December 18, 2009 by Nichole Robertson
Nichole Robertson (of Little Brown Pen) waxes nostalgic for afternoons spent in the Marais drinking vin chaud. On days when it’s too cold to go out, try her recipe and indulge at home!
Text by Nichole Roberton
Last night’s crisp air sparked a memory of sipping vin chaud on cold Paris afternoons.
Whenever Liam (just 18 months at the time) would fight his afternoon nap, we’d strap him into the stroller and head in the direction of our favorite cafe a few blocks away. He typically fell asleep on the way there, giving Evan, Alexander and me the rare opportunity to sit down like civilized human beings and enjoy a hot drink while he snoozed in the stroller. Alexander sipped hot chocolate and colored, and Evan and I engaged in our usual debate: The responsible choice of 3pm coffee? Or the not-so-responsible choice of 3pm mulled wine?
There were two benefits to choosing wine over coffee (cmon, you knew we chose wine, right?). Continue Reading »
Posted in Food | 4 Comments »
December 17, 2009 by Nichole Robertson
Our friend Nichole Robertson (of Little Brown Pen) stumbled upon Galipette’s delectable caramels on Etsy last year. They’re no longer available online, but if you’re in Paris, stop by Galipette’s Pastry Lab (in the 2nd) to bask in the deliciousness…
Text by Nichole Robertson
galipette:
french [ga'li'pɛt] nf fam
* somersault, cartwheel;
* an acrobatic stunt performed by turning the body one full revolution forward or backward, heels over head;
* a physical expression of joy, excitement and childlike glee, suddenly inspired by tasting something thoroughly delicious.
The above is both the definition of my new favorite french word, and the shop intro of Galipette—a French Pastry Lab in Paris. Continue Reading »
Posted in Food | 3 Comments »
December 16, 2009 by Sarah Raymond
Slice of Beaufort, much like the lichette sliced by my fromager.
Photo courtesy of terre-des-fromages.com.
On my last trip to Paris, I was on a mission to try as many new cheeses as possible. The problem, though, was that I was there alone; and more often than not, I was buying cheeses that I would be finishing myself. So in an effort to minimize the size of my waistline, each time I would purchase a new cheese at the fromagerie I would ask for only a small bit. A few days before leaving, I made a trip to the Pascal Beillevaire shop on the rue des Moines, near our Pilleux studio (where I was staying), to pick up a few new favorites. As I explained that I wanted just “un tout petit peu” (very little bit) of Beaufort, the fromager kindly replied: “Une lichette, alors?”
Une lichette indeed! It was a word I had heard recently for the first time, and was exactly what I wanted. According to my Larousse Poche French dictionary, une lichette is a familiar term for a small quantity of a particular food. Since that trip to the Fromagerie Pascal Beillevaire – which, incidentally, has wonderful products and several locations throughout Paris – lichette has become one of my favorite words, and I find it much more fun to use than morceau (morsel), tranche fine (thin slice), or any other term indicating small quantities.
So – next time you want just un tout petit peu of a certain food, give une lichette a try. I promise you will be satisfied!
Written by Sarah Raymond for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.
Posted in French 'mot' du moment, Parisian Living | 1 Comment »
December 15, 2009 by Haven in Paris
Looking for a gift for the Paris-obsessed people in your life? Pia Jane Bijkerk’s book Paris: Made by Hand explores 50 of Paris’ hidden shops where artisans of all kinds are crafting one-of-a-kind items. You can read more about Pia’s work as a stylist, photographer, and author on her blog. Guest blogger Vanessa Joie (of Pois Rouge) discusses the book and some of Pia’s secret spots…
Text by Vanessa Joie
I’ll be honest, growing up the words “handmade” or “homemade” made me cringe. I had visions of little old ladies knitting big, bulky, awkward sweaters I would be forced into while my friends wore something cute and “store bought.” I would long for Oreo’s while my mother spent hours in the kitchen baking delicious smelling treats. Fortunately, when I was 19 I took my first trip to Paris and fell in love—not with the big shops, but with the markets and the boutiques and the studios where the real treasures of Paris were hidden. Continue Reading »
Posted in Design, Shopping | 4 Comments »
December 12, 2009 by Haven in Paris
Our friend Kim Petyt, fabulous Paris wedding planner and writer of Parisian Party, shares with us the traditional French Christmas dessert – the bûche de Noël, otherwise known to us as a Yule log. Check out her post below, featuring some beautiful designer takes on the traditional cake.
