February 12, 2009 by Haven in Paris
photos Erica Berman & Alain Ollier
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February 12, 2009 by Haven in Paris
France Monthly – A cultural link to “La Belle France” and a great way to continue building Franco-American ties. A huge database on travel information about France. Information on France’s regions, history & the best places to visit. www.francemonthly.com
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February 11, 2009 by Haven in Paris
Eco-Friendly Shopping Tours in Paris – Rachel Kaplan
These days, inspired by France’s Green Party and a growing emphasis on public cycling (Vélib), organic foods and sustainable development, Paris is emerging as an eco-friendly European capital.
On Sundays the quais of the Seine are closed off for bikers, joggers and roller-bladers. The city prides itself on its over 400 parks and gardens, including one growing organic fruits and vegetables. There are at least four weekly organic food markets selling everything from fresh produce, meats, and honey, as well as organic wine. The city boasts several health food chains, and even the Monoprix store group prides itself on carrying a range of organic foods, with the AB label. Once you have tasted an omelette made with organic eggs there is no going back. Now, a number of beauty companies have created organic skin care products and cosmetics, including Nuxe and l’Occitane. Other retailers are selling cutting-edge clothes made with organic cotton, or are steering away from leather shoes and bags in favour of attractive substitutes.
If you want to learn more about doing an Eco-Chic Shopping tour while in Paris, do visit www.parischicshopping.com or write to Rachel Kaplan at chic@parischicshopping.com
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February 6, 2009 by Haven in Paris
Photo Erica Berman
Ah, cheese. The dizzying selection. The alternately intoxicating and overwhelming smells seeping out of shop fronts and market stalls. The fierce opinions and friendly neighborhood banter while waiting in line. Cheese (and cheese shopping) is, unequivocally, one of the pillars of the French way of life. With over 350 French cheeses to choose from, buying a lunchtime treat can be an intimidating cultural challenge. With that in mind, here’s a shortlist of what you need to know when venturing out to the cheese stand…
• Most French cheeses are either Cow (Vache), Goat (Chèvre) or Ewe (Brebis) milk based, though appearances and tastes vary extensively within these categories.
• Go artisan. With so many artisan cheese shops and stands selling high quality, farm-to-market products, you’ll definitely want to forego the convenience of your corner supermarket, which mostly likely stocks mass produced goods, when purchasing cheese. Your palate will thank you…
• Don’t be afraid to ask for a sample. Pick out 2 or 3 cheeses that seem appealing and politely inquire: “Est-ce-que je peux gouter celui-ci?*” Pop the slice in your mouth, chew thoughtfully, nod approvingly and, if you’ve settled on your selection, order it up! For harder cheeses that have already been cut, 100g is a fairly standard serving. Round cheeses (Camembert, for example) are sold as a whole or half reel, and smaller goat cheeses (Crottin) are sold individually.
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Posted in Parisian Living | 3 Comments »
