Here I am in the month that makes all possible, its the season’s and its great. My real pine tree is up ,and the first gifts are purchased, now planning the feast with a dining in traiteurs or pension folks that makes the meals for us, desserts included. I have plans to visit Brussels after Christmas. So all is coming along fine for 2013.
A street configuration coming back to Paris after 1951. From pl de la République to Opéra the circulation will be both ways yeaaaaah!!! it will have the Grands Boulevards with its traffic patterns as it was before 1951 and it begins tomorrow. It will have a cyclable lane as well for the vélos. Wonderful news for the car lovers like me….
Wine Spectator just came out with its list of Top 50 wines for 2012. I used to read this magazine, and I found it bias towards California wines, the writing is on the wall as the top 10 ranking I will put here.
1 Shafer Relentless Napa Valley 2008
2 Château de St.-Cosme Gigondas 2010
3 Two HandsShiraz Barossa Valley Bella’s Garden 2010
4 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2010
5 Château Guiraud Sauternes 2009
6 Château Léoville Barton St.-Julien 2009
7 SheaPinotNoirWillametteValleyShea Vineyard Estate 2009
8 BeringerCabernetSauvignonKnightsValleyReserve 2009
9 Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 2007
10 Achával-Ferrer Malbec Mendoza Finca Bella Vista 2010
In all the French have 21 of the top 50 wines so not bad knowing that this rating is done for American wine tastes only.
The tastes of France my dear friends will be held soon actually from December 7 to 10 at Espace Champeret and from Dec 14-16 at Porte de Versailles in Paris. The first one will be on the Parisien market days with 350 master of their craft showcasing the best of France, 9€ admission, more info here in French http://www.salon-saveurs.com/Commun/Les-actualites-du-salon-des-saveurs-des-plaisirs-gourmands-L-evenemment-gastronomique-parisien/Le-marche-des-gourmets-parisiens-salon-de-la-gastronomie-ingredients
then the second one at porte de Versailles will be the salon Parisienne of the gourmet groceries , 9€ admission, more info here http://www.salon-saveurs.com/Commun/Les-actualites-du-salon-des-saveurs-des-plaisirs-gourmands-L-evenemment-gastronomique-parisien/Le-salon-parisien-de-l-epicerie-fine-cadeaux-gourmands-Noel-gourmands-ateliers-culinaires
Then you have what I have reported here before ,the Louvre museum will open a branch in Lens, north of France to expand the spaces for showing and gather more income from visitors from the north of Europe. Also ,to help one of the most impoverished area of France with 16% unemployement. Some of the painting and art work that will be expose on the Louvre of the north will be “La Liberté guidant le peuple” (1831) de Delacroix, and “La Madeleine à
la veilleuse” de Georges de La Tour. The museum is done of aluminum done by the Japanese firm Sanaa, and its place on a well at 9-9 bis de Lens, an old mine of charcoal, it will have five buildings that the public will be able to discover from December 12 2012, they have an area of 28.000 m2 of which 7.000 m2 of exposition space.
Go to taste wines and good food at Home Wine, A l’Heure du Vin, 46, rue Saint-Anne – 75002 ; You have a set menu of 37€ for 1h30 of tastings where you will try Five wines and accompagnons for good food alongside. webpage at http://www.alheureduvin.com/
Some things to do leading up to Christmas in Paris, take a flying lesson at Flight Experience on board a Boeing 737 800 at 21, quai d’Austerlitz (13éme). 169 €/30 min. webpage at http://www.flightexperience.fr/
The store to end all your bike problems where all is repair with class and you get to ride in style ;Bicycle store, at 17, bd du Temple (3éme) http://www.bicyclestore.fr/accueil
And do try the eau de cologne with a twist the 21C version with violettes, beans of tonka, and bergamote, named «Sous le toit de Paris», this one you can find it at the coupole of Galeries Lafayette. Or direct at Atelier Cologne c/o Marie-Antoinette, 5 rue d’Ormesson (4éme)e),for 42 €. webpage http://www.ateliercologne.com/store/
and last but not least this one was on a business luncheon, it is very expensive but the top of French gastronomy. Lasserre, 17, avenue Franklin-Roosevelt, (8éme). Tél.: +33 01 43 59 02 13. Carte: 200 €. Menu lunch: 80 €. History says that after André Malraux came back from a visit to the USA, and speaking with US Pres Nixon, the American told him that his food will not taste like at Lasserre but will try to come close, André Malraux came back and told the chef, since then his table is to the left as you enter the resto at no 26. Some others who have come by here are Salvador Dali, Roger Pierre et Jean-Marc Thibault , the comedians, Brigitte Bardot , Frédéric Dard, Albert Uderzo,Catherine Deneuve, Sylvia Kristel (while Emmanuelle movie was showing in the theaters), Jacques Chirac, Lionel Jospin ,George Marchais , and Roger Moore (007 Bond). webpage at http://www.restaurant-lasserre.com/fr/index.php
Enjoy Paris and all of France, cheers and Happy Holidays to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 