Exposed beams, an ancient door and a cave dating to the Middle Ages: this seems like an unlikely setting for a Paris restaurant serving ultracontemporary Franco-Japanese fare, yet somehow it all works. Upstairs is an elegant, classic dining room, but downstairs in the “salle japonaise” you’ll be asked to remove your shoes for a seat at one [...]
Last weekend marked the 17th annual Salon du Chocolat, and the first annual chocolate hangover for me. Held in a huge pavilion in the Porte de Versailles, it is a chocolate trade show dedicated to the cocoa bean: its growers, chocolatiers, and consumers. I had been warned that there would not be a lot of [...]
Last Saturday we decided to go to Candelaria which is a bar/taqueria here in Paris. When we walked in the first thing I noticed was how tiny the eating area is but one look at the menu and I thought “well this looks promising although it is pretty pricey.” 2 tacos for 5,50€ is ridiculous especially [...]
In the opening scene of Woody Allen’s Midnight In Paris, he provides a panoramic shot of Place du Trocadéro, with the Eiffel Tower in the background, framed by Palais de Chaillot that is perched atop a hill spread out with an esplanade guarded by tall statuettes. It distills life in Paris perfectly, with waiters in [...]
I’ve heard izakayas described as Japanese pubs, which is an apt comparison if the pubs you frequent offer cool damp towels to cleanse your hands and serve chilled sake and small plates of gyoza, instead of pints and chicken and chips in a basket. Recently, I was delighted to discover an izakaya in Paris, a [...]
The new book PastryParis, by Susan Hochbaum, is perfect for those who love Paris and pâtisserie (that is, tout le monde). As the book’s subtitle says, “in Paris everything looks like dessert.” Author and graphic designer Susan Hochbaum has cleverly juxtaposed the city’s sweetest treats with its iconic architecture, landmarks, and urban and artistic details. [...]
The first impression when entering the Opera Restaurant at the Palais Garnier is being in a grotto. I imagined growing mushrooms. My husband imagined the grotto in Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera. We were both right. Contrary to your normal grotto though, this one is full of light and color. The fantasy of the menu [...]
This ain’t your granny’s drugstore. The shiny Drugstore Publicis sits in the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe (133 Ave des Champs Elysees) and serves as a one-stop upscale shop for books, food (both sit down and to go), drinks, cigarettes, movies, magazines and more. I’ve passed this place countless times and never been moved [...]
Maybe I’m just lazy, but I like one-stop shopping: a single trip on the métro, rewarded by a multitude of destinations. Especially when all the destinations are related to food. Today, I’m excited to share some of my favorite shops in the neighborhood at métro Maubert-Mutualité. There is the excellent fromagerie, Laurent Dubois, a meilleur ouvrier [...]
Several companies offer produce-delivery services to the Ile de France, including to each of the 20 arrondissements. While many provide similar products, they differ in the size of baskets offered, price, subscription options, organic versus non-organic, and delivery method. Depending on your needs, you may also decide to go with a company that does more [...]
