Archive for June, 2013

Henri Sauvage’s Stepped-terrace Building Gets a New Face

Thursday, June 27th, 2013
Facebook Twitter Linkedin
Henri Sauvage's Stepped-terrace Building on Rue Vavin

Henri Sauvage’s Stepped-terrace Building (1912-1913) on Rue Vavin
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

The scaffolding of Art Nouveau – Art Deco architect Henri Sauvage’s (1873-1932) stepped-terrace building at 26, rue Vavin was being dismantled yesterday to reveal a sparkling-clean, refurbished façade.

Stepped terraces are not the only unusual feature of this building. Sauvage chose to cover the façade with white, glazed stoneware tiles, the material that is commonly used for the walls of most metro stations in Paris, because of the ease with which it can be washed. The use of these tiles fulfills Sauvage’s concern for hygiene, which was a widespread social concern at the time. The tiles can also be seen as a manifestation of his desire to make a break with the past. It was a declaration of architectural modernity!

Sauvage built another stepped-terrace building at 13, rue des Amiraux in the 18th arrondissement.

* * * * * * *

Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!

Beer and Cheese Tasting with Elisabeth Pierre

Wednesday, June 26th, 2013
Facebook Twitter Linkedin
Cheeses and Beers

Cheeses and Beers
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

On Tuesday, June 18, Elisabeth Pierre, a bièrologue whom I’ve blogged about before, held a beer and cheese tasting at Chez Léna et Mimile, a restaurant that I recently reviewed.

Elisabeth presented five beers paired with five cheeses. As the tasting progressed, one pair at a time, she described the qualities of each beer. A colleague, Aki Nakazawa of Fromagerie Hisada, described the cheeses and their qualities, and another colleague, Didier Sintot, co-founder of Groupuscule d’Actions Gustatives (GAG), gave his thoughts about how the flavors of each pair would harmonize.

Cheese Plate

Cheese Plate
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

The tasting proceeded in the following order, from the mildest beer to the strongest:

  1. Curtius, a Belgian ale, paired with goat cheese by Espi du Poitou in Charante
  2. Vieux Tuyé, a French lager, paired with two different Compté AOP cheeses, one aged 25 months
  3. La Rouge Flamande, a French ale, paired with Maroilles AOP from Picardie
  4. 32 Audace, an Italian ale, paired with a Stilton from Great Britain
  5. Inquiète, a French stout, paired with a Dutch Gouda, aged more than 24 months

Following each pairing, we, the participants, were encouraged to express our opinions about the beer, the cheese, and how well we thought that the flavors of each pair suited one another. And at the very end of the tasting, Elisabeth called on each of us to give our opinions about which pair(s) we preferred.

Some liked the very last beer, the French stout, but to my taste it had an unpleasant flavor of bitter coffee. I preferred the first beer, which I found to be mild with only slight bitterness. I found that its flavor and that of the mild goat cheese, harmonized best and pleased me the most. This led me to wonder whether, in each paring, the flavors should be harmonious to begin with or whether they could have opposing flavors that unite into a pleasant taste sensation once they are together in the mouth. I don’t have an answer to that, but it is the sort of question that professionals in the gourmet food business love to analyze and debate.

Aki Nakazawa - Elizabeth Pierre - Didier Sintot

Aki Nakazawa of Fromagerie Hisada
Elizabeth Pierre of La Fille de l’Orge
Didier Sintot of GAG

Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

After the tasting, Elisabeth and her team of taste experts posed for a picture.

Michel Cloes

Michel Cloes, Export Manager of Curtius
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Michel Cloes, export manager of Curtius, participated in the tasting. He posed for a picture with his product, cradling it carefully in his hands like a baby!

A good time was had by all!

* * * * * * *

We participate in Wanderfood Wednesdays. Head over there to explore food from around the world!

* * * * * * *

Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!

La Tarte au Citron by Delmontel

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013
Facebook Twitter Linkedin
Tarte au Citron by Delmontel

Tarte au Citron by Delmontel
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

In this photograph, what is missing from the lemon tart?

Why, it’s the meringue that’s missing, of course. In the place of meringue there is a dome of firm lemon custard, making this tart a double lemon treat!

Monique taste-tested this confection and gives the following evaluation:

With a dense texture, the custard of this lemon tart has a mouthwateringly acidulous flavor, without bitterness. The shortbread crust retained its crunch even after spending a night in the refrigerator. A real delight to eat!

