This is my latest idea for my blog, I had several older posts with some outdated info and decided to combine these posts and cleanup the old to keep just the lovely memories of them, These came from my historical post on some news from France. An eventful post in my blog that I have enjoyed together with you for the last 16 years , Looking forward to have you enjoy it and feel free for feedback, The below text comes from CCCXCIII or 393 ,CDIII or 403 CCCLXXVII or 377 , CCCLXXXVI or 386 ; those from February 2011 ,May 2011 , June/July/August 2012, May 2011 , January,February, and March 2013, Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov/Dec, 2013 , Jan/Feb/April 2016, July 2016, September 2016, Nov/Dec 2016, February 2017, March 2017, October 2018, November 2019, Jan2020 to Mar2020 , and January to June 2021, Therefore, here is my take on the historical some news from France on gastronomy !!! Hope you enjoy this post as I,
Maison Georges Larnicol: Georges by his first name is a Breton by birth. Even though he has come a long way since then, the artisanal values of his origins have never left him. With pure butter and coarse salt, the house kouign-amann is, for many of us, the best we have had the opportunity to eat in Paris. The favorite? The kouignettes (smaller kouign-amanns delicious!! ), just to take several without regretting it!! Maison Georges Larnicol ,14, rue de Rivoli ; 4éme Paris too !! Of course in Paris other stores at 19 rue de l’Harpe 5éme and 132 Bd Saint Germain 6éme, and 7 rue de Steinkerque 18éme.
Moët & Chandon Champagnes: an Imperial vintage launched in the secret of a Parisian architectural jewel, In the delightful and little-known setting of the Hôtel de Bourrienne in Paris, Moët & Chandon is celebrating its 280th anniversary with the presentation of the first vintage of its Collection Impériale.Napoléon’s favorite champagne house to accompany the launch of the Cuvée Impériale Création No. 1. A champagne born from the desire to seek the highest expression of Moët & Chandon and bottle all our know-how to achieve a complexity never before achieved, Webpage : https://www.lvmh.com/houses/wines-spirits/moet-chandon/
Tarlant – Saignée des Tempêtes 2015 ,Under an exquisite color evoking the breast of a robin, delicate oxidative notes, Damask rose and red fruits, a fine, airy bubble, which loosens in the mouth with delicious notes of almond paste, quince, sap, lots of depth and complexity, spices, and a very long, pure, mystical finish! Webpage : https://www.tarlant.com/
Joseph Perrier – La Côte à bras 2014 , A pure, precise nose, with aromas of lily of the valley, white lilac, then vanilla sugar, moving from freshness to more indulgence, with notes of white fruits on the palate, an acidity that refreshes overall, a juicy, slightly spicy side, which holds your hand while caressing your palate, towards a long, energizing and tasty finish. Webpage: https://www.josephperrier.com/en/champagnes-and-cuvees/cote-a-bras-2014/
Faithful to the family reputation for excellence, Barons de Rothschild champagne is associated with the Comédie-Française and the Château de Versailles. Since 2012, Barons de Rothschild has been the exclusive champagne of the Comédie-Française Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, (met her in Pauillac!!) mother of Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, CEO of Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A. since 2018, was an actress. She began her career at Le Français in 1958. She was a resident there for five years, meeting her husband, Jacques Sereys (who passed away on January 2, 2023, at age 94), 431st member of the Comédie-Française, which he joined in 1955. They therefore had very strong links with this theater. The Rothschild family donated many objects and pieces of furniture to Versailles and still wines often accompany events organized within the castle. But, unlike the Comédie-Française, there is a more commercial aspect to this partnership with Versailles. Since 2016, their wines are the attention as part of the VIP tours of the castle and gardens but also the costume ball organized every end of July and, which is held exclusively with Barons de Rothschild champagne.Indeed, Webpage : https://www.bpdr.com/en
The Moulin de la Galette, on the butte Montmartre, this is a kind of Parisian monument in front of which we can be all day. The old mill, built in the 17C, which was still producing flour and wine in the 19C, lived a thousand lives. Former property of Debray (that of Régis) family, it transformed into a tavern, then in the restaurant. Its recent history, he owes to Cédric Barbier, a digital ex-entrepreneur who bought and smartly renovated. Above the bar, thanks to a transparent ceiling, you can see the mill mechanism. When the weather is nice, the terrace opens its arms. As prices are more than reasonable, We would like to live across the street. The Moulin de la Galette, 83, rue Lepic, Paris 18éme.Webpage: https://moulindelagaletteparis.com/
Bars in Paris with a game in mind, I try myself the pool table at Café Germain, at 25, rue de Buci (75006). after a nice dinner go up to first floor for a game of pool with friends.no web but metro Mabillon line 10 just over blvd St Germain. For ping pong or table tennis head for Derrière, 69, rue des Gravilliers (75003). At the end of the pub/resto you have a nice table to play after your dinner or drinks. metro Arts et Métiers, line 3,11;just off rue de Turbigo. If you like poker, a fad nowdays in France, go to Murano,13, boulevard du Temple (75003).at the end of the bar behind thick curtains you have three tables set up for the game. This is ,also, a hotel by the way, which I have not tried.
