I Prefer Paris

L’Eclaireur and Habitat 1964 at Les Puces St. Ouen/Paris Flea Market

L’Eclaireur, one of the top fashion retail boutiques in Paris, and Habitat, the furniture and home shop chain, have recently opened new spaces at the St. Ouen flea market.

In an abandoned, graffiti covered courtyard on the rue de Rosiers, the main street of the flea market, a new, more modern and conceptual area has arrived.

In the last few years, L’Eclaireur has subtly added furniture and home accessories to its cutting edge fashion boutiques and has now opened L’Eclaireur Neuf-trois, a shop mostly dedicated to home design, but also installing clothing as a backdrop. Owners Armand and Martine Hadida have hand selected all the pieces, going back to their archives from the late 80s up to 2000 featuring designers Oscar de la Renta, Balenciaga, Celine, Marni, Dries Van Noten, Anne Demeulmeester and Martin Margiela. Italian furniture designer Vincenzo de Cotiis, was selected to show a capsule collection from his Projetto Domestic series.

A massive 4,500 square foot hangar, a former chandelier factory, houses the Habitat 1964 concept store. Harking back to the original shop Terence Conran opened that year, the store sells vintage pieces from their former collections. An online campaign was started last year, asking employees and other people if they wanted to sell their old pieces furniture and collectibles.

The complex also has a cute, little tart stand Kluger and another high-end mid century modern furniture shop, Le Galerie Glam.

77-81 rue des Rosiers, 93400 Saint-Ouen
Metro: Clingancourt or Garibaldi
Open 10AM to 6PM Saturday and Sunday
 http://www.leclaireur.com/en/news-en/opening-the-new-leclaireur-at-saint-ouen/
http://www.habitat.fr/vintage

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

 

Birthday Party in Ostuni, Italy Part 3

Sunday was the day of rest after the party. Many of us went to the beach and it was a prefect way to unwind. It was hot and sunny but there was a nice breeze to make it comfortable.

We went to Ostuni again that night and we arrived about twilight time. I took my time photographing all the nooks and crannies of the white city and the photos kept changing as the light did at that hour. I went up and down mysterious passageways and dead end alleys uncovering some great photo ops. As it got darker the sky started to turn into an indescribable shade of blue that almost seemed new to me. You can see glimpses of it in the photos.

We were a smaller group that night at dinner, only 14. We ate at one of the most beautiful and charming restaurants I have ever been to, Taverna Della Gelosia. Situated outside on stone terraces on many levels with roving staircases, the restaurant is awash in sweet smelling jasmine and bougainvillea. It looked like the set of a romantic Italian movie, where I can imagine Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni having a tete a tete. I ordered a local specialty, Ambrogino, turkey with a date, fig, and cinnamon sauce. Again, there were toasts to the birthday girl and some people even sang. I got the singing bug and sang Moon River. I had been listening to it recently and thought it was appropriate song to celebrate the spirit of the evening. It was an early night in comparison and we got back to the hotel at midnight.

http://www.tavernadellagelosia.it



















































Imagining Sophia and Marcello

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

 

Birthday Party in Ostuni, Italy Part 2

Saturday we slept in after our marathon day and night before. It was raining that morning and we lounged in the room till about 1PM. Feeling peckish, the hotel suggested a nearby taverna for lunch, which they kindly shuttled us to. It was one of those typical Italian restaurants with high white stucco arched walls and tile floors. After all the carbo-loading the night before, we were so happy to have fresh grilled local tuna, roasted vegetables, and salad. By 4PM the weather cleared and we lazed by the pool on lounges. I took a refreshing dip in the pool, my first time in water since last summer.












At 8PM we made our way to Ostuni for the big night. We hiked up the hills to and arrived at the discreet entrance to the posh La Sommita, is one of the best hotels in Ostuni.

We were escorted to the second floor and Fiorella the Birthday Girl greeted us with a warm hug. She was a vision of loveliness, looking stunning in a Gucci column dress made of white crepe de chine with a dramatic but soft cascading ruffle reaching from front to back. She was all aglow with her Italian tan and big smile.

There were two, large airy tastefully furnished rooms where the party was held, leading out to a terrace. The terrace had jaw-dropping views of the city all the way out to the Adriatic Sea and we sipped our Prosecco watching the magnificent sunset. Everyone was dressed so elegantly, the women in flowing summer dresses and gowns, the men in linen and dark suits, and it was fun watching the fashion procession entering the rooms.

