Spending a Night in Saint Sébastien (France)/San Sebastian(Spain)
Welcome to Barcelona!
Gaudi Walking Tour
Fruit Market
Street Fair in Madrid
Rowing across the lake in Parque del Buen Retiro
vendredi 14 mai 2010
L'Espagne: Echapper au volcan
Au Revoir Paris! Hola L'Espagne! It's been a long semester of exploring Paris, taking classes, learning a new culture etc...but now its time for vacation! So here I go--on vacation! Me and two friends are heading to the coast of Spain, Barcelona for some warmer weather and Sangria! That is until we get to the airport-- the volcano in Iceland is acting up again and all flights are CANCELLED!...Did you think that would stop us? Not a chance!! We ran to the train station below the airport and got on the first train to the border of France/Spain-- I mean RAN because with tickets in hand, we had approximately 5 minutes to find the train and board. Let the adventure begin!
Spending a Night in Saint Sébastien (France)/San Sebastian(Spain)
Welcome to Barcelona!
Gaudi Walking Tour
Fruit Market
Street Fair in Madrid
Rowing across the lake in Parque del Buen Retiro
Spending a Night in Saint Sébastien (France)/San Sebastian(Spain)
Welcome to Barcelona!
Gaudi Walking Tour
Fruit Market
Street Fair in Madrid
Rowing across the lake in Parque del Buen Retiro
samedi 8 mai 2010
Chocolat: Jean-Charles Rochoux
Although this stop was only minutes after my previous chocolate shop, I felt that it should have it's own post since it is the LAST CHOCOLATIER THAT I WILL VISIT IN PARIS!
Jean-Charles Rochoux has an incredible, edible window display of dozens of chocolate statues. They also had the picture below in the window display but not in the store, which looked insanely good. On a fruit kick- I tried cherry, citron (lemon), raspberry, and honey. They were delicious as they melted in my mouth revealing their fruity bite. Shout out to the honey one, which technically isn't a fruit, but equally as delicious.
Sigh. Adieu mes chocolatiers! Au Revoir Paris! We've shared so many licks, bites, and smiles. Until we meet again- Chocolate, je t'aime.
Jean-Charles Rochoux has an incredible, edible window display of dozens of chocolate statues. They also had the picture below in the window display but not in the store, which looked insanely good. On a fruit kick- I tried cherry, citron (lemon), raspberry, and honey. They were delicious as they melted in my mouth revealing their fruity bite. Shout out to the honey one, which technically isn't a fruit, but equally as delicious.
Sigh. Adieu mes chocolatiers! Au Revoir Paris! We've shared so many licks, bites, and smiles. Until we meet again- Chocolate, je t'aime.
Chocolat: Christian Constant
Two more chocolate shops left and they coincidentally are located on the same street! (37,16 Rue d'Assas) I started at Christain Constant's small shop and sampled four exotic floral chocolates: jasmine, cardamom,Frangipanier, and Youzou. Not that I had any idea what those were, BUT they were recommended by Christian himself so I couldn't say no! I enjoyed them in the courtyard of a nearby Institut Catholic de Paris, which had a beautiful garden and tons of young Parisians.
Yes, my Parisian celeb-siting was a chocolatier!! Other celebrities caught in Paris by BU students; Harrison Ford at the Museum D'Orsay, Stevie Wonder at the phone store, lots of fashionistas, fashion journalists, and magazine editors spotted by my friend studying fashion journalism.
Yes, my Parisian celeb-siting was a chocolatier!! Other celebrities caught in Paris by BU students; Harrison Ford at the Museum D'Orsay, Stevie Wonder at the phone store, lots of fashionistas, fashion journalists, and magazine editors spotted by my friend studying fashion journalism.
Le Bon Marche
Mon Dieu! Its part department store, part food store, and probably the most amazing place on earth: Le Bon Marche. The new Whole Foods back in US definitely was inspired by the French. The department store part, like all department stores in Paris (Printemps and Galaries Lafayette) make Neiman Marcus look like K-Mart. They have everything to decorate yourself, your home, and your lover--Parisian style which is, of course, dripping with elegance. But honestly, La Grande Epicerie is the reason to go to Le Bon Marche. The food store, connected to the department store, has everything...from everywhere. The outer circle of the layout is cases of prepared food-- prepared by Master Chefs, naturally. They are so beautiful that they could pass as display cases.
