Strasbourg - Christmas Capital

It’s been a number of years since I’ve been living in France that I have wanted to get out to the Christmas market in Strasbourg - Europe’s largest  and oldest.

Boco - ready-to-go Gourmet food

"Neo-bio" is the term that the owners of this establishment have coined to describe their concept. 100% organic and with Michelin-starred chef's recipes coming together to make for a show-stopping meal.

A Franco-American Thanksgiving recipe

With Thanksgiving coming up in the US this Thursday we thought we'd share a recipe with you to put a twist into your holiday menu. I asked Eric of Cook'n With Class to help us create a meal to delight us all. Chapon instead of turkey, corn bread stuffing, onion marmalade instead of cranberry sauce, sunchoke puree instead of just regular mashed potatoes and a chocolate-nut tart instead of your apple or pumpkin pie? Sound interesting? Read on

Sipping on Saturday: Champagne Soup

Last weekend, I was down in La Rochelle for my nephew's birthday and made a fabulous punch that I had never heard about before. It was sweet and tart and bubbly all at the same time. I asked what it was called and was told its name is Soupe de Champagne and that it packed a punch. Its contents: Lime juice, Cointreau or triple sec, ice, simple syrup (or sucre de canne) and champagne. What more could you ask for.

Friday Fotos - L'As Du Fallafel

If you're a fan of felafels then you need to head down to L'As Du Fallafel in the Marais neighborhood of Paris. I had been hearing about this place since I moved here but hadn't had to time to try for myself.
So about two weeks ago I happened to be in the neighborhood and I went to sample their famous felafel. I found out that dozens of other people had the same idea and the line stretched down the block. Unfortunately, I didn't have a lot of time to spare so I didn't get a chance to try it out.

Then last Sunday I finally got my chance to go back. The line was just as long as the time before but we decided to see what the hype was all about. We got in line and someone came by to take our order. It took about 25 minutes until we got the the takeout window and they made our falafel right in front of us.

I can see why people wait so long. The felafel was very good and very filling. My wife and I shared one and it was a good snack. I want to try their shawarma. Yumm.

L'As Du Fallafel
34 Rue des Rosiers, 75004 PARIS 04, France


Agrandir le plan

Taking food advise pays off: L'Orient d'Or

I was telling a work colleague of mine about how in general I am not thrilled with Chinese food in Paris after all the Chinese food I've had in the US (NY in particular). I know that most of the time the Chinese food we get in the West is not exactly as you would find in the East. Having only been to Hong Kong for a few days, I'm no expert on that matter. So, when she (being Chinese herself from the Schezuan region), I was more than willing to take any advise she could offer.

Wednesday Wanderings - Day Trip to Chantilly

Paris is great but it is nice to get out of the city—luckily, there are plenty of great little towns outside the city. Today we follow Kelly Page as she takes us on a nice tour through Chantilly. I've never been but it is now on my list of places to visit. I especially want to sample Chantilly's famous cream.

One of the wonderful things about living in Paris is that you can hop on a train and be in a totally different environment in less than an hour.  I was in need of a break from the bustle of Paris, but where to go?  I was thinking art, park,and quiet, and all signs pointed to Chantilly.

Tuesday Tidbit: Under my Umbrella

I'm sure someone will correct me and tell me I just haven't been looking in the right place but frankly when I was in Italy I had the impression that the artists who worked with their hands in traditional occupations could be found just about everywhere, a feeling that I don't always get in Paris. So when I come across an ebenist (someone who works with wood to create furniture), Cordonnier (a shoemaker though none today make shoes as far as I can tell), an eguiseur de couteaux (a knife sharpener),  I am awestruck and fascinated. These are metiers (occupations), that are not quite as prevalent as they once were.

Sight Seekers Delight - A Great Way To Explore Montmartre

Millions of visitors come to Paris each year with their guidebooks in hand but never really get to see anything other than the main sights. The smart tourists take walking tours to get up close and personal lesson of the real history and stories that you'll never find in the guidebooks. Today we recount our great walking tour through Montmartre with Sight Seeker's Delight.

Walking tours are one of my favorite ways to explore a city—
especially when you're lucky enough to get a lively and knowledgeable
guide. Last week we had the good fortune of going on a lovely walking
tour through one of my favorite areas of the city, Montmartre. The
tour was run by Sight Seeker's Delight and even though I've spent
plenty of time in Montmartre, I learned so much on the tour.

Sipping on Saturday's Beaujolais Nouveau 2011

For 60 years now, we have been celebrating the Beaujolais Nouveau but what is it exactly?

A red wine made from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France. The press the grapes and allow it to age in the bottle for only a few weeks making for a very light, fruity wine - there is very little tannin. Some argue that it is not wine since it has not undergone any aging process.

Friday Foto: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Paris

Christmas in Paris is full of lights and displays, Christmas markets, hot wine and more. Every year the Paris department stores try to outdo themselves (and each other), with designer displays or mechanical creations to delight shoppers and passersby.

The best time to really get a good look at these displays is at night when the streets are clear and the shoppers have retired to their beds.

Here is one of the windows of the Gallery Lafayette Christmas display on Boulevard Haussman.

A Voyage of flavors - Le Bistrot Voyageur

A new place pops up and you have to ask, will it be good or not? Do you wait for someone to review it and get back to you or will you try it out yourself and take your chances? Well I watched as this place was born. Saw the work going on and then beheld the attractive interior - though from outside. So I of course wanted to try it out. But I just didn't have the time.

Brick de chèvre frais

Paris by Vespa - A New Way To Explore Paris with Two Wheel Tours

A classic ride in the classic city of Paris, James takes a Vespa tour zipping through the city. An interesting vantage point and a speedy way to get around the city. Take a ride with us via Two Wheel Tours on this Wednesday Wanderings

 

Most visitors travel throughout Paris in three ways—metro, bus and by foot. But there is one mode of travel that many Parisians have experienced but tourists seldom get the chance to use—I'm talking about the scooter.

Say What? French Idioms and Expressions

When you're leaning a new language you often hear native speakers say phrases that make absolutely no sense. These idioms and phrases are often quite funny (or confusing) when translated word-for-word but often convey complex ideas. Here are a few of our favorite idioms with the literal translation and their meaning.

PLEUVOIR DES CORDES
To rain ropes.
(Comparable to the English expression, to rain cats and dogs.)

The Many churches of Paris: Val de Grâce

A visit to Paris is not complete without a trip to some of its best known churches both for their architecture and their historical significance: Sacre Coeur (in the 18th), Notre-Dame (in the 4th) or Sainte Chapelle (in the 1st) to name a few. But how many of you know of a little bijou in the 5th? Today's Tuesday Tidbit comes from Monique Wells of Discover Paris!

L'Automne à Paris: Paris in Fall - Things to do this November

Ah yes, Fall is here! the leaves have turned, the temperature has cooled down. Time to bring out your stylish scarfs and fabulous boots and of course head to Paris. Photographer Julia Griner gives you plenty of reasons to come and enjoy Paris in November.

Wednesday Wanderings - Biking Burgundy

Today's Wednesday Wanderings was written by Kelly Page of Page in Paris. Join her as she recounts her peaceful journey though the picturesque vineyards and backroads of Burgundy's wine country.

Burgundy is a beautiful place to see by train or car, but to fully immerse yourself in the small villages and fall colors, grab a bike for the best seat in town and and ride through the middle of the vines.

Tuesday Tidbit: Can we drink the water in Paris?

We often get asked at our check-ins if the water is drinkable in Paris("potable" in French)?