As a former caterer and chef, I am always very aware of the food at social functions. The delicate Italian hors d’oeuvres were smartly presented on big white platters and I lost count of how many creamy white balls I consumed of the best burrata I have ever had. The invitation said cocktails, so I stuffed myself silly. I tend to do this at buffets.

About ninety minutes into the party, there was an announcement that the party was now moving. Downstairs was another elegantly set room with tables and chairs. Much to our surprise dinner was served. Two local dishes were served, a delicious gratin with mussels and potatoes and orecchiette(pasta shells) with a light tomato sauce and basil. During dinner friends and family members made heartfelt speeches about Fiorella and toasting her 40 years.

The next stage of the party was in the large, outside patio on many levels with a wading pool, ancient stone stairways, and white chaise lounges and daybeds covered in white cotton, A lively three-piece band played an eclectic but bizarre range of music, everything from disco to punk to Italian favorites including Volare. A few friends volunteered singing karaoke. We all danced our fanny’s off, clapped our hands, and stomped our feet on the cobblestone floor of the terrace into the night.

It was about 1AM and I was thinking that the party was winding down but then a white four-tiered cake resembling the levels of Ostuni was wheeled out. We were escorted to yet another room, where the cake was cut and served. Fiorella proceeded to open her gifts and read the sentimental cards attached to them. I have to say she accumulated quite a bounty of impressive gifts.

At about 2AM we found a taxi back to the hotel and wearily climbed into bed about 2:30AM after an unforgettable night. Like I said yesterday, Boy, do the Italians know how to throw a party.

The fun still wasn’t over. More details tomorrow.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

 

Birthday Party in Ostuni, Italy Part 1

Boy, do the Italians know how to throw a party.

My friend Fiorella who lives in Paris but is from the Puglia region in Italy, invited Vincent and me to her 40th birthday party in Ostuni, a small village near her hometown.

The invitation went out months ago and I was excited to go because I heard so many good things about Puglia.

We arrived in the late afternoon about 3PM to our hotel, Masseria L’Ovile. I booked it online, but still had no idea what kind of hotel it was. The taxi driver got lost and after three frantic phone calls to the hotel, he found it as we drove down a dirt road lined with olive groves in the middle of nowhere. A masseria is a walled farmhouse or in modern times a bread and breakfast, particular to the Puglia region. The serene courtyard beyond the metal gates was lined with bougainvillea and camelia bushes. After we checked into our simple but comfortable room, we changed quickly to shorts and swimsuits and scurried to the pool. It was one of those cool infinity pools and the land outside the stone walls was arid and had abundant cactus blooming around it.

No sooner were we by the pool finally chilling after our long journey starting at 7AM that morning (our travel time was five hours because we had to switch planes in Milan), we were summoned to meet in the center of Ostuni. We were invited to a pre-cocktail birthday party that night at Fiorella’s parent’s house in Francavilla Fontata, which was about a 30-minute drive from Ostuni and before the party we were also invited to a private tour of an historic castle. The dress code was all white, so I reluctantly put on a white shirt and off white pants. (I look like a waiter whenever I wear a white shirt, and people inadvertently ask for another glass of wine or put a dirty napkin in my palm).

We took a shuttle into the old city of Ostuni (our hotel was in the countryside about five miles away) an hour before we had to meet to go to the castle. Ostuni is a white washed village on a hill initially settled by the Greeks after the stone age and is called frequently called the "the White Town" -"La Città Bianca", in Italian, as all the buildings are painted white.

Celebration must have been in the air that night because as we were soaking in the local culture standing in the main town square waiting for our group, an original model white Volkswagen beetle convertible drove down the street honking like mad with a newlywed couple in the backseat. The happy couple hopped out of the car and posed for some group photos on the square and I couldn’t help but take snaps of my own.

Vincent and Fiorella

Party girls from Japan dressed in white

Twelve of us met all dressed in white on the square and piled into a mini-bus to go to Villafranca Fontana arriving at dusk at the Castello Imperiali. We received a private tour of the 15th century castle that was meticulously restored for almost seven years to its original grandeur. We saw magnificent renewed murals and frescoes and learned the fascinating history of the castle with the informative tour guide.

