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

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

 

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

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

 





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

 

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

 

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

Sylvie Guillon - Boutique Mode Créateurs

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

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

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

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

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)

Église Saint-Augustin

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



Le Marais - Rue des Rosiers

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



Insignes de la royauté

 

Basilique Saint Denis

 

 

Regalia commissioned by King Louis XVIII

 

 

Basilique Saint Denis

Saint-Denis, France

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

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

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

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

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

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

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

 

 

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.  

The carousel with renewable energy sits 

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

 

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

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

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!