I Prefer Paris

Save the Paris Cafes

In 2014 two ex-pats living in Paris, Lisa Anselmo and Lisa Taylor Huff started the No Love Locks website and public campaign. The goal of the site was to educate and raise the awareness of the harmful effects the love locks had on the city bridges. Ultimately the goal was to get rid of the locks and restore Paris to its original beauty. The campaign went viral around the world and soon after Lisa and Lisa had an appointment with the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, to implement a plan to eradicate the locks, as they were also harming the structure of the bridges. This resulted in the removal of thousands of locks from the Pont des Arts and other bridges in Paris. 

Lisa Anselmo recently hatched another Paris preservation project, Save the Paris Cafe, a commitment to keep the cafes of Paris alive and well. At one time the thriving café culture of Paris had over 45,000 establishments, which alarmingly dwindled to less than 7,000 in past years and many are closing every month. In an effort to save this most basic element of French culture, Save the Paris Café, is dedicated to preserving and nurturing the remaining cafes by going as far as petitioning UNSESCO to give cafes and bistros World Heritage status. 

The site has enlisted local celebrities, writers, and bloggers to contribute stories and information they feel is crucial in saving the tradition of cafes. 

Their goals include 

• • To highlight what is vitally important about cafés and bistros, and why we need to protect them
• • Not just for the lifestyle/culture, but for the larger issue of protecting small businesses, and the local residential life in cities and small towns
• • To start a conversation about the local café
• • Feature and promote favorite cafes around Paris and in France
• • To create outreach for café owners
• • A platform/forum for owners to share with each other
• • A source of advice/education on how to improve their business (e.g., proper cleaning of coffee machines; benefits of serving fresh vs. flash-frozen food)
• • To liaise with government regarding legislation that can help café owners survive and thrive in today’s economy

I am so impressed with their commitment, I asked Lisa if I could be a contributing author and photographer. I was thrilled when she said yes, and I will post photos and a monthly story on their website. 

Please join me in helping preserve the Paris cafes by supporting and reading through the site. 

Inspired by Save the Paris Cafes, I took the above photo at Le Grillon 19 Rue Falguière, 75015, a typical neighborhood café. 

https://savethepariscafe.com

Price Reduction: August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 28 

I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area. 

Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1400€ for 7 days/one week, 1800€ for 10 days 

Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft  with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S.  The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator

Please email me at r.nahem@gmail.com if you are interested. 

If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Paris video about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.

Click here to watch or link below

https://youtu.be/Am22oSA_UYc

Please remember to hit the LIKE button if you like it and SUBSCRIBE button to subscribe to my channel. 

Gardens at Musée Bourdelle

After viewing the Back Side/ Fashion from Behind Exhibition, I took time to visit the front courtyard and back garden. Bourdelle’s mighty sculptures of warriors, Greek gods and goddesses, horses, and historical figures fill the gardens along with manicured hedges, white hydrangeas, and holy hocks. 

Antoine  Bourdelle was born in 1861, the son of wood craftsman and cabinet maker and left school to assist his father. At age 24 he was admitted to the prestigious Ecole des Beaux Arts. Bourdelle was not only well schooled, studying under Rodin, he later on formed his own school and taught noted sculptors including Matisse and Giacometti. He moved into the current studio in 1885, working there until his death in 1929. The museum contains over 500 of Bourdelle’s works including marble, plaster, and bronze statues, paintings, pastels, fresco sketches along with Bourdelle’s own collection of works by Eugène Carrière, Eugène Delacroix, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, and Auguste Rodin. 

Musée Bourdelle 

18 Rue Antoine Bourdelle, 75015

Metro: Falguiere 

http://www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr/en/exhibitions/back-side/fashion-behind

Price Reduction: August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 28 

I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area. 

Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1400€ for 7 days/one week, 1800€ for 10 days 

Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft  with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S.  The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator

Please email me at r.nahem@gmail.com if you are interested. 

If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Paris video about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.

Click here to watch or link below

https://youtu.be/Am22oSA_UYc

Please remember to hit the LIKE button if you like it and SUBSCRIBE button to subscribe to my channel. 

Back Side/ Fashion from Behind Exhibition

Last week I finally had a day off from giving my tours and had a chance to go and see Back Side/ Fashion from Behind Exhibition at Musée Bourdelle. I wrote about it on my Eye Need to Do’s post earlier this month but had yet to see it. 

I haven’t been to the Musée Bourdelle in a while and I forgot what a lovely oasis it is in this quiet area of the 15^th arrondissement. Much like the Rodin Museum, the Musée Bourdelle has a collection of massive sculptures by Antoine Bourdelle, who lived in the same time period as Rodin and it also features a sculpture garden. 

The Palais Galliera in the 16^th arrondissement, a former palace, is now a fashion museum but is closed for renovations. While it’s closed for renovation, they install their exhibits in other museums. 

Back Side/ Fashion from Behind Exhibition explores the often-overlooked body part, the back, in the fashion arena. Over 100 garments from the 1800s to current day are presented on white mannequins, each showing a different aspect of the delicate and sensuous backside. Chanel, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Elsa Schiaparelli, Azzedine Alaïa, Martin Margiela, Rik Owens and Olivier Theyskens are some of the designers participating in the exhibit. Rik Owens creamy beige sculpted evening gown is exquisitely draped with a dramatic overflowing train and another stunner is a Karl Lagerfeld 1920s Art-Deco inspired black gown with a rain pattern in diamond beading flowing down the back. The Roaring 20s come alive with a few flapper design dresses. There was also Japanese representation with low-back kimonos. 