We took a group photo in the twilight on the grand stairway of the castle. After the castle visit we followed Fiorella through the historic part of the city, walking down narrow streets passing churches and more squares. We looked like a special pilgrimage dressed in white against the dark night streets marching through Villafranca Fontata.

The house was modest looking from the outside and the parent’s home was located on the second floor. The sprawling apartment had endless rooms and everywhere I turned was yet another room I hadn’t discovered before. The warm home was filled with loads of family photos and souvenirs from past decades and I could tell they were a closely-knit family.

Fiorella comes from a large family, having six sisters. I was introduced to a steady stream of elegantly dressed sisters, cousins, nephews, nieces, local friends, and also friends from around the globe, coming from as far away as Japan. About 70 people milled in and out of the formal Italian living room mingling freely. The Prosecco flowed and a parade of countless Italian carbohydrates, all in some form of dough were served all night. Fiorella’s teenage nephews did a serious job of spinning American pop and rap music on their Ipods and later on vintage 70s disco music including YMCA by The Village People and I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor had all of us dancing and cheering.

We stayed till about 1AM even though the party went on for a few more hours and we didn’t arrive to the hotel till about 2AM. And this was just the pre-party, the warm up for the big birthday bash, which I will write about tomorrow.

Vincent and I. Do I look like a waiter?

Love, Love, Love these shoes

The pilgrimage in white

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

 

Eye Prefer Paris Lucky Seventh Anniversary Contest Winners

I want to thank all of you very much for taking the time to submit the quiz answers. I also want to thank everyone who sent their congratulations.

And the winners are….. (Drumroll please!)

Margaret Mcintyre and Barbara Lallas, you answered all the questions correctly and are the lucky winners. Congratulations!

Margaret, you will receive a copy of The French Market Cookbook: Vegetarian Recipes from My Parisian Kitchen by Clotilde Dusoulier.


Barbara, you will receive a copy of book Quiet Paris by Siobhan Wall.

Here are the questions again with the correct answers in pink.

What celebrity did I have drinks with at the Plaza Athenee? (2007)
a. Eva Longoria
b. Brad Pitt
c. Raquel Welch
d. Snookie

Which was the Dessert of the Month from Portugal? (2012)
a. Pateis de nata
b. Oreos
c. coconut macaroon
d. fraisier

What fashion store does the owner make and design all the clothes? (2011)
1. Maje
2. Zadig & Voltaire
3. The Gap
4. Heaven

Which Parisian of the Month lives between Paris and Los Angeles? (2011)
1. Susan Shup
2. Sally Perrin
3. Adrian Moore
4. Louis Vuitton

What was the first restaurant with Lunch with Lynn/Under 20 eats ? (2009)
1. Voltaire
2. Le Reminet
3. Burger King
4. Monjul

What Champagne bar is located near the Arch de Triomphe and has a location in New York also? (2008)
1. Flute
2. Bubbles
3. O'Chateau
4. O'Leary's

Where was Eye Prefer Paris fifth anniversary celebration party? (2011)
1. Maxims
2. Bofinger
3. TGIF
4. O'Chateau

I also want to thank Colin Eaton for making the adorable anniversary card for me. (See below).


I am sorry I omitted the addresses for the Hidden Gems of Paris's Food Scene last Friday.  Click here to see the updated post with the addresses.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

 

Hidden Gems of Paris’s Food Scene

Enjoy this guest post about the Paris food scene
French cuisine is among the most famous in the world, with internationally renowned chefs and Michelin starred restaurants attracting those with the more sophisticated palates. Well known too for its patisseries and markets, you will be in very good company as you stroll around the city, exploring its myriad of culinary delights.

It is always nice, however, to come off the beaten track once in a while and discover a hidden gem tucked away down a side street, a wonderful find at the end of an alley, or a secret place that only a select few are party to. Some of the best little finds in the French capital are listed here:

Rue Mouffetard
This traditional, old-school Parisian market is everything you could ask for. Filled with wonderful scents and colorful characters, it will transport you into the heart of romantic Paris. Amble along the cobbled streets, where you will find the real-life Parisian residents buying fresh ingredients from local farmers and chefs shopping for the best produce to serve in their restaurants. Not one for the hoi polloi, this is the place to visit if you want to see Paris life at its most raw. If you’re already doubting you’re ability to control your spends at one of these markets, fear not. Before you book you should compare flight fares online and find special offers this summer

Benoit
This beautiful brasserie is almost a hundred years old, serving traditional French food exactly as it is meant to be eaten. Big on quantity and big on quality. Delicious pates, hunks of bread and, of course, the infamous dish of snails. Give your tastebuds a treat, stop ordering the safe option and take a trip to where the locals love to go.

