Back to Paris: Ariel’s Looking Forward to Food, Jazz and Art

Haven in‘s very own Ariel has started planning a return trip to Paris. June can’t come fast enough! We’re happy to share here the three things she is most looking forward to: food, jazz and art, of course! – Geneviève

The staircase at the Musée Carnavalet (Ricohf3)

After living in Paris for 4 months last year, it started to feel like home. Of course I was overjoyed to return to my family, friends and my own bed, but let’s face it; life in France is a little bit different from life in the good old USA.  Now that I’m planning my return trip, I’m reminded of all the things I’ve been missing since my last visit…

French cheese plate (Erica Berman)

Fabulous Food:

When I think of returning to Paris, I’m disproportionately excited about the incredible food I’ll be eating; the often touted, widely available steak tartare (I have to stop myself from having it every meal), rice pudding at L’ami Jean, and raw milk cheeses that are so potent and pungent, they’ll knock your socks off. Without a doubt though, the one thing I am most excited for is a very special pastry called the Escargot au Chocolat:  an unbelievable trifecta of croissant, crème patissière and chocolate. You won’t find them everywhere, but my favorite neighborhood boulangerie in the 7th, Pain D’Epice, has them warm and melty every morning. Hurry though, they sell out fast!  I usually pair it with a warm baguette topped with lait cru Camembert and a dollop of apricot jam. It’s my idea of the perfect breakfast, and possibly the reason why I gain so much weight every time I go to France!

A basket of viennoiseries, including an escargot (Renée S.)

Jazz:

If my time in Paris were a movie, jazz would be the soundtrack. I love it and Paris never lets me down — there’s always a café or club nearby where I can get my fix. My favorite way to end the week in Paris (and an even better way to start one) is to grab a bite to eat Sunday nights at Les Tetes Brulees, where I can pair my glass of cold rosé with some great live jazz.

Another special place I can’t wait to get back to is the Caveau de la Huchette, where my husband and I love to dance the night away as the house swing band conjures up L’âge D’or of Jazz.

A night at the Caveau de la Huche (The Hamster Factor)

Amazing Art & Architecture:

Paris undoubtedly has some of the best museums in the world and I love spending weekends strolling through their galleries and gardens. Two new exhibits that I’m especially excited to see are covering my favorite museum subjects, modern art and ancient history. This summer, from March 16- July 31, the Musee Maillol will have an extraordinary exhibit of over a hundred of Miro’s sculptures, the first time they have been shown in Paris in 40 years! My favorite museum of all time, the Carnavalet, also has a new exhibit tracing the history of Paris from its roots as a Roman settlement to the cusp of the Middle Ages (yeah, I’m a dork, but I can’t wait).

Sculptures by Joan Mirò (Art Crimes, Peter Q.)

After reading all this, I wish I were getting on the plane tomorrow! Only a few more months to wait…  In the meantime, here is…

• the latest foodie news from Paris by Mouth
• the latest cultural happenings from Vingt Paris
• some patisserie day-dreaming from David Lebovitz’s write up of Un Dimanche à Paris…

Written by Ariel Kocourek for the Hip Paris blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in.