Thursday, January 31, 2013

Bistrot Victoires - la couronne


Bistrot Victoires


The tall tiered pedestal on the bar of Bistrot Victoires displayed a gold paper crown, 
the regal spoils for the "king" who found the fève in a galette des rois.


I wonder what they did with the fève?
Yes, I am an obsessed collector


Bistrot Victoires
6, rue la Vrillière
75001, Paris


Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Le Reminet - dans l'ombre



Le Reminet

with candles, a fresh flower, soft lighting,
subtle shadows...

(and a lot of laughter with dear friends)


Le Reminet
3, rue des Grands Degrés
75005, Paris
 

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Rue Jean Ferrandi - un lion



The details of the architecture are a delight,
particularly when you can see the sharp fangs of a lion.


He looks hungry...



3, rue Jean Ferrandi
75006, Paris

Monday, January 28, 2013

Bottes rouges


 
 
Red boots
 
 
They were running, jumping, splashing,
and dancing in front of yesterday's church.
 
 
May you have that kind of week
 
 
 
Rue la Fayette
75010, Paris
 



Sunday, January 27, 2013

Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul de Paris - IV



Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul de Paris


Lest you think that the exterior of any church in Paris tells the whole story,
remember well this magnificent church beyond the doors.


For those who love architecture, there is much to behold.



bon dimanche


Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul de Paris
Place Franz-Liszt
75010, Paris
Métro Poissonnière
 

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Marché d'Aligre - XVI



Marché d'Aligre


This street market in the 12ème is always full of people no matter the weather.

The sounds of the market are lively with the inflections of many languages.  It is a symphony to the ears and the colors are a painting to the eyes.



Marché d'Aligre
Place d'Aligre
Rue d'Aligre et Rue Beccaria
75012, Paris

Friday, January 25, 2013

La Tour Eiffel et la Grande Roue



La Tour Eiffel et la Grande Roue


From this one position, without even turning your head, you can see the Eiffel Tower, the 200-ft tall ferris wheel, the Obélisque de Louxor (75 ft high) in Place de la Concorde, and you can see the flag atop the dome of the Grand Palais.


(Photo taken at the northwest end of Jardin des Tuileries)


Jardin des Tuileries
75001, Paris

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Bibliothèque Nationale - Richelieu Library


Richelieu Library


This is the reading room at the Richelieu Library in Paris, a part of BnF (Bibliothèque Nationale de France).  The Richelieu site is dedicated to coins, stamps, maps, manuscripts, music, objects and prints, holding the rarest objects including first examples of human writing.


This oval reading room is quiet as it should be for reading.
No photos allowed!


(shhhhhhhh....)



Bibliothèque Nationale de France - Richelieu
5, rue Vivienne
75002, Paris


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Jardin des Tuileries - en hiver



The large round basin of
Jardin des Tuileries


The frigid temperatures combined with a layer of snow create concentric circles on the surface of the large round basin.  As you can see from the crowds, not even sub-freezing temperatures will keep people from this park.


I did not sit in the green chairs this day...
brrrrrrr!


Jardin des Tuileries
75001, Paris
Métro Tuileries

(joyeux anniversaire, chère Nanette)

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

La Tour Eiffel sous la neige



La Tour Eiffel


The heavy snow (December 2010) removed all the color from this shot.  
Still, the wrought iron lattice of the tower with its layer of white 
is lovely and a distinct contrast to this same view in the spring.



La Tour Eiffel
75007, Paris

Monday, January 21, 2013

Galette des Rois - fait à la maison


In previous posts, I have talked of galette des rois with photos of the beautiful cakes found in the Paris pâtisseries and I promised to give you an authentic French recipe.  Clotilde Dusoulier is a talented Parisian with a passion for food, an author who started as a blogger (Chocolate & Zucchini).  She is now a full-time food writer with recipes that are authentic and easy to follow, all with detailed instructions.  Here is the link to her Homemade Galette des Rois.


Now, what you see above is not the feuilletage inversé (inverted puff pastry) but an 'acceptable' purchased puff pastry.  If you live in Paris you can buy a slab of puff pastry from G Detou made with the perfect French butter.  Many recipes call for a frangipane filling, but I prefer the crème d'amande which we made using Clotilde's recipe and a scale (carefully weighing the ingredients).  It is divine, and the fève was not forgotten.


If you do not have the luxury of a French bakery just around the corner, you can satisfy your taste buds with a galettes des rois from your own kitchen.  