20 Rue Saint-Martin, 75004

Metro: Hotel de Ville

Fromagerie Trotte
Cheese, marvelous cheese fromage from France is wonderful, from a proper fromagerie it is sensational. Forget the pre-packed processed stuff you get from the supermarket and dabble in some proper smelly French delights (you'll get the aroma as soon as you walk in!).

97 Rue Saint-Antoine, 75004

Metro: St. Paul

La Cagnotte de Belleville
This rather scruffy bar is where you will find all walks of Parisian life. From workmen on a lunch break to busy mothers with pushchairs grabbing a coffee, dreamy musicians and alternative artists whiling away the hours until evening. As dark descends, the music gets louder, the crowd gets more hip and the air is filled with noise, chatter and life at its most lovable.

13 Rue Jean-Baptiste Dumay, 75020

Metro: Jordain

Gerard Mulot
You haven't been shopping unless you have been to a patisserie and this is the simply the best in town. Packed with delicacies of all colors, shapes and sizes, it really is temptation in a shop, with delicious, subtle scents greeting you as you approach. Distinctive white awnings make it hard to miss and you will see the wonderful window displays of produce simply daring you to come in and indulge.

76 rue de Seine, 75006

Metro: Mabillon

Eating and drinking are huge parts of French life, with Parisians making every effort to use fresh ingredients and they offer high-quality goods in their shops. Opt for the smaller, more traditional places to get a real feel for Parisian life, strolling down the side streets to uncover some little hidden treasures. If you thinking taking a trip to France make sure you get the cheapest tickets for you flight by comparing tickets from different airlines like at http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flights/Paris/.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

 

The Electricity Fairy by Raoul Dufy

I marvel at the magnificent mural The Electric Fairy by Raoul Dufy every time I visit the Musée D’Art Moderne/ The City of Paris Museum of Modern Art.

I find something new each time I look at the intricate and complex wall. Raoul Dufy was commissioned as well as other noteworthy artists of the time including Sonia Delaunay and Fernand Leger to create a mural for the 1937 World’s Fair. The Electricity Fairy was installed in the Palais de la Lumière et de l’Electricité, built by Mallet Stevens on the Champs-de-Mars. It tells the story of The Electricity Fairy based on De Rerum natura by Lucretius. Measuring 10 X 60 metres, it is divided into two themes, the history and applications of electricity. The lower half features portraits of 110 great scientists and inventors who have contributed to the development of electricity along with blending mythology and allegory. It took only ten months to complete and was donated by Electricité de France to the museum in 1964.

Musée D’Art Moderne/ The City of Paris Museum of Modern Art
11 Ave. du President Wilson, 75016
Metro: Alma Marceau or Iena
http://www.mam.paris.fr/en

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

 

French Cooking with Wini Moranville: A Bastille Day Barbecue Menu

As any francophile knows, July 14th is the French National Holiday. While Americans (and other English-speakers) usually call it "Bastille Day," the French know it as "la fête nationale."

The holiday commemorates the start of the French Revolution, which began on July 14, 1789 when the Bastille, a national prison and symbol of King Louis XVI’s absolute monarchy and power, was overtaken. The holiday symbolizes liberty, the fight against oppression, and the birth of modern-day France.

For those who love French cooking and lifestyle, Bastille Day is a great excuse for a party. After all, you don't have to be French to celebrate Bastille Day any more than you need to be Mexican to raise a glass on Cinco de Mayo.

The question is, what to serve? In most of the northern hemisphere, it's grilling season--and it's just not a party if you're not cooking outdoors. But let's face it: The French aren't exactly world-famous for hot-off-the-coals cooking. Can you fire up your grill and still be true-to-France?

