Beguiled by the Mistress of Cheese, Seduced by the Master of Pork Outside our window Paris is in darkness, a beautiful moody cityscape, the rooftops and buildings moonlit greys, an occasional splash of gold as early risers windows begin to glow. We rug up in our warm coats and scarves and set off on an early morning adventure. We walk slowly to the metro station enjoying this magical part of the day. The soft golden street lights break the […]
Strolling through the 16th arrondissement we walk along blocks of apartments looking for our restaurant for today. The area is not particularly busy with shops or restaurants so when we walk by the large glass windows framing white dining tables and chairs we know we have arrived at Restaurant Bon. As we enter, the space is unmistakably Philippe Starck. The attention to detail, texture, tone, light and scale somehow creates a space that feels surreal but comforting. The warmth of faux […]
The metro is always exciting, Hector Guimard’s Art Nouveau entrances leading you down into the belly of the city where the colours of the metro lines will magically lead you to another part of the city. Green from our home station, then yellow to Concorde to Restaurant L’Ardoise. Sounds silly, but I still have a childlike, butterfly in belly moment when we decide which sortie to choose, wondering what is waiting at the top of those stairs. It was light when […]
I can’t believe today is happening. We have read many of John Baxter’s books, fantastic memoirs of his life in Paris. John is an Australian expat, author, Journalist, filmmaker and film critic, who moved to Paris many years ago after meeting and marrying a French woman Marie Dominique. One of his books talks about the literary tours he got roped into doing in Paris, by a friend who needed rescuing from a dud tour guide that she had engaged to […]
Our Paris apartment is beautiful. On the top floor of a building in the 16th arrondissement with huge picture windows giving us a stunning view over the Paris rooftops to the Eiffel tower. We love being self-contained and not in a hotel room. We get to really live like Parisians while we are here. Part of the fun is grocery shopping, yes it’s a bit of a chore at home but here in Paris it is a fascinating exciting […]
This story is about my feelings as he takes me by the hand and leads me through some of the most wonderful culinary experiences of my life. A journey of discovery of deep pleasure and many firsts. Pleasure in Paris. Paris in December, cool, fresh and draped in a soft grey light that seems to gather things closer together securely enveloping the city. The air is crisp and I love the feeling of being back in Paris. I’m not sure […]
My soul has been put back together, thank you Paris, but time has now come to enjoy our last night in this beautiful city. We head down our little stairway and step out for our final evening stroll in our rue St Honore neighbourhood. We are heading to our favourite little casual bistro, Le Petit Machon. We had initially stumbled across it after an overwhelming morning in the Louvre. Emerging onto the open street from the immensity of the […]
The beautiful Musee d’Orsay, once a Belle Epoque train station, now houses a staggering collection of Impressionist art, as well as other items created between 1848 and 1914. Don’t miss the views of Sacré-Coeur from the balcony—this is the Paris that inspired the Impressionists. I am so excited about today. We have planned a day at the Musee d’Orsay, the museum that holds one of the biggest collections of impressionist and post impressionist pieces. We start our morning early […]
Since opening in 1996, the Hôtel Costes still draws the film, fashion and media jet set. The interior, awash with maroon and mahogany, is lavish Napolean III as conceived by designer of the moment Jacques Garcia. There’s an Italianate courtyard overlooked by Roman gods, and a fitness club and swimming pool. The restaurant is for people-watching, as the din means you certainly can’t converse, and the waitresses seem chosen for their looks rather than efficiency. Summed up beautifully by […]
Together with its gardens, the Château de Versailles is one of the most famous monuments of world heritage. The buildings trace the architectural style of the 17th and 18th centuries and comprise: the Royal Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, the Chapel, the Royal Opera and the Museum of the History of France. The Park is decorated with statues, fountains, water parterres and outstanding buildings such as the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon, the Temple de l’Amour and the […]