March 18, 2010 by Haven in Paris
Text by Simone Blaser
Sometimes, the planets align. Sometimes old friends come back to Paris (hi Tory!) and sometimes new friends come back to Paris (hi Sarah!) and sometimes you go to dinner at a restaurant about which you’ve all heard loud and exuberant whispers. It’s never ideal when two people order the same dish – there is so much to try! – but the heart wants what the heart wants (or in this case, the stomach) and so I generally let it slide. But once in a while the planets actually do align and you find yourself at dinner with old friends and new friends and everyone independently decides to order something different and everyone chooses the very dishes you yourself were trying to decide between and you all agree on the wine, too, and then you just know. You just know.
The other night was one of those magic nights. The players: Tory, Sarah, and myself. The setting: le Bistrot Paul Bert, a cozy restaurant tucked in the 11th off a metro stop – Faidherbe-Chaligny – where I somehow never have reason to go.
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Posted in Food, Restaurant Reviews | 12 Comments »
March 17, 2010 by Haven in Paris
Original text by Lilye. Translated and edited by Geneviève Sandifer. Images courtesy of Madame Figaro.
After taking stock of the latest runway trends, Lilye, personal shopper, blogger and friend of HiP Paris, shares some precious insight on how to navigate a few of this summer’s must-haves. We’re including an excerpt of her post below, but you can check out her entire rundown in French here.
1. A Maritime Hint
The time has come to move away from our favorite sailor shirt, but that doesn’t mean we have to lose the beloved pattern altogether. Dare to wear your stripes with a little subtlety: a ribbon wrapped around your wrist, a turban in your hair, a hint of pattern peeking out of your Antonio Marras ensemble, or even a tastefully decorated purse will do the trick.
Hermes’ latest collection is also making me mad about navy. Don’t dismiss your staple navy blazer! Paired with a simple white t-shirt and a pair of jeans, it’s so very effortlessly chic.
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Posted in Parisian Living, Shopping | 4 Comments »
March 16, 2010 by Tory Hoen
littlebrownpen.blogspot.com
I’m not the first writer to have moved to Paris with a gleam in her eye and a dream in her heart; nor am I the first writer to have scoured the streets in search of free WiFi (pronounced wee-fee in French) a.k.a. wireless Internet. Hemingway may have gotten the job done with pencil and paper in an ice-cold garret, but we modern-day Hemingways prefer slightly cozier digs in which to indulge our literary fantasies and writer-ly rituals.
And so, I give you the list of HIP-tested, HIP-approved, writer-friendly Parisian cafés complete with free wireless Internet (WiFi). For the cost of a mere espresso, you can spend hour after hour writing (or planning to write… or thinking about planning to write…. or, let’s face it, just procrastinating… but at least you’re procrastinating in Paris). This list is just the tip of the iceberg, but it’s enough to get you started. Now get out there and go for it. Your novel’s not going to write itself! Continue Reading »
Posted in Parisian Living | 14 Comments »
March 15, 2010 by Erica Berman
After over 17 years of Frenchie living, I am largely used to the etiquette of dining chez les Francais – along with all of their implicitly understood rules and regulations.
A brunch with Parisian friends for which the first guest arrived 30 minutes after the announced time, and an 8 pm French dinner party invitation with food finally served at 10 pm, prompted the following list of tips for enjoying error-free dining in the land of berêts, baguettes and smelly cheese.
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Posted in Parisian Living | 23 Comments »
March 12, 2010 by Tory Hoen
For Parisians, lunch is where it’s at. Breakfast usually consists of coffee and cigarettes (and maybe a tartine), and weekday dinners are often simple affairs as well. But lunch is the moment when many kick back and enjoy every last second before returning to the office. Weekday lunches can extend to 1.5 hours and weekend lunches are nearly interminable. Both often involve wine, philosophizing, and simultaneously savoring / complaining about life (a finely tuned Parisian art). But unlike dinner, you then have all afternoon to walk, nap, or work it off. In case you couldn’t tell: I am a fan of lunch.
