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Posts tagged ‘weekend getaway’

Jun 27

7 Comments

No. 288: Cats on a Wet Deauville Roof

We are enjoying a relaxing, albeit extremely foggy and cool sojourn in Deauville. The rooftops are magnificent in this old school beach resort and I am charmed by the ceramic felines creeping about the gables and tiles.

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I am guessing they are there to keep the seagulls and pigeons at bay, but there has to be a more enchanting tale, nest ce pas? I have scoured the web but have yet to find a beguiling yarn. Does anyone know the legend of the cats (and squirrels) on the not-so-hot roofs of Deauville?

deauville_cats_rooftops.jpg

Jun 26

3 Comments

No. 287: Discovering that Michael Jackson is Alive and Well in Deauville

Michael Jackson with adoring fans in Deauville…Normandy, France

Michael Jackson with adoring fans in Deauville…Normandy, France

Jun 18

12 Comments

No. 279-284: six tartelettes que j’aime

bathroom-scale

I am starting to wonder if I will ever lose those last 10 lbs. while I am living in Paris. I only seem capable of “being good” for 4-5 days at a time, and then I have a complete breakdown and wander into a gorgeous pâtisserie and it is back to square one and late-night bike rides on my vélo d’appartement trying to burn the extra calories from the day.

Let’s just say, it will be a very late evening tonight as I mistakenly strolled into Eric Kayser for a healthy quinoa, salmon and roquette salad and came away with a bit more than I bargained for.

Damn, the French and their daily menus which include a boisson (drink) and dessert along with the salad for only an extra €2.30.

As I have missed several days of blogging this week (due to the deluge of American guests à l’hôtel Nancy—going on 24 days, but who’s counting…), I looked at the stunning display of desserts and thought, “I’ll do a post on tartelettes.” And that mes amis is where the diet went all to hell.

Argh! I almost always go for the fruity tartelettes, mais aujourd’hui, I put my healthy blinders on and went straight for the chocolate and caramel display. And then I saw it, those two magnificent flavors combined, and a mini-dessert I had somehow  managed not to discover over the course of nearly 3 years: la tartelette au caramel et chocolate. Donc, I had to buy one. After all, it was a better deal to get the menu instead of just a salad and drink.

Long story short, I split the first one with Button. It was divine, like heaven popped on a plate. And then for the sake of my readers, I bought a second one to bring home and photograph (and retaste) for my blog. Curses!

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Below please see my six favorite tartelettes that I have eaten at one time or the other over the past years all for you and in the name of research: 

 tarte-caramel-chocolat.jpg

tartelette caramel chocolat

tarte-aux-poires-paris.jpg

tartelette aux poires

tartelette mascarpone fruits rouges

Len_tre_Tartelette_aux_pommes

tartelette aux pommes

tartelette-au-citron.jpg

tartelette au citron

tarte-abricot-pistache.jpg

tartelette  abricots et pistaches

Vocabulaire

mais aujourd’hui: but today

mes amis: my friends

vélo d’appartement: exercise bike

 

 

 

Jun 13

13 Comments

No. 275: Dîner en Blanc

diîner-en-blanc-paris.jpgOn my way home from the Eurostar last night I found myself smack dab in the middle of the twenty-sixth annual dîner en blanc. This pop-up dining event secretly planned and held al fresco in a predetermined place which is kept secret from attendees until a few moments before it begins, is definitely on my bucket list of things I hope some day to be invited to.

This year’s by-invitation-only-soirée took place over six bridges throughout Paris. Dressed in all white and eating only white food (no vin rouge allowed), over 12,000 people participated in this posh version of a flash mob.

From talking to friends who have been a guest at this feast in the past, dîner en blanc seems to be a highly codified event. There are “team leaders” who are responsible for the invitation, organization and behavior of each small group. In addition to the white dress code, white food, and white wine or champagne (beer and spirits are prohibited), you must also bring your own table and chairs (white, bien sûr), white tablecloths, and dishes. Some diners go as far as bringing white flowers in vases, candles, and center pieces. The most important rule is that everyone disappears before midnight and leaves their dining site undamaged and spotless—under threat of being blacklisted for the following year’s festivities.

Last night there were lots of extravagant white hats and pearl-buttoned gloves, and when the Eiffel Tower sparkled, the revelers did too—producing long sparklers lit up on cue like synchronized swimmers in an old MGM film.

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It is an elegant affair, and possibly the one-and-only time of the year that you will encounter so many happy, smiling and relaxed Parisians. Furrowed brows, downturned lips and icy stares, all disappear for a joyous but respectful evening. It is also the only day of the year that Parisians stow away their all-black wardrobes and slip into something brighter, whiter and lighter.

It is a lovely change. Hmmm…maybe dîner en blanc ought to be a monthly event?

 

Vocabulaire

al fresco: in the open air

dîner en blanc: white dinner, dinner in white

vin rouge: red wine

 

 

Jun 10

10 Comments

No. 273: Spectacular Lightning

Lightning strikes the top and to the side of the Eiffel Tower in Paris Photo: BERTRAND KULIK/CATERS

Lightning strikes the top and to the side of the Eiffel Tower in Paris Photo: BERTRAND KULIK/CATERS

We have had two crazy storm here in Paris over the last few nights. I was too chicken to go outside and photograph them, and the photos I took from my windows did not do the storms justice, so I grabbed this gorgeous picture off of google images (source: BERTRAND KULIK/CATERS).

I am a sucker for thunder and lightning storms. I love them and I fear them, and these past two nights have been spectacular–with snarling roars and jagged streaks striking the tip of my beloved tower.

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