(You do not even want to know what is called a "King's Cake" in my area of the USA)


bon appetit




"chat avion"



Joining Dreaming of France weekly meme

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Église Saint-Augustin III



Église Saint-Augustin
(seen last Sunday here)


This photo was taken from the rooftop terrace of Printemps.  In addition to the thousands of rooftops and chimneys, the majestic Saint-Augustin stands high above most every other building.  The church is 100 meters long and the dome height is 80 meters (262 feet).  

This Byzantine structure, completed in 1871, was one of the first large buildings in Paris built around a metal frame.  It pleases me greatly that the dome is rouge.


bon dimanche



Église Saint-Augustin
8, avenue Cesar Caire
75008, Paris
 

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Vaucresson - la gare



-Train station-


It is good to get out of the city from time to time.


Oh, the places you will see...



la gare à Vaucresson
Paris suburbs

Friday, January 18, 2013

Sylvie Guillon - Boutique Mode Créateurs


2012 Oct 4 Thursday_297DSC_8389


Sylvie Guillon


Sylvie Guillon, stylist and designer by profession, placed her charming boutique in the heart of the Marais long before it was fashionable.  She has carefully assembled an array of European designers from France, Belgium, Spain, and Italy, all in a relaxed and intimate atmosphere.  The jewelry designs are eclectic and unique, and she has a great collection of scarves and accessories.  


Scarves?  I need to return.




Sylvie Guillon
16, rue de Birague, two steps from Place des Vosges
75004, Paris
Métro Saint Paul

Thursday, January 17, 2013

La Palette - tarte aux fraises


Strawberry Tart


When it pours rain in Paris, perhaps it is a good idea to find a bistro or a café.  
How nice that we had a superb table for taking photos from a dark corner.


Now, if I can just reach that tart.




La Palette
43, rue de Seine
75006, Paris
Métro Mabillon

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Wedding photos



This beautiful couple posed for photos on Ile Saint-Louis on the Quai d'Orleans.  
The temperature was a brisk, 
but the photographer moved quickly to get the desired photos.


The American photographer got her share of photos as well from above.



Bride and Groom
Quai d'Orleans
Ile Saint-Louis
75004, Paris

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Printemps - les jambes



Printemps


This eclectic and brightly displayed window at Printemps is a collaboration 
between Louis Vuitton and Chinese artist Yayoi Kusama.


The repetition of red dots with the assistance of mirrored surfaces is a favorite of mine.  The simplicity of the design has a great impact with this creative display.



Printemps
Boulevard Haussmann
75009, Paris

Monday, January 14, 2013

Jardin du Palais Royal - l'escargot



"Snail"
Jardin du Palais Royal


On the top of a shrub in the garden of Palais Royal, 
we found this little fellow enjoying the gentle rain.


No, I did not order escargot that day.


(Run, little snail!)


Jardin du Palais Royal
75001, Paris

(Joyeux anniversaire, M and D)

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Église Saint-Augustin


2012 Oct 5 Friday_32DSC_8514


Église Saint-Augustin


Architect Louis Baltard's design of 1860 sits majectically at the crossroads of major boulevards in the 8eme Arrondissement.  Its prominence and size makes it easy to locate on a Paris map, and the red cupola is instantly recognized above the city buildings.


bon dimanche




Église Saint-Augustin
8, avenue Cesar Caire
75008, Paris


Saturday, January 12, 2013

Le Marais - Rue des Rosiers




2012 Oct 4 Thursday_332DSC_8424

Rue des Rosiers


There is not much change on this street from one visit to the next. 
I would dare say that except for the Lee store,
there has not been significant change in the past century.
Rue des Rosiers
75004, Paris
Metro St. Paul


Friday, January 11, 2013

Insignes de la royauté


 
Basilique Saint Denis
 
 
Regalia commissioned by King Louis XVIII
 
 
Basilique Saint Denis
Saint-Denis, France

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Le Petit Bofinger - Brasserie



Le Petit Bofinger


This charming brasserie is just across the street from the famed Bofinger.  The reviews look good, and the ambiance is more intimate than its big sister.  The website states that it is perfect for a family meal or a quick business lunch (in Paris!)

The menu provides a better value but if you are looking for the Bofinger Belle Epoque decor and the history of nearly 150 years, you best make a reservation across the street with its café curtain windows.


Le Petit Bofinger has an echo of the windows, 
not with curtains, but with gently frosted glass as seen in the photo above.



Le Petit Bofinger
6, rue de la Bastille
75004, Paris
Métro Bastille

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Le café - Place de la Bastille



Café chairs on the many terraces of Paris sidewalks have long been a subject of photos.  This one caught my eye for the vivid purple webbing, perhaps to distinguish this particular café from the other ten or so around Place de la Bastille.  
I was so taken with the color that I failed to note the name of the café.   
Now, that is unusual.