Delmontel
9, rue des Martyrs
75009 Paris
Tel: 01.48.78.29.33
Open every day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. except Tuesdays.

* * * * * * *

* * * * * * *

We participate in Wanderfood Wednesdays. Head over there to explore food from around the world!

Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!

Healing the Earth

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013
Facebook Twitter Linkedin
Aymeric in the Luxembourg Garden

Aymeric in the Luxembourg Garden
Photograph by www.Discoverparis.net

On Friday evening I encountered Aymeric near the Luxembourg Garden where I saw him walking along the sidewalk sprinkling water on trees and shrubs that grow along the walkway. He told me that he was applying a “Maria Thun preparation” to the soil. We entered the garden and he proceeded to dip his brush into the bucket that he was carrying and, with a flipping motion of the wrist, flick a few drops of the solution onto the plants and grass. He said that a homeopathic dose was all that was necessary.

Paris-born Aymeric recently completed an 18-month course in biodynamics in London and hopes to get a job on a farm in Australia. According to information that I gleaned from the Web site address for Le Mouvement de l’Agriculture Bio-Dynamique that he gave me, biodynamics is based on the concept that plants have life forces that must be respected in order for them to grow and flourish.

I wrote about French filmmaker Guillaume Bodin’s documentary on biodynamic wine in the August 2012 edition of Paris Insights newsletter.

* * * * * * *

Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!

Unless Your Father Gets on the Plane Today…

Saturday, June 15th, 2013
Facebook Twitter Linkedin
View of Seine from Pont Saint-Michel

View of Seine from Pont Saint-Michel
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

…he won’t arrive in Paris in time for Father’s Day tomorrow!

The next best thing to being in Paris is reading about it. We have two publications that will stir his passion for the city! The first is our monthly newsletter Paris Insights, written to present an insider’s view of the fascinating history, culture, and contemporary life of the City of Light.

The second is our book Paris Insights – An Anthology, a compilation of a number of our most popular newsletters. Travel writer Jim Calio has called our book Paris Insights – An Anthology “…a witty, incisive and always informative compilation of sights, sounds and good advice about enjoying the City of Light…” Better than a power drill, a necktie, or even a shaving kit, it is a gift that offers an insider’s view of the things to love about Paris.

Just in time for Father’s Day, the Kindle edition of Paris Insights – An Anthology can be purchased and downloaded immediately! And remember…he doesn’t need a Kindle device to read the Kindle edition of Paris Insights – An Anthology! Amazon.com provides Kindle reader apps that work on every major tablet, smartphone, and computer so that he can read Kindle books on whatever type of device he owns. These apps are 100% free. If he needs one, click HERE to go to the Web page for the application that he needs.

Click HERE to order Paris Insights – An Anthology now. Click HERE to enter an annual subscription to our newsletter.

Give your father the gift of Paris on Father’s Day!

* * * * * * *

Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!

Paris – Just in Time for Father’s Day!

Thursday, June 13th, 2013
Facebook Twitter Linkedin

Does your father yearn for Paris? We have two publications that will stir his passion for the city! The first is our monthly newsletter Paris Insights, written to present an insider’s view of the fascinating history, culture, and contemporary life of the City of Light.

The second is our book Paris Insights – An Anthology, a compilation of a number of our most popular newsletters. Travel writer Jim Calio has called our book Paris Insights – An Anthology “…a witty, incisive and always informative compilation of sights, sounds and good advice about enjoying the City of Light…” Better than a power drill, a necktie, or even a shaving kit, it is a gift that offers an insider’s view of the things to love about Paris.

Just in time for Father’s Day, the Kindle edition of Paris Insights – An Anthology can be purchased and downloaded immediately! And remember…he doesn’t need a Kindle device to read the Kindle edition of Paris Insights – An Anthology! Amazon.com provides Kindle reader apps that work on every major tablet, smartphone, and computer so that he can read Kindle books on whatever type of device he owns. These apps are 100% free. If he needs one, click HERE to go to the Web page for the application that he needs.

Click HERE to order Paris Insights – An Anthology now. Click HERE to enter an annual subscription to our newsletter.

Give your father the gift of Paris on Father’s Day!

* * * * * * *

Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!