Indeed you can. While not widely known for it, the French do enjoy cooking over coals and/or wood. I've witnessed festivals where an entire village enjoys a feast of  meats grilled over one giant barbecue pit, with a buffet-froid (cold buffet) of salads and other accompaniments, and plenty of wine, to go around.

Here in the Mediterranean village of Collioure (where I'm summering at the moment) as I've walked by the balconies of homes, I've caught the smell of grilled meats mixed in with the salty sea air.

The trick is to give your grilled meats a little French touch. One easy way to do that is to make brochettes (what the French call kebabs)--something the French love to grill. To make them French, marinate the meat  in a mixture of garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and herbes de Provence--that aromatic south-of-France mixture anchored by thyme and rosemary, with lavender, oregano, marjoram, and other herbs in the blend. Any good North American supermarket should have this blend

Below is a recipe for a simple herbes-de-Provence marinade to use for your beef, lamb, pork, chicken, or sausage. Alongside, serve your own "buffet froid" of typical French salads. A few that I suggest, from The Bonne Femme Cookbook, include the following (those with links can be found on my website):

* Tarragon-White Bean Salad
* Roasted Beet with Blue Cheese Salad
* Celeri Remoulade
* Roasted Red Potato Salad with Arugula
* Tabbouleh Chez Vous

Herbes de Provence Marinade
This makes enough to marinate about 2 pounds of meats. Great choices include boneless chicken breast, sirloin steak, lamb cut from the top round, and pork tenderloin Or, if you can get your hands on Toulouse-style sausage or "chipolatas" (thin French sausages) that would be about as French as you could get.

1/2    cup olive oil
3        tablespoons red-wine vinegar
2            minced garlic cloves
1        tablespoons dried herbes de Provence, crushed
        Salt and pepper to taste
2            pounds meat of your choice, cut into 1-inch cubes
 

Chunks of assorted vegetabes, such as sweet red, yellow, and green peppers, onions, shallots, tomatoes, summer squash, and whatever else looks good and grill-able at your market.

Mix the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, herbes de Provence, and salt and pepper together in a glass bowl (metal might react with the vinegar, causing an "off" flavor). Toss in the meats; cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 24 hours, tossing the meats with the marinade now and then. To grill, thread the meats alternatively with the veggies onto metal skewers. Brush the veggies generously with the marinade; discard the remaining marinade. Grill directly over medium heat until the meat is cooked through.

photo by Richard Swearinger

photo by Richard Swearinger

photo by irene. via Flicker

top photo by Claude Fabry via Flickr

For French cooking and lifestyle tips, follow Wini Moranville on Facebook at Chez Bonne Femme and check out her blog at chezbonnefemme.com.

 

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

 

Eye Prefer Paris Lucky 7th Anniversary Contest

In my harried, over scheduled week last week I realized it was the 7th anniversary of Eye Prefer Paris.

On June 27, 2006 I wrote my first post, a simple declaration of who I was and going to be in the then, less crowded blogosphere.

Here is what I wrote:
About This blog
This blog is about how a native New Yorker dreamed of moving to Paris …… and what he discovered once he got there. Come live this Paris dream vicariously through the eyes (and ears) of Richard Nahem. He writes his blog from his 18th century apartment overlooking tree-lined Place St. Paul in the fashionable Marais district of Paris.

I had no idea where it was going to go, what form it would take, who or if anyone would read it. I just knew that I had things to share about the great city I was living in and maybe other  like-minded people would enjoy what I had to say.

Seven years, 1368 posts, and 8,251 subscribers later, I am still writing my posts from the same Marais apartment.

I owe my success and longevity to you. Without you taking the time from your busy schedule to read my four time weekly posts, I would have no one to write for. So I profusely thank you for doing that and for your support, comments, endearing emails, knowledge and personal stories you shared with me in the last seven years. Many of you have become my e-mail/blog friends over the years and some of you I have become personal friends with.

Enough of the serious stuff, let’s get to the fun celebration part of my lucky seventh anniversary.

Please pop the Champagne cork with me and let’s toast a glass. To add to the fun, I have created a quiz to challenge my die-hard fans and newcomers are welcome to take a stab too.

