I Prefer Paris

Easter 2021: Jacques Genin Chocolate Easter Eggs

Every year I do a personal Easter egg hunt and search for the most imaginative Easter creations at pastry shops and chocolatiers around Paris. It’s always a joy and a surprise what these pastry and chocolate wizards are up to and how they transform Easter eggs into art. 

I visited various shops in the past few days, and some were disappointing, and a few had some interesting choices, but there was nothing they knocked my socks off until I visited Jacques Genin. If you don’t know who Jacques Genin is, he is one of the greatest pastry, confectionary, and chocolate artisans working in Paris. His stunning shop in the Marais, is a temple to his art, and I along with many others are his worshipers. CLICK HERE to read my past blog about Jacques Genin. 

When I walked into his shop yesterday, I was floored by his latest creations. The eggs had incredible textures and colors painted on them and each one is unique and one of a kind. There’s a series that has illustrations of dancers on them and another recalled abstract artists such as Jackson Pollack. There was also a selection of colorful rabbits, elephants, and fish in the same vibrant colors and patterns. It was tricky taking photographs because all the eggs were packaged in plastic and the lights of the shop were reflecting on them. 

Pardon my bad puns but have a hoppy and eggciting Easter. 

https://jacquesgenin.fr/

Jackson Pollack? 

I want to thank everyone for watching my live Montmartre Tour and also for your generous tips to my PayPal account.If you missed it,  CLICK HERE to watch the video and CLICK HERE if you would like to leave a tip in my PayPal account(you don’t have to have a PayPal account), which I would greatly appreciate. Enjoy

Happy Thanksgiving 2023

Here is my annual Thanksgiving blog, which I've published before. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and for the last seven years I have published this French Thanksgiving vocabulary list, courtesy of my former New York French teacher, Luc Georges.

Since Thanksgiving is not an official holiday in France, many ex-pats postpone their Thanksgiving dinner for Friday or Saturday, but some are traditionalists and make it on Thursday.

Happy Thanksgiving and be thankful for what you have and for your family and friends. What are you thankful for this year? 

French Thanksgiving Vocabulary

Thanksgiving    le jour de l'action de grâce
autumn, fall    l'automne
colony    une colonie
feast    un festin, un banquet
football    le football américain
grateful    (adj)    reconnaissant
harvest    la récolte
horn of plenty    la corne d'abondance
native    (adj)    natif
(Native American) Indians    les Indiens (d'Amérique)
November    novembre
parade    un défilé
Pilgrims    les pèlerins
settlers    les colons
to share    partager
Thursday    jeudi
tradition    une tradition
traditional    (adj)    traditionnel
treaty    un traité
tribe    une tribu
 
The food served for the Thanksgiving feast varies from home to home, but here are some traditional dishes.

food    la nourriture
corn    le maïs
cranberries    les canneberges
gravy    la sauce au jus de viande
mashed potatoes    la purée
pumpkin pie    la tarte à la citrouille
stuffing    la farce
sweet potatoes    les patates douces
turkey    la dinde
yam    un igname 

La Galette des Rois 2023

Every year starting on January 6th, la galette de Rois (the cake of the three kings), a cake made of frangipane (almond cream paste) and a buttery crust, is sold in patisseries all over France. These delicious cakes celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, where the three wise men came to see the baby Jesus. In certain parts of France the cake is made with brioche and filled with glazed fruit.

A feve- a little china figure is hidden inside of the cake, and whoever gets it, (without breaking a cap when biting into it) is crowned king and gets to choose his queen. The cake is usually sold with a gold paper crown.

If you would like to make your own, below is a recipe. 

Recipe: Galette des Rois
(Serves 8)

Ingredients:
1 1/4 lb frozen puff pastry
2 eggs
7 oz almond paste

Preparation: Leave the puff pastry at room temperature for about 2 hours until defrosted but still cold.

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Line a baking sheet or pizza pan with baking parchment or grease the pan and lightly sift flour on it. Shake off any excess flour. Roll each sheet of pastry into a circle about 12 inches across. Place one circle on the prepared pan.

Mix the egg with the almond paste until smooth and spread the mixture evenly on the prepared circle of pastry, leaving a border 1 1/2 inches wide all around. If you have a small piece of china, insert it into the almond mixture (you may also use a bean as the fève.
Place the second circle of pastry on top and press it down tightly around the rim.

