November 21, 2011 by Haven in Paris
Bonjour!
The winter months are absolutely wonderful in Paris. The lines are shorter at our favorite museums and sights, and the restaurants put their best foot forward for the locals - steak frites never tasted so good!
Since we’d rather be in Paris in December, January and February, we’re offering you an amazing opportunity on Friday, November 25, 2011.
The dining room in our Penthievre apartment
Instead of spending Black Friday* braving the crowds for lackluster deals, you can spend that day with Haven in Paris. On November 25 only, we’ll be offering amazing discounts on stays in December, January and February, including 20% off all 1-week, low season visits. Now that’s a deal to write home about… from your perfect pied-a-terre in the city of light!
The master bedroom in our Penthievre apartment
Contact us now to begin planning your Paris visit, and we look forward to finalizing all the details on November 25th. Continue Reading »
Posted in Travel | 3 Comments »
December 27, 2010 by Haven in Paris
Tarte Tatin, Tarte Fine aux Pommes (Julien Hausherr)
Eating and Paris. No matter how much you might try to dissociate the two, a stay in Paris without its fill of delicious treats could be a holiday in any other northern European capital, albeit one with some pretty nice architecture. Letting yourself be tempted by the window displays in patisseries and the cozy banquettes of corner brasseries is all part of the charm of living in Paris.
You won’t be blamed for spending your time here eating your way through neighborhood markets and various restaurant guidebooks, but you may find upon returning home to a routine of simpler meals (what, no Coq au Vin for dinner tonight, Mom?) you wish you had brought some of the mythical recipes back with you.
To answer the ever more popular dream of the food-blogger/cook/tourist, scores of great and not-so-great cooking schools have opened up in Paris to teach eager visitors la cuisine française. If you are not serious enough to book a semester at the Cordon Bleu, though, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the options out there. Lucky for you, Ariel and I recently tried out a class at “La Cuisine”, a wonderful cooking school geared towards visitors and locals that we feel confident recommending to anyone looking to delve a little deeper into the secrets of French cuisine.
La Cuisine: Ariel peeling an apple, Geneviève stirring the Crème Anglaise (Julien Hausherr)
Oliver and Jane started “La Cuisine” just over a year ago, and its popularity has already supported their move to a fantastic location right next to the Hotel de Ville. Tired with the demands of her banking job, Jane decided to drop it all, work her network, put together a group of serious culinary professionals and open a cooking school. With a soon-to-be degustation room and cellar, in addition to the two lovely kitchen/classroom spaces, La Cuisine is a great place to soak up a few recipes & tips in a welcoming environment.
On our recent visit, Ariel and I learned from the lovely Nathalie how to make the elusive Crème Anglaise. As side dishes to this queen of creams, we also learned how to make a perfect Tarte Fine aux Pommes and a traditional Tarte Tatin. Ariel has the scoop on the recipes below… – Geneviève
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La Cuisine: Crème Anglaise (Julien Hausherr)
Mmmmm, I could just live off of Crème Anglaise alone! I miss that sweet ambrosia when I’m back in the states, since Americans tend to prefer the frozen version as a garnish to our pies and cakes.
For someone like me, an abysmal cook who can’t even fry an egg, the idea of actually making Crème Anglaise from scratch was madness, something best left to professionals for fear of botching one of the complex intermediary steps.
Au contraire mon amie! After taking the class at La Cuisine, both Genevieve and I have been able to recreate the sweet sauce (to the amazement of our family and friends)!
Here are Nathalie’s foolproof steps for a perfect Crème Anglaise: Continue Reading »
Posted in HiP Recipes, Tours and Classes | 16 Comments »
March 25, 2010 by Haven in Paris
Text by Je Ne Sais Quoi for Parisien Salon
In Paris, the bitter temperatures are finally subsiding and the sun is trying to shine through the seemingly endless grayness. That means one thing: spring is quickly approaching, and heavy down jackets and wool scarves will be replaced with flirty skirts and blouses. But there’s no need to be in Paris, or any other big city, for that matter, to work Spring 2010 trends into your wardrobe. Here’s what you can expect this season. Continue Reading »
Posted in Shopping | 3 Comments »
March 24, 2010 by Haven in Paris
Text by Paris By Appointment Only; Photos by Fabrice Fortin.
