The Paris Kitchen
Blogger Buzz: Patricia Wells’ Perfect Day in Paris
Jul 16th
My long-time neighbor Patricia Wells is an American who has lived in Paris writing about French restaurants and cooking since 1980. As the author of 11 books, most notably the Food Lover’s Guide to Paris, she also served as restaurant critic of L’Express and the International Herald Tribune.
I’m thriilled Patricia took time out of her schedule teaching cooking classes in Paris and Provence to share her favorite spots to eat and drink, what inspires her cooking, which summer treats are in her fridge now and the chefs she credits for teaching her as much about life as they did food.
What is your idea of a perfect day eating and drinking in Paris?
My perfect day eating and drinking would be very simple. After a run in the Luxembourg Gardens, I look forward to breakfast at home… a slice of Poilane toast topped with fresh goat cheese and heirloom La Merinda tomatoes with several cups of espresso…
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> Read more here about Contributing Editor Patricia Wells
Blogger Buzz: The New La Terrasse – Lunch With a View Over Paris
Jul 10th
When the Samaritaine department store closed a few years ago, it was the rooftop café that I missed, not the shopping.
Although the food wasn’t the draw, it was a quiet place to enjoy a bite to eat and sip cool drinks overlooking the river and city.
Thanks to the new Patrick Jouin designed terrace restaurant on the top of Galleries Lafayette – the monumental views of Paris are back with gorgeous food created by former Arpège protégé Fumiko Kono and Master Pâtissier Pierre Hermé.
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Blogger Buzz: Px Cocktail Club – Duck Tacos & White Truffle Mayo Sliders
Jul 8th
During the fall and winter months when the sun sets around 5pm, everyone is clamoring to warm up indoors with cocktails after work, making it nearly impossible to reserve a seat at the popular Prescription (Px) Cocktail Club.
Since the sun is setting around 10 pm now, the same folks are prolonging their days on a terrace which means you can take advantage of the 7-9 Happy Hour on summer’s long days – by actually being able to get a seat and sample their new finger food menu specifically paired with the artisanal cocktails.
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Blogger Buzz: Daniel Rose’s SPRING-From the Rubble, a Chef & His Kitchen Have Risen
Jul 7th
During an Asian fried chicken dinner with my best friends Randy and Jack on Monday night; my phone rang at exactly 10:30pm with Chef Daniel Rose on the other end.
My heart sank when he said, “Wendy, you won’t believe it, I was just taking a coffee beak around the corner and three fire trucks came roaring up the street yelling out “Daniel Rose!”
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Blogger Buzz: Chef Alberto Herráiz Puts Spain on a Plate at Le Fogón
Jun 18th
When I told my friend Sofia over drinks that I was planning my first trip to Spain later this year – she didn’t blink before picking up the phone to make a reservation at her favorite Spanish restaurant. As a native of “Barthalona”, she jumped at the chance to prepare me by taking on the role of culinary ambassador of her home country.
Within the hour we were seated at the bar of Fogón on the left bank of the Seine being served gorgeous tapas by one-star Chef Alberto Herráiz and his wife Vavina.
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Blogger Buzz: Chef Christian Constant is Awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur
Jun 17th
By chance when I walked past chefs Christian Constant (wearing his signature suit vest jacket) and Yves Camdeborde having lunch on a terrace…I was red-faced when I realized that I’d said, “Hi Christian!” instead of referring to him as “Chef” as one should.
Noting my embarrassment, Yves slapped him on the back beaming with pride, “It is okay Wendy… you can call him “Chevalier” now!”
That’d be “Sir” or “Knight” to you and me.
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Blogger Buzz: Superstar Chefs Basque in the Sun For a Good Cause at the 2010 Chefs en Boule!
Jun 14th
It was a glorious day on Sunday on the outskirts of Paris, where superstar Paris chefs, bakers and winemakers who hail from the Pays Basque region got together to headline the annual Chefs en Boule fundraising competition.
Teams of over 250+ people paired up and played pétanque for nearly thirteen hours (from 10 am Sunday to 1 am Monday) battling for the coveted trophy and magnums of Ricard.
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Blogger Buzz: Fish La Boissonnerie, Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Jun 10th
Fish La Boissonnerie proves that consistency trumps trendy. Since opening its doors in 1999, it has been a reliable left bank favorite where locals, foodies, major food writers, Michelin inspectors, sommeliers, chefs and international visitors have come together to shake hands on a regular basis and share new “news” over a glass and/or meal in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere.
It is such a regular fixture in so many lives on the left bank, that a familiar theme song sticks in my head for hours after spending time here catching up with everyone…
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Blogger Buzz: Move over Pain au Chocolat, There’s a New Pastry in my Life
Jun 5th
Last week, I stopped at artisanal baker Eric Kayser’s shop to buy a pain au chocolat but was too late…sold out.
When the manager told me that they had something even better – I looked at him doubtfully, but he wasn’t kidding.
Now I’m head over heels for this “plié” au chocolat – a long rope of croissant dough filled with pastry cream and semi-sweet chocolate chips, folded over and over and over again to create an opening in the middle. The top is brushed with egg and sprinkled with finely ground sugar.
In one delicious moist, crisp and decadent bite – I knew that a twenty-year love affair with pain au chocolat was over and it was time to move on…
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Blogger Buzz: La Régalade makes a brilliant move
May 30th
A modern-age food and wine revolution is underway in a tiny pocket area near Les Halles.
After a year of having to travel to the outer arrondissements to find creative market and value-driven menus – the wheels are now in reverse around the Louvre – on the once devoid of anything Medieval rues Saint-Honoré and L’Arbre Sec in the 1st.
First there was the pioneering Garde Robe natural wine bar (famed for inspiring Manhattan’s Ten Bells), then came Adeline Grattard’s tiny French-Chinese Yam’Tcha (pairing food with tea which just earned its first Michelin star), followed by Chicago-born Chef Daniel Rose who moved from the 9th to launch the “new” Spring brand (Restaurant & Boutique), and now Chef Bruno Doucet…
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Blogger Buzz: Can Ralph Lauren Turn the French on to American Cuisine?
May 11th
When I pointed out the newest addition to the left bank dining scene to a client last week, she sighed, “Who would want to eat a hamburger at a Ralph Lauren store?”
Apparently, the French do.
Ralph Lauren, darling of the Paris fashion set, recently opened a plush new boutique and “American” restaurant named “Ralph’s” in a former 17th c. private mansion on the chic Boulevard St. Germain-des-Près. Beyond the obvious (selling clothes & accessories), the aim of the restaurant isn’t necessarily to please visitors’ palates but an attempt to educate the French ones.
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Blogger Buzz: Restaurant Guy Savoy is Moving to the Left Bank
May 10th
When I recently called Chef Guy Savoy to share some exciting personal news, he was all ears – but he couldn’t wait to share some big news of his own.
I told him that I had just discovered – to my complete surprise – that my genealogy not only traces directly back to the House of Savoy and the ruling Kings of France via the Conti & Condé Princes, but apparently …. all these years, I’d been looking out of my apartment windows directly into the courtyard of the Hôtel de Conti (the Conti family palace).
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