Beat lightly the remaining egg and brush it on the top of the cake. With a long-bladed knife, press lightly but firmly through the egg glaze marking a crisscross pattern. 

Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden and puffed. Do not check for doneness for at least 15 minutes, as the pastry may collapse. Serve slightly warm or cold.

Happy New Year 2023

My partner Vincent Gagliostro designed this fun and festive cards. 

Vincent’s Christmas Gift 2022

My partner Vincent is an artist and every year he creates a Christmas art gift for me, and it’s been a tradition for 45 years. The fun and suspenseful part is that I never what form or shape it will be; There have been books, sculptures, videos, paintings, hand painted tapestries, and multi- media pieces. Vincent’s strict rule is that presents are exchanged on Christmas morning, and no amount of my cajoling, begging, threatening, bribing, and guilt trips to do it on Christmas eve has changed that.

For 2022, the gift was a  triptych of photo portraits, from photos Vincent took during our trip to Venice last August. There was an additional piece, which was so clever. Inside a glass box framed in black, is a folded paper with a closeup of my nose and mouth. Once I opened the box, I unfolded the paper, and it was another portrait and on the other side was a beautiful note signed by Vincent. Tears of happiness and joy streamed down my face from this truly extraordinary and loving gift. After being faklempt for a few minutes, we exchanged our other gifts which included an Agnes B. zip-up, navy sweater, an oversized, reversible blue and black cashmere scarf, a box of Louis Vuitton chocolates, a small, onyx and silver cross, a pair of felt slippers, three Snoopy figures, and a Snoopy ceramic bowl.

For Christmas eve, it was just the two of us, with a starter of foie gras followed by steak Diane, potatoes au gratin, and a salad of greens and avocado. Dessert was two, mini buche de Noel’s, chocolate, and lemon from a local patisserie. 

On Christmas day we had two friends for lunch, and Vincent, in his new, starched white Ritz Paris apron (a gift from a friend) prepared roasted salmon with miso cream, baby potatoes, spinach and Comte frittata, and a salad of cucumbers and arugula. A chocolate Buche de Noel from a nearby chocolate shop was dessert. 

I hope you had as wonderful a Christmas as I did and thanks for your emails and Facebook holiday greetings. 

Gold dust in the box

 

 

Happy Holidays 2022

Christmas 2022 at Loire Valley Chateaux

I have a special holiday surprise for you today.

The first week of December I was invited by the Loire Valley Tourism Office for two days and nights to visit four chateaux, Château De Chenonceau, Château Clos Lucé, Château De Chambord, and Château De Blois to view the glorious Christmas decorations and festivities and to learn about the various activities they offer.

CLICK HERE or the link below for full details in article I wrote for Travel Awaits.

https://www.travelawaits.com/2841848/chateaux-of-the-loire-valley-christmas/?fbclid=IwAR290nEdnvYRaCf3P3s22CVyCo4ybpQqP18HeZdJ-2uOr88f2hB9Rj8pfVk

Below are my photos.

Château De Chenonceau

Château De Chenonceau

Château De Chenonceau

Château De Chenonceau

Château De Chenonceau

Château De Chenonceau

Château De Chenonceau

Château De Chenonceau

Château De Chenonceau

Château De Chenonceau

Château De Chenonceau

Château De Chenonceau

Château De Chenonceau

Château De Chenonceau

Château De Chambord

Château De Chambord

Château De Chambord

Château De Chambord

Château De Chambord

Château De Chambord

Château De Blois 

Château De Blois 

Château De Blois 

Château Clos Lucé

Château Clos Lucé

Château Clos Lucé

Château Clos Lucé

Château Clos Lucé

Christmas in Paris 2022: BHV & Hotel de Ville Christmas Market

This is the last in my series for Christmas in Paris 2022.

At the BHV department store the theme is Christmas in Provence. Partnering with the Provence Tourism and Marseille Tourism offices, the windows display the magical spirit of Provence during the holidays and in the store there’s special gift items, clothing, and crafts from the region.

Across the street, in front of the Hotel de Ville is their annual Christmas market and village, with beautiful lights and displays and a carousel in the center.

