Paris: le food le food le food!

This post is long— feel free to read…poke around… check out some pics (I can promise you there ARE some drool worthy ones!)… do whatever you’d like

Paris is magical. I have been there a total of four times in my twenty-two years and each time I am more and more astounded at how everything is “just so” and effortlessly elegant.

Most recently, I was there for Christmastime this past December with my parents.

Whenever & wherever we travel we make it a point to

1.) Stay in a hotel we love and know we will be taken care of
2.) Eat the most incredible and delectable food we can find

This trip was no different….

We stayed at the uber-Parisian and elegant Le Bristol Hotel. It was our second time staying at this particular spot. I love this hotel so much– it’s absolutely beautiful yet not ‘over-done’ or gaudy. They even have an indoor heated swimming pool! Just amazing.

This is my dad and I at the hotel bar.

One night we ate at a lovely ‘brasserie’ by our hotel called Le Berkeley.

My appetizer was langoustines…. oh how I love crustaceans!

My entree was some type of white fish (cannot recall the name) with fried onions and ARGON OIL on the side. Argon oil is an oil from Morocco– I cannot even describe the taste but I can tell you it’s one of the most amazing things I have ever tasted.

During Christmastime, there is a kind of ‘out door’ fair that lines a street near the famous Le Champs Elysees (which is the street the Arch de Triumph is on). The street is lined with all sorts of food vendors… from crepes… (in my case NUTELLA!)

to chocolates…

and everything in between…

(even giant omelets!!!!)

I think Paris is one of the only cities that can have this type of street fair,  have the entire city lit up with lights, and not be cheesy in the least!!

While we are adventurous and spontaneous– my parents and I are definitely creatures of habit. For Christmas dinner we ate at a restaurant we had ate at during our stay in Christmas 2008.

Foie Gras creme brulee.

One “sort of” rule I have for myself when I’m in a foreign country? I hardly ever make special requests in regards to my meal. I want to experience and absorb every aspect of the culture as I can. Even if this means eating a delicious piece of smoked salmon… completely drenched in melted butter & cheesey stuffed pasta.

Don’t get me wrong– I don’t dislike butter or cheesy stuffed pasta, but I’m not too much of a fun of the two put together.. especially when I’m only 1/2 through a 7+ course meal.

Yet it was divine– and it was consumed. When in France– do like the French do. Period.

Another thing I love about French food?

Hahah besides the delicious chocolate!!

It’s the intensity of the flavor of a dish.. any dish..whether it’s chocolate, a simple croissant, a small piece of cheese…. the flavor intensity is SURREAL and just brings you to a whole new ‘level’ of food indulgence and appreciation.

Here we are being ‘creatures of habit again’. This is my ALL TIME favorite Jewish bakery. It’s in the “Pletzel” or Jewish section of Paris. It’s literally this little ‘hole in the wall’ but the Challah and pastries are OUT OF THIS WORLD! EVERYTIME we go to Paris we go here at least once!

Moving on…during our third day in France we took a day trip… here we are with our guide Jerome… (side note: he is actually Oprah’s driver when she comes to Paris! He was with her when the famous Hermes ‘incident’ happened– kinda cool right?). He was perhaps one of the sweetest/most interesting people I have EVER met. It was an honor and a privilege to meet such a wonderful person. Another thing that I love about traveling so much is meeting such amazing, kind hearted and genuine people.

He took us to Versailles…

A small town called Barbizon….

And Chateau Vaux le Vicomte (where Miss Eva Longoria was married!)

It was such a fun day!!

Other eats included: THE BEST CUPCAKES EVER!!! Cupcakes are definitely one of my FAVORITE foods– they are such a happy/cheerful and DELICIOUS treat!! The name of the shop I found these in was called Cupcakes Berko.

I had a red velvet and a raspberry cupcake.

Upon sampling my mum’s caramel cream-cheese cupcake I IMMEDIATELY went back and got a JUMBO one for myself (no pic– it was eaten too quickly!)

One night we ate at one of my FAVORITE places called La Duree (they are famous for their macaroons).

Just check out how elegant this salad is…

even the french fries were so neat and orderly stacked (well they WERE when they came out– but I couldn’t resist).

All of the food was just so delicious– I truly sampled each pastry/sweet/nut/munchie/wine/ EVERYTHING that stumbled my way.

But the best of all??? My dinner at the Jules Verne.

Dad & me at the hotel before leaving for the Jules Verne…

The famous Jules Verne (one michelin star) restaurant is located at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Yes it’s touristy, yes it’s over the top… but the view and the food is just impeccable… how can you go wrong eating at a wonderful restaurant with a view from the top of the Eiffel Tower?

Mum n dad on the way up…

Blurry pic of the menu (sorry!)

I’m doing to do my best to remember the courses (remember this was wayyy back in December!)

This amuse bouche was some type of citrus gel with seasoning and cream.

My appetizer was an incredible lobster salad with apples and celery “cole slaw”

My entree was the STAR– roasted turbot with ALL kinds of spices and grains. This was sweet/savory and just all around INCREDIBLE!!

mini pastries to get us in the mood for dessert…

My mum’s toffee souffle.. oh my GOD…

my bittersweet chocolate torte (sorry for the blurry pics)

with hazelnut ice cream

and truffles & marshmallows for the table.

Outstanding. I was BURSTING at the seams literally… I will NEVER again wear a dress that is already TIGHT to a 3+ hour 7+ course meal!

I had such a great time in Paris— and I definitely cannot wait to go back. I think one of the best ways to experience another culture is by the FOOD– you can really get a true ‘essence’ and understanding of the people and the culture in a way that cannot otherwise be expressed.

We got back to Boston on New Years Eve. Naturally– we did what any overly-indulged, beyond stuff, yet happily reminiscent, returning-home American would do….

We went to our spot for a 5 course New Years Eve tasting dinner & spent the night at the hotel! (& of course I did some booty-shakin that night with my gal pals)

Perfect end to a perfect trip!! & Needless to say I was craving fresh fruits/veggies and salads for at least a solid week after (amazing how the body “intuitively” knows what it needs… right?)

Whewww that was an epic post!!! I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for reading!!!!!

Jaime

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