don’t go to Sacre Coeur! There you have to battle with panhandlers and bad guitarists singing “No Woman No Cry” with some drunk hippies sprawled on the steps up to the Basilique.

Head over to the 20th arrondissement, and discover the parc de Belleville. The view from the top is breathtaking, especially at sunset. At the Square A. Luquet, you’ll find charming cafés with a better view than most overpriced restaurants, where you can sip a cool refreshing apéritif, and watch the city turn a smoky shade of pink with the retiring sun.

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