There are seven questions spanning seven years of my blog and to help you just a little bit, I put the year the story was posted after each question. Subscribers, an easy way to access my postings is to go directly to the blog http://www.ipreferparis.net. From there, look on the right sidebar under archives, and you will find archives from every month since July 2006. Another shortcut is to go to the categories list and access postings from there. For example, for a question about a Parisian of the Month, click on Parisian of the Month and all of them will come up. You can email the answers to [email protected] and the deadline is Sunday, July 7, 2013, 3PM Eastern Standard Time . Contest winners will be announced next Monday, July 8, 2013.  Please note contest is only avaialble to residents of the continental U.S.

Before I list the questions, here are some of the prizes for the winners. The first person who answers the questions correctly will win a copy of the new cookbook The French Market Cookbook: Vegetarian Recipes from My Parisian Kitchen by Clotilde Dusoulier from the food blog Chocolate and Zucchini, who was my Parisian of the Month last month.

Click here to see the book on Amazon

The second person who answers the questions correctly will win a copy of the delightful new book Quiet Paris by Siobhan Wall. I received a copy last week and it is a terrific resource for off-the beaten track Paris.

Click here to see book on Amazon

Good luck and I look forward to your answers.

What celebrity did I have drinks with at the Plaza Athenee? (2007)
a. Eva Longoria
b. Brad Pitt
c. Raquel Welch
d. Snookie

Which was the Dessert of the Month from Portugal? (2012)
a. Pateis de nata
b. Oreos
c. coconut macaroon
d. fraisier

What fashion store does the owner make and design all the clothes? (2011)
1. Maje
2. Zadig & Voltaire
3. The Gap
4. Heaven

Which Parisian of the Month lives between Paris and Los Angeles? (2011)
1. Susan Shup
2. Sally Perrin
3. Adrian Moore
4. Louis Vuitton

What was the first restaurant with Lunch with Lynn/Under 20 Eats ? (2009)
1. Voltaire
2. Le Reminet
3. Burger King
4. Monjul

What Champagne bar is located near the Arch de Triomphe and has a location in New York also? (2008)
1. Flute
2. Bubbles
3. O'Chateau
4. O'Leary's

Where was Eye Prefer Paris fifth anniversary celebration party? (2011)
1. Maxims
2. Bofinger
3. TGIF
4. O'Chateau

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

 

July 2013 Eye Need to Do’s: Little Black Dress, Lichtenstein Retrospective, Behind the Seams, and Outdoorz Gallery Pop Up Shop

The Little Black Dress
What better place to have an exhibition about The Little Black Dress than the Mona Bismarck Foundation. Mona Bismarck was the high –fashion priestess of her day wearing countless, elegant black dresses. The exhibition curated by Vogue editor Andre Leon Talley along with the Savannah College of Art and Design Museum of Art features 50 examples of the all time favorite dress from veteran fashion designers and Best Dressed lists.

July 3 to September 22
34 Avenue de New York, 75116
Metro: Iena
Open Wednesday to Sunday 11AM to 6PM
http://monabismarck.org

Lichtenstein Retrospective
The first major retrospective of Roy Lichtenstein in France comes to Paris this month. The show, which has already traveled to The Art Institute in Chicago and the Tate Modern in London covers the full scope of Lichtenstein’s work including drawings, early abstracts, his later interpretations of the female nude, and of course his cartoon paintings.

July 3 to November 4
Centre Pompidou
Place Georges Pompidou, 75004
Metro: Hotel de Ville or Rambuteau
http://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/

Behind the Seams- An Indiscreet Look at the Mechanics of Fashion
This new exhibit delves into the underworld of undergarments. Corsets, bustles, crinolines, bras, and poufs are just a few types of garments uncovered.

July 4 till November 24
Musee de Decoratifs
107 rue de Rivoli, 75001
Metro: Palais Royal
http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr/english-439/

Outdoorz Gallery Pop-Up Shop
Come catch a glimpse of some of the coolest and modern indoor/outdoor furniture being designed today. Outdoorz Gallery features limited editions and unique pieces  by international designers including Dejana Kebiljo, Tom Price, Jessica Carnevale, Peter Donders, Floris Wubben, Welter Egon, and Baltasar Portillo among others...

Till September 30
Docks en Seine
34 Quai d'Austerlitz, 75013
Metro: Gare de Austerlitz
Open Wednesday to Sunday 12PM to 7PM
http://outdoorzgallery.com

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com 

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
 

New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.