Did you enjoy Christmas in Paris 2022, and did you have a favorite posting?

 

 

Christmas in Paris 2022: Mini-Mondes Illumination Show at Jardin des Plantes

Continuing with my Christmas in Paris 2022 posts, today is about the wonderful Mini-Mondes Illumination Show at Jardin des Plantes. Throughout the park is a magical world of over 100 gigantic, bugs, insects, snails, dragonflies, plants, centipedes, butterflies, and spiders all  lit up in glorious Technicolor.

Mini-Mondes Illumination Show at Jardin des Plantes

Until January 15, 2023

Open 6pm-11pm every night, last entrance 60 minutes before

https://www.jardindesplantesdeparis.fr/fr/programme/galeries-jardins-zoo-bibliotheques/mini-mondes-voie-dillumination-4349

 

Christmas in Paris 2022: Printemps

For Christmas 2022, Printemps takes us to the circus with Santa as the ringleader for the clowns and trapeze artists swing freely on their swings.

The star-studded inauguration event for the windows in November was hosted by supermodel Cindy Crawford and supermodel daughter Kaia Gerber, co-hosted by Naomi Campbell and Isabelle Huppert.

Check out the new 4,000 square foot toy store on the seventh floor with loads of fun games, toys, dolls, hobby kits, tech gadgets, and board games.

64 Bd Haussmann, 75009

Open 10am-8pm Monday to Saturday

Sunday 11am-8pm

https://www.printemps.com/eu/en

Last Chance to Order Eye Prefer Paris Door Postcards in Time for Holiday Delivery 

I am offering a holiday sale of free shipping on Eye Prefer Paris Door Postcards. In addition, if you want to send them as a holiday gift, I can handwrite a personalized card for you.

For a set of 18 cards, you will save $12, and for a set of 9 cards, you will save $8.

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection makes a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family.

IMPORTANT! You must order you cards before December 8, as I mail them from Paris, and it takes 10 days to 2 weeks to arrive to the U.S.

CLICK HERE to order 18 cards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors, 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers. 

Cost: $65 Includes Free Shipping.

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.

Cost: $35 Includes Free shipping

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers

Cost: $35 Includes Free shipping 

Postcards are hand wrapped with love from Paris and mailed in an elegant, French blue envelope. 

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection makes a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family.

Red Doors

Green Doors

Blue Doors

Metal Doors

Wood Doors

Door Knockers

Christmas in Paris 2022: Galeries Lafayette

Today I start my annual blog posts where I share the magic and splendor of Christmas in Paris.

The theme of the imaginative windows at Galeries Lafayette for 2022 is a tale of The Planet of Fir Trees, which is based on a book by Claire Castillon with illustrations by Florent Chavouet. Little Annie has a father who doesn’t believe in Christmas and when Nordmann, a fir tree from the imaginary planet Elato, visits her, it convinces the father to believe in Christmas again. Inside Galeries Lafayette, the iconic, towering tree has a sound and light show every 30 minutes, and there’s a Christmas Tree immersive show plus you or the kids can visit Santa’s Workshop.

40 Bd Haussmann, 75009

Open 10am to 8:30pm, Monday to Saturday

Sunday 11am to 8pm

https://haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/en/planet-of-fir-trees/?utm_source=SiteHSM&utm_campaign=noel

Last Chance to Order Eye Prefer Paris Door Postcards in Time for Holiday Delivery 

I am offering a holiday sale of free shipping on Eye Prefer Paris Door Postcards. In addition, if you want to send them as a holiday gift, I can handwrite a personalized card for you.

For a set of 18 cards, you will save $12, and for a set of 9 cards, you will save $8.

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection makes a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family.

IMPORTANT! You must order you cards before December 8, as I mail them from Paris, and it takes 10 days to 2 weeks to arrive to the U.S.

CLICK HERE to order 18 cards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors, 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers. 

Cost: $65 Includes Free Shipping.

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.

Cost: $35 Includes Free shipping

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers

Cost: $35 Includes Free shipping 

Postcards are hand wrapped with love from Paris and mailed in an elegant, French blue envelope. 

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection makes a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family.

Red Doors

Green Doors

Blue Doors

Metal Doors

Wood Doors

Door Knockers