There was Hugo and Victor on Boulevard Raspail. Now it is under the chef Hugues Pouget, still No dyes, no additives, no aromas… only fresh. We advise you to try one of the delicious spheres with each more enticing flavor than the other: passion fruit, salted butter caramel, pear, mandarin, hazelnut-vanilla praline… Pastry chef Hugues Pouget offers boxes that are as beautiful as they are good, at discover without delay. 50 Rue du Cherche-Midi (75006) webpage: https://huguespouget.com/fr/
More than just a chocolate maker, Patrick Roger is a real sculptor. Named Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2002, he continues to reinvent cocoa in his own way. Rare and design creations, such as its famous graphic half-spheres whose decorations are made by hand. In short, an ultimate tasting experience between visual and taste, to be tested urgently. Patrick Roger chocolatier, 108, boulevard Saint-Germain 6éme ,and 45, avenue Victor-Hugo 16éme, webpage: https://www.patrickroger.com/
Undoubtedly the oldest chocolate factory in Paris, founded in 1761. Behind its old-fashioned storefront, the shop is full of chocolates and confectionery that will amaze you. Old-fashioned pralines, chocolate orangettes, snack foods, crispy almond and hazelnut truffles… Traditional and deliciously regressive creations, not to be missed. At La Mère de Famille, 35, rue du Faubourg-Montmartre 9éme, Webpage: https://www.lameredefamille.com/
The chef Camdeborde moved to Le Comptoir du Relais at 9, carrefour de l’Odéon, and the menu is fantastic, one of my all time favorite restaurants in Paris, The chef is now Bruno Doucet; he took over the establishment in June 2022, succeeding chef Yves Camdeborde, who had opened the venue in 2005. For ice cream time, you know the Berthillon, and the Amarone, now I give you Pozzetto, 39 rue Roi de Sicile, 75004 at metro St Paul, . Grom ,81 rue de Seine, 75006, metro Mabillon.
We love the Chez Clement restos and the one in Bougival in my department Yvelines no 78 is historical. You have four rooms with exquisite decorations such as véranda Saint Michel, color glass mirrors of Champs-Elysées, Rotonde de Petit Clamart, or flower garden of Bougival. This restaurant was founder by Clement Blanc , the same who started in the butchery business founded in Paris the popular Au Pied de Cochon near Les Halles. The restaurant at Bougival is enclosed by 2 hectares of gardens (5 acres), and the original here was the local famouse Coq Hardi. The location is at 15 bis, quai Rennequin Sualem, 78380 Bougival, I keep it here for the memories see post some of my boys birthdays were celebrated here,
I was honored to have a visit by one of my favorites persons from my previous travel forum ,he came all the way from Australia with a group of about 19 Aussies. We had a blast at Cafe du Commerce,51 rue du commerce,75015. The service,the food and the wine was good. But must important the company we share and the love for travel was shown. Its not everyday you finally see someone you have been sharing travel tips and memories over the years and suddently you are seating next to each other chatting like we have known each other for years….Thanks Wal. Webpage: https://www.lecafeducommerce.com/
The hôtel Costes is growing, after purchasing the neighboring hôtel Lotti at my old job street rue de la Castiglione (75001) the owner Jean-Louis Costes will add about 40 additional suites that were confied to the decorator par excellence Jacques Garcia, Webpage : https://www.hotelcostes.com/en
The new things, La Belle Iloise, that great Breton institution has open in Paris! 7, rue de l’Ancienne-Comédie webpage :https://www.labelleiloise.fr/fr/magasin/5065-paris-6eme-arr-odeon
Angelina rive gauche, the famous chocolat chaud is coming to the left bank, at 108, rue du Bac, Althought much prefer in my Versailles,, webpage : https://salon-de-the.angelina-paris.fr/fr/patisserie-salon-de-the/rue-du-bac-paris-7/
One of the most romantic nights in Paris its the bar 228 at the Hotel Meurice , a leyend in its own time, the bar is a classic, of my wonderful days in Paris. It was redone in 2007 by a certain Starck, and well I let you see it webpage: https://www.dorchestercollection.com/fr/paris/le-meurice/restaurants-bars/bar-228
L’Avant Comptoir de la Mer, 3, carrefour de l’Odéon (6eme) This is seafood and tapas from the great restaurant chain led by Yves Camderborde. I have been to the resto next door ,great place. Webpage:https://camdeborde.com/en/restaurants/avant-comptoir-de-la-me
The L’Alcazar, 62,rue Mazarine (6eme).Tropical setting brasserie and concerts, used to come here a lot, it’s a great place , resto and then dancing For many years lots of visits webpage: https://www.alcazar.fr/en
For my local anecdote on the above and see post: this address house a restaurant La Tavern de Maître Kanter that I took my family while living in Versailles, then it was change to the Pavillon Colbert restaurant and now the hôtel Les Lumiéres! Hoping for a better ending.