Even though they live in the capital of couture, most Parisians can’t sew a stitch. Like most countries, France kicked home economics to the curb decades ago. Since hardly any one knows how to shorten a hem, fix a button, or take in a seam, you can find a retoucheur on practically every Parisian corner. But all that is about to change thanks to Sweat Shop, a new creative collective in the residential 10th whose mission is to teach Parisians how to make and customize their own clothes.
Continue Reading »
Posted in Shopping, Tours and Classes | No Comments »
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.
Continue Reading »
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.
Continue Reading »
Posted in Parisian Living, Shopping | 4 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 »
February 17, 2010 by Haven in Paris
Blogger Kari Geltemeyer is currently staying in Haven in Paris’ Livingstone Penthouse, and we were so excited to find that she’s been writing about her experience on her blog Litwit. It’s always so fun to see this city through someone else’s eyes, and first-time visitors like Kari often have a knack for recognizing the obscure details and nuances that are often overlooked by more seasoned Paris dwellers. We’ve selected some excerpts from her blog that highlight her decision to come to Paris and some of the discoveries she’s made here. We’re glad she took the leap!
Text and photos by Kari Geltemeyer
Day 1
When I say it’s a very big deal to come to Paris, I don’t say it because I’m an idiot, I say it because where I come from people stay in their places. And this can’t be understood, perhaps, unless you grew up in exactly the same way, in a town of 8,000 people and a family of seven in the middle of Wisconsin surrounded by dairy farms, where—when I was young, at least—nobody seemed to stray too far. It wasn’t done, it wasn’t much considered, and if it was talked about, it was something impossibly foreign and unbelievably expensive and certainly too far away to actually be real… (To this day my parents’ reaction is “Ack! Paris! Alone??! Aren’t you scared!”) Of course I’m scared! That’s why I’m doing it. Continue Reading »
Posted in Parisian Living | 5 Comments »
January 19, 2010 by Haven in Paris
Just a quick note from HIP to say that contributions of time, material goods and money are still desperately needed in Haiti. Check out these sites for ideas on how to pitch in:
UNICEF -UNICEF’s field staff is working around the clock to help save the tens of thousands of children who have been injured in the quake, separated from their families, and desperately need clean water, food and other help.
PlanUSA – Plan already has 143 staff on the ground in Haiti working to provide immediate relief in the wake of the disaster. This organization has a long-standing presence in the country.
Oxfam America - Oxfam’s 200 staffers stationed in Haiti, including a highly trained emergency response team of 15, are rushing to meet the most urgent needs, such as providing clean water and other public health necessities.
ActionAid - ActionAid has worked in Haiti since 1996; their crisis response efforts focus on providing shelter, clean water and medicine to survivors.
ACCION International – ACCION is working with SOGESOL, its Haitian partner, to provide services and support to its 13,500 microfinance clients in the nation.
You can also check in with Medecins San Frontieres and Action Against Hunger. Even the smallest contribution helps!
Posted in Events | No Comments »
January 8, 2010 by Haven in Paris
Photo: parisbreakfasts.blogspot.com
Text by Simone Blaser
For coffee addicts who think they’ve seen it all—we’ve reached the new frontier. It involves beans that have been “pre-processed” by the Brazilian Jacu bird, and while it doesn’t come cheap, Jacu bird coffee may be very well be worth the 8 Euros/cup you’ll pay for its “clear sharp flavor with a bright acid tang.” As if you needed another reason to visit La Caféotheque, this coffee-scented haven is Paris’ only outpost that deals in Jacu bird coffee (imported from Brazil). Intrigued? Scared? Read on… Continue Reading »
Posted in Food | No Comments »
Our Penthievre Apartment near the Champs-Elysées