Le Miroir – Maggie Battista
More importantly, lunch is also the best time to sample some of Paris’ best cuisine at reasonable prices, as many restaurants offer a prix-fixe lunch menu that highlights the day’s specials. While your options are limited, they will likely feature the freshest, most seasonal ingredients. So kick back and relax, knowing that you are in gastronomically capable hands. My top 5 picks are as follows. Continue Reading »
Posted in Food, Restaurant Reviews | 11 Comments »
March 11, 2010 by Maggie Battista
I attended my first Paris party last week, and arrived with this apple and rhubarb tart from Les Petits Mitrons. (More on that Paris party in another post soon.) I was so enraptured by the crunchy crust, glazed apples and tender rhubarb that I fell in love on the spot. I carefully prepared for its purchase, visiting the shop a few times to ensure I’d find a fresh one on the day of the party. It was lovingly nestled into this pretty pink box.
The tart was so lovely on this delicate plate, provided by the hosts. No one wanted to cut into it, but everyone wanted a bite.
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Posted in Food | 2 Comments »
March 10, 2010 by Haven in Paris
Text and photos by: Meg Zimbeck
I panicked, on a recent winter night, when some friends asked me to organize a dinner. Choosing a restaurant is something that I usually enjoy, but the guests for this particular occasion were a couple of chefs. And not just any chefs, but senior chefs working in three-star restaurants.
My anxiety subsided as soon as I remembered Les Papilles. This homey little spot near the Jardin du Luxembourg is a favorite among food and wine insiders. I think it’s something to do with the simple and honest cooking, the well-priced wine selection and the likability of owner Bertrand Bluy. Continue Reading »
Posted in Food, Restaurant Reviews | No Comments »
March 9, 2010 by Tory Hoen
Photos Erica Berman
One of my favorite times of year in Paris is the transition between winter and spring. It’s that miraculous moment when the gray dampness lifts and the first rays of warm sunlight begin to creep their way along rooftops, through windows, over bridges. It’s still coat weather, but hope is in the air.
More importantly, it’s the moment when droves of Parisians emerge from indoors after months of hibernation. A few months from now, they will undoubtedly look healthy and bronzed and full of life; but for the moment, they are pale and wan (and still dressed in black) and seeking sunlight as if it were their lifeblood. I remember walking through the Jardin du Luxembourg on the first warm day last year and being convinced that the city was awash in a sea of vampires. I had never seen so many black leather-clad beings, their skin sparkling beneath the first rays of springtime sun.
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Posted in Parisian Living | 4 Comments »
March 8, 2010 by Tory Hoen
It’s easy to eat well in Paris, but to truly eat like a local is a whole different endeavor. At the heart of the Parisian culinary experience are the city’s markets, and eating like a Parisian means knowing where to get the “best” of everything—the freshest produce, the most interesting wines, the best baguettes, the most unique specialty products. The preparation of a perfect at-home meal is a nuanced process that involves the assembly of carefully selected puzzle pieces—not to mention the actual cooking, plating, presentation and consumption rituals.
Luckily, there is a short-cut in the form of Paule Caillat’s Promenades Gourmandes: personalized culinary excursions that allow anyone—from novices to gourmands—to access the pleasures of French home-cooking done right. Continue Reading »
Posted in Food, Tours and Classes | 3 Comments »
March 5, 2010 by Maggie Battista
Introduction by Maggie Battista
I’m in love, and it’s not just with Paris.
As a member of the Haven in Paris team, I feel very lucky to get to know amazing people from all over the world who stay in our luxury Paris apartments. Guests are very dear, and it feels as if we let them in on a little secret: they can indeed feel like real Parisians by staying in well-stocked, carefully decorated Paris homes. The saying ‘home away from home’ was coined for our apartments.
While each and every guest is special, I met up with the perfect guest at the perfect moment last week. I’ve been a bit lonely, missing my husband, Boston friends and all my blogger friends. And as I’m still learning French, it’s not easy to make new friends. That’s where our guest Kari saved the day.
Kari happens to be a New York City blogger, photographer and all-around great lady. We met up for a quick drink. Four drinks and four plates later, we were fast friends. She blogged about her Haven in Paris apartment and let us re-post it here. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to stay in one of our apartments, and specifically one of our Montmartre properties, read on. Thanks for the kind words, Kari!
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Posted in Parisian Living | 6 Comments »
Bistrot Paul Bert, Courtesy of: Hoostamagazine.com