Ice-cream Party at Mococha

Wednesday, June 12th, 2013
Facebook Twitter Linkedin
Marie-Hélène Gantois and Thaï Thanh

Marie-Hélène Gantois (left) and Thaï Thanh (right)
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Last Thursday evening Marie-Hélène Gantois held an ice-cream party at her boutique Mococha.

Marie was promoting her new partnership with ice-cream maker Thaï Thanh of La Tropicale. Thaï’s ice creams and sorbets are produced in small batches, making this a true artisanal product.

Ice Cream Arranged Like a Flower

Ice Cream Arranged Like a Flower
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

There were twelve flavors to choose from, including an incredible red current and beet flavor. All were scrumptious!

Enjoying Ice Cream

Enjoying Ice Cream
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Grown-ups enjoyed the tasting…

Little Kid

Little Kid
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

…and a little kid did, too. Ice cream is for everyone!

Ice-cream Fun

Ice-cream Fun
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

A good time was had by all!

Chocolats Mococha
89, rue Mouffetard
75005 Paris
Tel.: 01.47.07.13.66
Métro: Censier Daubenton (Line 7)

Open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Thaï Thanh’s ice creams and sorbets will be for sale at Mococha until September 30.

* * * * * * *

* * * * * * *

We participate in Wanderfood Wednesdays. Head over there to explore food from around the world!

Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!

The Eternal Quest for Beautiful Fesses – Our Fesses of the Month

Tuesday, June 11th, 2013
Facebook Twitter Linkedin
Tom on Assignment

Tom on Assignment
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

June 2013 – Fesses of the Month

To photograph this month’s featured fesses, our intrepid blogger visited one of Paris’s most beautiful gardens. There, he found a lovely set on the façade of a remarkable palace.

Follow the link below to learn the location of this haut-relief sculpture and to view a close-up shot of the subject’s lovely fesses!

pinterest.com/pin/411586853415749238/

* * * * * * *

Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!

Don’t Forget Father’s Day – June 16!

Sunday, June 9th, 2013
Facebook Twitter Linkedin

Father's Day 2013

Don’t forget your father on June 16! We have two publications that will stir his passion for the City of Light! The first is our monthly newsletter Paris Insights, written to present an insider’s view of the fascinating history, culture, and contemporary life of the city.

The second is our book Paris Insights – An Anthology, a compilation of a number of our most popular newsletters. Travel writer Jim Calio has called our book Paris Insights – An Anthology “…a witty, incisive and always informative compilation of sights, sounds and good advice about enjoying the City of Light…” Better than a power drill, a necktie, or even a shaving kit, it is a gift that offers an insider’s view of the things to love about Paris.

Our book is available in three editions: Premium (full color), Travelers’ (black and white), and Kindle (electronic). Click here to learn more or to purchase now!

Just in time for Father’s Day—the Kindle edition of Paris Insights – An Anthology can be purchased and downloaded immediately!

If you give your father the Kindle edition, be sure to tell him that a Kindle device is not required to enjoy Paris Insights – An Anthology. Amazon.com provides free Kindle reader apps that allow anyone to read Paris Insights – An Anthology and other Kindle books on any major computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Give your father the gift of Paris on Father’s Day!

* * * * * * *

Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!

Does Papa Pine for Paris?

Thursday, June 6th, 2013
Facebook Twitter Linkedin

Does your papa pine for Paris? We have two publications that will stir his passion for the City of Light! The first is our monthly newsletter Paris Insights, written to present an insider’s view of the fascinating history, culture, and contemporary life of the city.

The second is our book Paris Insights – An Anthology, a compilation of a number of our most popular newsletters. Travel writer Jim Calio has called our book Paris Insights – An Anthology “…a witty, incisive and always informative compilation of sights, sounds and good advice about enjoying the City of Light…” Better than a power drill or a necktie, it is a gift that offers an insider’s view of the things to love about Paris.

Our book is available in three editions: Premium (full color), Travelers’ (black and white), and Kindle (electronic). Click here to learn more or to purchase now!

Just in time for Father’s Day—the Kindle edition of Paris Insights – An Anthology can be purchased and downloaded immediately!

If you give Papa the Kindle edition, be sure to tell him that a Kindle device is not required to enjoy Paris Insights – An Anthology. Amazon.com provides free Kindle reader apps that allow anyone to read Paris Insights – An Anthology and other Kindle books on any major computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Give your father the passion of the world’s most fascinating city!

* * * * * * *

Like our blog? Join us on Facebook!