After four years of work, the Hotel Lutetia (great to be open many stories and friends encounters here over the years) opened in 1910 by the owners of the Bon Marché begins a new cruise in life. In a Five-star setting, the restored Eiffel-tower, decorated with a work by Fabrice Hyber, hosts the Salon Saint-Germain where the Executive chef Benjamin Brial officiates. The Bar that Gainsbourg loved and sang Eddy Mitchell, now called Josephine, found the frescoes buried under coats of plaster. Chic, refined, it lost its intimate and hushed side: difficult to get along after 19h. But the real novelty, the Akasha wellness area, 700 m2, niche in the basement, lit by light rays: long pool, spa Carita, Fitness Room. An annual fee of 6 800€ allows non-residents to sweat and swim there. The impressive stone ship stowed between boulevard Raspail and Rue de Sèvres overcame the storms to trace its route again. Without departing from his legendary Art Nouveau style and Art deco.webpage: https://www.mandarinoriental.com/fr/paris/lutetia
The hôtel Les Lumières opened on last MondayJuly 15, 2024, in Versailles (Yvelines 78), not far from the castle. A place of excellence and steeped in history. Precisely at 5, rue Colbert, a stone’s throw from the castle, many of them have walked the floor of the great hall of the old Hotel de France. A place sometimes compared to the Galerie des Glaces, in smaller of course. Now, this room now has welcomed customers of the hôtel Les Lumiéres for their breakfast. The 2L collection group has carried out work for more than three years to transform the site into a high -end establishment. The building links the Pavillons Gramont and Villacerf (former Hôtel de France), offered by Louis XIV to Édouard Colbert and Antoine III de Gramont. It is now a hotel with 31 rooms, with a restaurant, a bar, a spa, a library and an adjoining Pierre-Hermé boutique, attached to the Café Hermé. The sumptuous establishment, classified Relais et Châteaux, awaits the end of the work of the second building to win five stars status! Each room is thus named the name of a personality of the Age of Enlightenment (1715-1789), from Diderot to the Montgolfier brothers, who made the Château de Versailles the first flight in ballon in 1783. The restaurant La Table des Lumières with chef Erwan Le Thomas who said “In the kitchen, we use all the products, French, from the short circuit, in a locavore logic. Wine is also French. The bar only offers French products like Breton whiskey for example” By 2025, the hôtel Les Lumières will also have a terrace, allowing the castle to be admired while tasting macaroons signed by the star pastry chef or stamped Erwan Le Thomas. As for the Pierre-Hermé store, it is accessible to everyone, and not only to the hotel customers, with direct access from rue Colbert. The official Hôtel Les Lumiéres: https://2lcollection.com/en/les-lumieres.html
Now what about that word “Château” that is define an AOP region in wine country of France. It should not be confuse with the word Château….. the viticole designation was created for good by article 7 of the decree law of May 4 2012. It simply states the word Château is designated to those wine regions of AOP designation that are issue from grapes harvest on plot of land that are use for wine production as well as making it. This is well known in the area of Bordeaux from the 19C and extended to the SouthWest, Languedoc-Roussillon,Provence, and Rhône regions. In the south, there is ,also a château in Champagne, the Château de Boursault. In Burgundy there are some but rare as the majority of plots here are too small and owners with different plots in different areas . The first time the term was seen was from a decree of August 19 1921 given life to an existing wine exploitation and to provide a cultural meaning as said in a bottle. Therefore, when the bottle says “bottled in the Château” is about a businessmen or négociant that purchased the wine already produce to have bottled himself under the commercial name of his choice, cannot use the word Château ; unless as often happenned in the Bordeaux region that this négociant is also the owner of the vineyard. SO he is under the term proprietor and not négociant . Another distinction is not to have the name Château if the wine comes from a non AOC area such as a table wine level. After all these, how can our American friends taken a tradition of a century and a half could take this name to use in their vineyards areas. when there is already a English term for it such as “Estate”, unless only for economic intentions ,they pull the cork too far ::) France , UNESCO World Heritage immaterial for gastronomy and wine.
There you go folks, my latest round of collection on my some news from France series of many years and loving it, thanks to you all. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the historical some news from France on gastronomy !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