Do you think that she selected this spot for the warmth of the sun 
or because she was color-coordinated with the chairs?

(and the menu!)



unnamed café
Place de la Bastille
75004, Paris


Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Fransi Shop - magasin de tissus


Fransi Shop


This is but one of the many fabric and textile shops found in Montmartre.  
Quilters and sewers find their way to this section of Paris.  
It is not glamorous but I have heard tales of great bargains.


Although the bolts of fabric seen here are covered at the pavement level, 
I would be concerned about the splashes of cars and delivery vehicles as well as the intermittent rain seen in Paris.





Fransi Shop
11, rue d'Orsel
75018, Paris

Monday, January 7, 2013

MORA - des fèves



The Window of MORA
(Le Spécialiste des Ustensiles de Cuisine)


MORA is one of my regular stops in Paris, to buy a French cookbook, 
powdered colors for making macarons, moule cannelé (for making Canelés de Bordeaux), and fèves.  There are many themes for a collection of fèves and we really wanted the row with the bees (including the Queen bee on the left).  They did not have any left for sale but there were other charming selections as you can see.  Perhaps you would be interested in the row of purses?


I promised a recipe for the galette des rois and have included a link here 
for a very easy galette.  
However, I will be back later with a photo of my galette des rois,
and a French recipe which I prefer.


(Joyeux anniversaire, Marie!)



MORA, au service de la Gastronomie depuis 1814
13, rue Montmartre
75001, Paris
Métro Étienne Marcel


Sunday, January 6, 2013

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

2012 Mar 29 Paris_160DSC_4843



Église Saint-Louis des Invalides


Today is Epiphany, twelve days after Christmas in the Gregorian calendar, marking the end of the Christmas season.  It is also commonly known as Three Kings' Day, Twelfth Night, or the Feast of Epiphany.  It is one of the oldest Christian feasts and has been celebrated since the end of the second century.  


Today I will be making a galette des rois for my family 
and will share the recipe with you tomorrow.


bon dimanche


Église Saint-Louis des Invalides
Les Invalides
75007, Paris

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Galette des Rois


Galette des Rois
"King's Cake"


Tomorrow is Epiphany, January 6th, and every pâtisserie in Paris will have these delicious puff-pastry almond and butter cakes.  It makes my mouth water just to think about it.

Each cake contains a fève, a small porcelain figurine and the lucky person who finds it will wear the crown.  Where I live in the US, we have the cakes but they are nothing close to the French version.  We bake our own.  Our tradition says that the one who finds "the baby" (plastic) is the King and will host the next party.


I will put a real French fève in my Galette des Rois.


Galette des Rois
Boulangerie on Ile St Louis
75004, Paris
 
 

Friday, January 4, 2013

La Tour Eiffel et le carrousel



La Tour Eiffel
Le Carrousel avec énergies renouvelables*

*(probably not a good translation of "Carousel with renewable energy")


Even though I have seen the Eiffel Tower many times 
in all seasons, all weather, different times of day, 
I never cease to be amazed at how huge it is.  


about 100 feet from the base of the tower and it is totally dwarfed.  



La Tour Eiffel et Le Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel
75007, Paris

 

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Le Moulin de la Vierge - III


Le Moulin de la Vierge


About a year ago I posted about Le Mouline de la Vierge 
and the great history of the boulangerie on Rue Vercingétorix in the 14ème.  


This second of four shops also has the historic building classification 
and is found on Rue Saint-Dominique.  
Of the four photos I took from this vantage point, 
there were seven other people seen coming/going through the doors, 
all with baguettes!


I should have made a purchase



Le Moulin de la Vierge
64, rue Saint-Dominique
75007, Paris
Métro La Tour Maubourg


Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Dancing at Mouffetard



Dancing at Mouffetard
  

This little Parisian dancing with her father 
could give the French-girl-wanna-be a run for her money.


Take a moment to dance a step or two today.



Rue Mouffetard
Next to Église Saint-Médard
Métro Censier-Daubenton
75005 Paris

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

L'Aube de la Nouvelle Annee



Sunrise on the Seine


If you have never seen a winter sunrise in Paris (and believe me there are many Parisians who do not even know there is such a thing) you have missed views such as this.  


I was very fortunate to have three trips to Paris this year, visiting with old friends and new, riding Velibs with my daughter Holly, eating oysters, making new discoveries, having a party in our Paris apartment, and showing my husband the city I love in the perfect weather of late March.


May each of you be open to new discoveries in this new year!