After the exhibition I strolled through the gardens with the soaring Bourdelle sculptures alongside fluffy white hydrangeas in full bloom. 

Tomorrow I will post photos of the garden. 

Until November 17, 2019 

Musée Bourdelle 

18 Rue Antoine Bourdelle, 75015

Metro: Falguiere 

http://www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr/en/exhibitions/back-side/fashion-behind

Lunch with Lynn/ Under 20 Eats: Bouillon Julien

In 1855 the Parisian butcher Pierre Louis Duval proposed a simple dish of meat immersed in bouillon to serve to the workers in the market place and the bouillon restaurant was born. By 1900 there were over 250 bouillons just in Paris. The formula was simple; they served basic, French favorites at reasonable prices in cavernous, lively dining rooms with a quick turnover. They were the first instance of chain restaurants in France, much like cafeterias in the U.S. in the early to mid 1900s. 

Paris bouillons all but disappeared in the late 1900s/early 2000s, as the Parisian palate became more sophisticated, with nouvelle cuisine making its culinary mark among other new food trends. Classic French plates like leeks vinaigrette, Blanquette de veau, rabbit paté, oeufs durs mayonnaise, and tete de veau disappeared from the menu, replaced with more refined dishes. 

In recent years, the culinary pendulum has swung back to the classics with the opening of Bouillon Pigalle, the first new bouillon to debut in almost a century. Following the same formula of yesteryear, Bouillon Pigalle serves tried and true French dishes, with a three-course meal in the 20€ price range. Bouillon Pigalle is a run away hit, with lines snaking over a block long at certain times of the day and night. Perhaps Parisians were craving hearty meals at lower prices instead of trendy small plates menus costing 30€ or more, leaving them still hungry after dinner.

Bouillon Julien originally opened in 1906, becoming one of the most beautiful restaurants in Paris. Designed by French architect Edouard Fournier in the height of the Art Nouveau design craze, it epitomized the decorative style. The top artisans of the period created stunning architectural details; Armand Segaud created the peacock panels, Louis Majorelle designed the mahogany bar, and the stained glass ceiling was designed by Charles Buffet, father of painter Bernard Buffet. In recent years Bouillon Julien was turned into a high price brasserie, a little bit out of place on a street filled with thrifty Turkish restaurants and casual cafes. 

In 2018, Julien changed owners and the name Bouillon Julien was restored, along with the menu. The interior received a major renovation by British designer John Whelan, who not only faithfully restored it, he also repainted it sea green, the original wall color before it turned to tobacco color from the decades of cigarette smoke. 

I recently went to Bouillon Julien for lunch with a friend. While perusing the appealing menu, I became distracted by the magnificent interior. I made my menu choices quickly and bolted to take photos before our food was served. 

For our entrée, I had the smoked herring with potatoes, drizzled with oil. The strong flavor of the herring was softened with the smooth, soft potatoes. My friend had leeks vinaigrette, served with a not too rich Hollandaise and a smattering of hazelnuts. For my plat, I went for a true classic, lamb with spring vegetables in tangy brown gravy. The pearl onions were the sweet touch of the dish along with the peas. We shared rice pudding, a white disc floating on a pool of salted butter caramel, which was way too sweet. 

Portions were a decent size, enough to satisfy but not too filling. 

Prices couldn’t be more reasonable, (my three-course lunch was less than 23€ and some of my dishes were on the expensive side of the menu. My friend’s leek dish was 3€), especially because you are dining in one of the most beautiful restaurants in Paris.  

Bouillon Julien 

16 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75110

Metro: Strasbourg-Saint Denis or Bonne Nouvelle 

https://www.bouillon-julien.com/

Price Reduction: August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 28 

I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area. 

Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1400€ for 7 days/one week, 1800€ for 10 days 

Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft  with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S.  The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator

Please email me at r.nahem@gmail.com if you are interested. 

If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Paris video about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.

Click here to watch or link below

https://youtu.be/Am22oSA_UYc

Please remember to hit the LIKE button if you like it and SUBSCRIBE button to subscribe to my channel. 

 

 

Marble Floors on Rue de Castiglione

On the left side of rue de Castiglione walking between rue de Rivoli and Place Vendome, I discovered a new series of colored marble sidewalk panels. It seemed forever that the street was under construction on the former site of the Hotel Lotti. It looks like another hotel will be opening in its place soon but I wasn’t able to find out what hotel it is. Meanwhile, the floor panels are a continuation of the mosaic tile floors lining rue Castiglione and rue de Rivoli. I don’t know much about marble but an educated guess on my part is that it’s imported from Italy. Are there any marble experts out there who would know where the marble comes from? 

7 rue de Castiglione, 75001

Metro: Tuileries or Concorde 

Price Reduction: August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 28 

I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area. 

Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1400€ for 7 days/one week, 1800€ for 10 days 

Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft  with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S.  The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator

Please email me at r.nahem@gmail.com if you are interested. 

If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Paris video about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.

Click here to watch or link below

https://youtu.be/Am22oSA_UYc

Please remember to hit the LIKE button if you like it and SUBSCRIBE button to subscribe to my channel.