Next, there is a gateway of specialty aisles surrounding the store. Everything is organized under headings such as; olive oil, pasta, crackers, sauce, etc. Additionally, they have aisles for each country, carrying authentic products from each region. The American aisle was well represented with peanut butter, peanut butter cups, marshmallows, popcorn, croutons and salad dressing. I didn't know that salad dressing was an American thing, but they had my favorite poppyseed dressing! The America aisle is in between Canada (maple syrup, pancakes) and Tex-Mex (they don't have Mexican food here, so they consider Tex-Mex its own region).
The wine cave is enormous! It was practically 4 rooms of wine; white, red, aperitif, and champagne. Then, at the center of the store is the butcher, bakery, and candle stick maker--actually the produce man.
Oh, yes—there is a chocolate aisle. It quite beautiful and luscious, but I was a little disappointing to see Crunch bars again. I've become quite a chocolate boutique snob, so I passed on the chocolates here.
*Figured out the salad dressing connection: Parisians make their own salad dressing. Fresh ingredients, a dash of mustard, olive oil, and some vinegar so they have no need to buy bottled dressing. Oh France.
Next, there is a gateway of specialty aisles surrounding the store. Everything is organized under headings such as; olive oil, pasta, crackers, sauce, etc. Additionally, they have aisles for each country, carrying authentic products from each region. The American aisle was well represented with peanut butter, peanut butter cups, marshmallows, popcorn, croutons and salad dressing. I didn't know that salad dressing was an American thing, but they had my favorite poppyseed dressing! The America aisle is in between Canada (maple syrup, pancakes) and Tex-Mex (they don't have Mexican food here, so they consider Tex-Mex its own region).
The wine cave is enormous! It was practically 4 rooms of wine; white, red, aperitif, and champagne. Then, at the center of the store is the butcher, bakery, and candle stick maker--actually the produce man.
Oh, yes—there is a chocolate aisle. It quite beautiful and luscious, but I was a little disappointing to see Crunch bars again. I've become quite a chocolate boutique snob, so I passed on the chocolates here.
*Figured out the salad dressing connection: Parisians make their own salad dressing. Fresh ingredients, a dash of mustard, olive oil, and some vinegar so they have no need to buy bottled dressing. Oh France.
vendredi 7 mai 2010
Chocolat: Michel Chaudun
I visited this tiny shop after my final presentation. I was already on cloud nine when I arrived to this Asian-inspired Chocolate shop. There were trinkets lined up all along the walls and it took me a minute to realize that they were all made out of chocolate! As instructed by the New York Times, I ordered a small box of 6 paves. The man pulled out a tiny gold box, wrapped it up, and sent me on my way with a smile. It was like receiving jewelry. Inside the box was 6 neatly packed dice-sized chocolates and a toothpick. The first one I poked and popped in my mouth and chewed it like fudge. It was good but there was something in the NYT article that I was supposed to remember about how to eat them. OH! You're supposed to let them melt on your tongue-
OOOOMMMMMMMGGGGGGG. I don't even think that this was really chocolate!! Can chocolate just disappear on your tongue and infuse your entire month with a silky, rich flavor like this? It was magical chocolate. Amazing, delicious magical chocolate. AND it was so magical because I managed only eat the 2 and then I SAVED the rest for later! I've never done that with chocolate before. Then I SHARED some with my friend! And now I'm sitting here blogging with the last 2 sitting in the box next to me. I'm saving them, for what? I have no idea. The right chocolate moment?!
Cocktail Adieu
C'est le fin. The four months are winding down, wrapping up and I'm caught somewhere in the midst of it all. I stuck with this pit in my stomach of all the different directions that I'm longing to go and all the places I have been.
Wednesday: Last day at my internship. I exchanged gifts with my boss and said goodbye to the office. She gave me this French hair oil, which I have no idea how to use but I'm hoping that it works it's French miracles on my- now very long- hair. Then I headed home for the last supper with my host mom. I bought her some craft materials, her favorite hobby, and we had a long dinner together.