Photo cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com
Text by Kim Petyt
The holiday season is in full swing, and all across Paris cries can be heard to Bring on Les Bûches! No French holiday meal would be complete without the grand finale, the Bûche de Noël! Paris is especially known for its vast selection of couture bûches – most are available in limited quantities and for a limited time. So if you plan to get your bûche on at this year’s holiday party, you’d better hurry and reserve yours now. Here are some highlights from this season’s cake collections. Continue Reading »
Posted in Food, Shopping | 1 Comment »
December 11, 2009 by Tory Hoen
Photo: LIFE
Our friends over at Context Travel are offering awesome discounts on some wintery walks this month. Tell them Haven in Paris sent you and get 15% off on these tours: Continue Reading »
Posted in Tours and Classes | 2 Comments »
December 10, 2009 by Haven in Paris
Looking to “green” your holiday shopping list? Guest blogger Emma Haberman shares some insight about this weekend’s “Noel en Bio” holiday fair, December 11-13 in the Marais.
Text by Emma Haberman
Once upon a time, recycling presents meant re-gifting those unwanted tube socks that weren’t on your wish list. No longer! This year in Paris, Christmas will be greener than ever, thanks to the Noël en Bio holiday fair. The highly anticipated exposition will take place in the Marais this weekend, just in time for holiday shopping (and coinciding with the much-discussed Copenhagen Climate Conference). Continue Reading »
Posted in Green, Shopping | No Comments »
December 10, 2009 by Haven in Paris
As winter vegetables hit their stride, we’re in the mood for simple, seasonal recipes like this one from the Recette du Jour blog. Perfect for a cold winter day!
I had to take a break from Taste & Create over the summer, because I knew I just wouldn’t have time for it. Now I’m back, paired with Carol of No Reason Needed. Carol likes lemons, so is obviously a kindred spirit. But in the end, I decided to skip over the many lemon-based recipes and go for a simple, homey soup, in order to use some of the veg from our organic box. As the weather is getting a bit cooler, it made a nice supper with some good bread. Continue Reading »
Posted in Food | No Comments »
December 9, 2009 by Haven in Paris
David Lebovitz, one of our favorite food bloggers, has written a great account of the “Community Supported Agriculture” (CSA) scene in Paris…
Photo: David Lebovitz
Text by David Lebovitz
About a year ago, I was having supper in a friend’s apartment and everything we ate was simple, and tasted really good. He’d lived on a farm near Toulouse for many years, where he worked for one of France’s agricultural organizations. Now he lives in Paris and I was surprised when he told me that the onions we were eating on the tart he’d made were from a panier, or a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box. Continue Reading »
Posted in Green | No Comments »
December 8, 2009 by Haven in Paris
Guest blogger Simone Blaser takes us on a walk along Paris’ elevated promenade, a spectacular place to stroll, even in winter!
Promenade Plantee. Photo: amytoensing.com
Text by Simone Blaser
Sometimes the French just get it right. For the 20 years preceding the buzzy unveiling of Manhattan’s Highline Park, Parisians have quietly enjoyed their own walk-in-the-sky: the promenade plantée, a 4.5-kilometer respite from the often overbearing honks and crowds that can conquer even the best-planned day in Paris (the best laid schemes of mice and men and all of that). This respite is a garden, a journey, a picnic; it’s a moment to breathe and walk under an arcade of trees and colors; a moment to appreciate the marriage between nature and architecture. The promenade plantée is Paris’ very own elevated park. Continue Reading »
Posted in Parisian Living | 2 Comments »
Photo courtesy of Little Brown Pen
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