The Trials and Tribulations of Working in France

As an American, I get asked quite often about how I'm able to work in France. I usually just say that I had to do a lot of paperwork but I honestly don't have enough time at the check-in to explain everything I've gone through. So I thought it might be interesting to go though most of the process that I've had to experience in the past year.

L'heure de l'apéro: What to order on a warm Summer's day

When sitting at a French cafe you don't often get handed a drink menu. Somehow the bartender assumes you should already know - probably pretty much the same in any simple bar around the world. No doubt if you ask for one they would hand you a small list of possible drinks or if a bit fancier a nice wine list but there are several things that may not appear on the menu but are still possible to request. So what to choose. You can always do what most people would do and order exactly what you always order - just to play it safe.

London 2012: Paris versus London

So the games begin today! Paris could be jealous of London for winning the games but I think instead we may be relieved considering the share expense gone through to put this all together. The security that will be needed. The mass invasion for the course of several weeks.

Noodle Atelier - Fresh noodles in Paris

It's nice when friends help you discover their own little Paris food secrets. Especially other foodie friends. It's also always interesting to see what food picks my friends find interesting enough to share. So off we went in the pouring rain (actually the rain may have come afterwards - but I digress),  to this little two floor Asian restaurant to discover what they were going on and on about.

Wednesday Wanderings: Square Capitan

Ohh Paris... the city seems to always have surprises around every corner. Today's guest post comes from Tom Reeves—the co-founder of Discover Paris!. Keep reading to find out about this beautiful (and award winning) garden in the 5th arrondissement.

For over fifty years, the City of Paris has conducted an annual contest among its gardeners for the most beautiful landscape arrangements in the city. Each year there is a different theme—this year’s is Jardin du Monde (World Garden).

For the love of good coffee - Tom Clark Coutume Café Paris

Paris is one of those cities that seems to run on coffee but doesn't seem to have a big artisan specialty coffee culture like in other large cities. But things are starting to change. Coutume is one of the hottest coffee shops and it is one of the few that actually roasts its own beans on sight. 

Follow Yetunde as she interviews Tom Clark, co-founder of Coutume, and learn more about what makes their coffee so special.

I must confess, I am not a big coffee drinker. The whole idea of this bitter beverage that has been waking people up for centuries, eludes me. Caffeine does not seem to have the same effect on me that it does on others or maybe I just haven't had a strong enough dose. I recall in high school trying to desperately find a way to stay awake for my 7:50 am English class and making myself an enormous cup of coffee only to find myself dozing right off in front of the teacher. Yikes!

But I know plenty of people who love coffee, whose doctor's will tell them to cut back on the coffee and it will have them on their knees begging. People who are just not right without that first cup in the morning. I've met former coffee producers in Brazil who have told me that their coffee beans are the best. And coffee farmers in Bali who talk of the oddest coffee that I have ever heard of and would never in my life drink. But if there is one thing I do love in the coffee world it's a great cappuccino. And mainly in Italy have I been able to enjoy a proper cup - that is till now.

Friday Foto: Summer in France

Summer in France means a lot of things. In some areas it means high temperatures, beaches, lakes, canal boat rides and more. It means Paris Plage! Ice-cream, festivals and outdoor cinema and concerts.

This Summer the Northern part of France has not been spoiled with sunshine and one has had, at times to go further afield to remember what time of year it is. But enough gloom. Here's a photo that's sure to bring a smile. A flower that like a lot of us is a sun worshiper as well.

Happy Friday everyone!

Thursday Food for Thought - Bouillabaisse: French Fish soup

Bouillabaisse has not always had the notarity it has today. Enough so that it should end up on menus of 3-star restaurants. This Southern French soup was a meal fit for fishermen who put into it whatever they couldn't sell - either because it was unattractive or small. It was a hearty meal at the end of a long day at sea. The name bouillabaisse comes from the cooking technique, you would bring the broth to boil bouillir then lower it baisser.

Parisian Taxi Know How

Why is it that Paris taxis have such a bad rep? Why is it that you can never seem to get a taxi when you need one? Why is it that they don't stop when you flag them down? What does a normal taxi look like? What does the taxi cost from point A to B? All these questions come into the minds of tourists when traveling to Paris. Some of these questions are even in the minds of locals who could probably share their fair share of taxi horror stories but they are not all bad.

You can't miss this red windmill when you arrive at metro Blanche in Montmartre. The legendary Moulin Rouge has been an iconic part of Paris' history since 1889, the creation of the Catalan Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler. It was also a favorite hang out of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec who painted their famous flyers.

Restaurant Chatomat

Listening to the advise of a chef can be rewarding indeed. In my recent interview with chef Constance Deledalle, she mentioned this little restaurant as one of the suggested Paris restaurants. I thought that I would have to add it to my list of must try places after all I know how meticulous she is when it comes to cooking and food, so there was no doubt in my mind that this would have to be a place where the chefs were just as passionate about food as she is.

Chateau de Vincennes

For all you history buffs out there a visit to the Chateau de Vincennes should be on your list. Certainly a bit of imagination needs to be used to see the history that unfolded in this once Castle of the kings of France, turned military barracks under Napoleon.

Sipping on Saturdays: La Vie en Rosé

Rosé wine sometimes gets a bad reputation but in France there are many fine examples and this post will help you find a nice Rosé wine. This week's Sipping on Saturday comes courtesy of Preston Mohr, a Feels Like Home in Paris friend and the wines instructor of Cook'n With Class and our cheese & wine classes.

It seems that summer has finally just arrived here in Paris, if little bit late! But nonetheless, we are so thrilled to finally be able to shed some of these heavy layers and to expose some (very un-tanned) skin. We are also elated to pop a few corks of rosé wine, my summer tipple par excellence.

Photos from La Butte de Montmartre

For me, the best time to snap photos around Paris seems to me to be early in the morning before 9 am in the Summer time. The cobbled streets around Sacre Coeur are quiet (except for the morning deliveries), and the tourists are not all out en mass. The light is soft and some great shots can be obtained. And so here I was at about 8 in the morning strolling about Place du Tertre, rue Saint Rustique and rue Norvins. La butte de Montmartre is colorful and alive even when the streets are empty.

Forget the Nutella! Give me Speculoos spread!

You've all heard of Nutella, no? That delicious hazelnut spread that I've been told some people find themselves eating by the spoonful in front of the TV. A common ingredient to spread across your crêpes. An essential part of le goûter around 4 PM.

Parc de Bercy and Bercy Village

When the heat is on, Parisian will take to the parks and grassy centimeters of space to sunbathe and relax. Like the Terraces these are much sort after and a park can quickly become overcome with local inhabitants.