Thursday: Presentation and Report in the early afternoon, which I was strangely calm about. The presentation was a fumbling mess of French, as expected, and my question-and-answer period turned into a hearty french debate- between the teachers. I snuck out of there and took Paris by storm. It was beautiful and sunny so I walked around and stopped at a chocolate shop (See: Michel Claudon) and had lunch in Rose Bakery. Then I met up with a friend to walk around the Marais and pick up salted caramels by Jacques Genin. At 6 we headed to our cocktail party at school. All of the teachers, host families, and students were invited. The had a comedian who taught us all "how to become Parisian". It's amazing all of the little stereotypes and "trucs" as they say that you learn about Parisians. Some are true of any city, but others are uniquely Parisian. After the cocktail adieu party at school, we stopped by the "Crepe Man" for a final Nutella-Banane. This man is the funniest toothless Parisian in France. He always says American phrases and asks us to teach him our Boston accents. He also has the amazing talent of turning out 4 crepes with only 2 pans. We headed off to our own soiree at our favorite local bar as well. We pretty much packed the place with BU kids, but managed to meet some official Parisians.
Friday (Today): Stopping by an art exhibit, two chocolate shops (my final 2 on the NYT list) and out to a French dinner by the Eiffel Tower. Au Revoir Paris!!
Saturday (Tomorrow): I'm heading off the airport- assuming that I actually fit time in to pack... but honestly, as imagine myself on the runway, I will be equally happy to fly home, fly off the Spain for vacation or hear news of another volcano and get stranded in Paris for a week. It's really quite a predicament, three amazing destinations. However if all goes according to plan: I will be flying to Barcelona for 4 days, taking a train to Madrid for 2 and flying from Madrid-Paris to Paris-New York on Friday, May 14th.
A plus!! Bisou!
Wednesday: Last day at my internship. I exchanged gifts with my boss and said goodbye to the office. She gave me this French hair oil, which I have no idea how to use but I'm hoping that it works it's French miracles on my- now very long- hair. Then I headed home for the last supper with my host mom. I bought her some craft materials, her favorite hobby, and we had a long dinner together.
Thursday: Presentation and Report in the early afternoon, which I was strangely calm about. The presentation was a fumbling mess of French, as expected, and my question-and-answer period turned into a hearty french debate- between the teachers. I snuck out of there and took Paris by storm. It was beautiful and sunny so I walked around and stopped at a chocolate shop (See: Michel Claudon) and had lunch in Rose Bakery. Then I met up with a friend to walk around the Marais and pick up salted caramels by Jacques Genin. At 6 we headed to our cocktail party at school. All of the teachers, host families, and students were invited. The had a comedian who taught us all "how to become Parisian". It's amazing all of the little stereotypes and "trucs" as they say that you learn about Parisians. Some are true of any city, but others are uniquely Parisian. After the cocktail adieu party at school, we stopped by the "Crepe Man" for a final Nutella-Banane. This man is the funniest toothless Parisian in France. He always says American phrases and asks us to teach him our Boston accents. He also has the amazing talent of turning out 4 crepes with only 2 pans. We headed off to our own soiree at our favorite local bar as well. We pretty much packed the place with BU kids, but managed to meet some official Parisians.
Friday (Today): Stopping by an art exhibit, two chocolate shops (my final 2 on the NYT list) and out to a French dinner by the Eiffel Tower. Au Revoir Paris!!
Saturday (Tomorrow): I'm heading off the airport- assuming that I actually fit time in to pack... but honestly, as imagine myself on the runway, I will be equally happy to fly home, fly off the Spain for vacation or hear news of another volcano and get stranded in Paris for a week. It's really quite a predicament, three amazing destinations. However if all goes according to plan: I will be flying to Barcelona for 4 days, taking a train to Madrid for 2 and flying from Madrid-Paris to Paris-New York on Friday, May 14th.
A plus!! Bisou!
jeudi 6 mai 2010
Caramel: Jacques Genin
Jacques Genin is a chocolatier know for his "salted caramels". Slightly ironic, yet absolutely delicious! They have the right hint of salt that makes them perfectly sweet and chewy. Find his little Paris shop in the Marais and make sure to bring some back for me!Jacques Genin
133 Rue de Turenne
75003 Paris, France
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