Beauty Unmasked

Know this place? Looks familiar?

If you ever been to Paris, you must have set your footprint here. Perhaps is the time of the year we hardly see the crowds of Chinese tourists or let alone Japanese tourist flooding this emporium anymore.

With less crowd and human traffic, Galeries Lafayette becomes more beautiful to me. It is the first time (after many times) I stood still and enjoyed the dome and the interior of the building.

Don't you think this looks like in the grand theatre setting with privilege seats to watch the opera...

And the geometric beauty counters with the view from the top floor and you noticed there are hardly crowds anymore.... Both Galeries Lafayette and Printemps are opening extra long hours to attract more customers but the phenomenon of Chinese customers splashing Euros are definitely gone with the wind....

A Stroll-along Saint-Germain-des-Pr�s

I hope you are still in the mood to stroll the city of Paris with me? Now I am going to take you through the Latin quarter of Saint-Germain-des-pr�s. We were here last Friday on 22nd May 2009.

It was not crowded when we arrived at around 11am, weather were promising

There are also a lot of interesting shops and rather unique boutiques and less high street fashion. We were browsing the shop window displays

The reflection of Johannes and the hop-on-off yellow bus at the bus stop

A shop called SAVE THE QUEEN, reminds me of the recent incident on the Dutch Queen... God bless her...

The sky was clear blue but a bit chilly when sitting outside of the sunshine

We walked a long way around the area also taking our time at Jardin du Luxembourg before hunting for lunch.

We were pondering if we should sit in this little bistro Au Petit Suisse

Or this Cafe Les Deux Magots ??

But finally we settled at the quiet corner of March� St Germain, we had our late lunch in this bistro. We both ordered the small bistro menu.

Johannes had this roasted lamb and I had this foie gras version. The foie gras is superbly marinated and the taste is really complex and pleasing. The set menu comes with the choice of drink, which we both opted for Badoit.

I didn't had any alcohol in Paris, this is my champagne san alcohol , aka sparkling water, which taste equally refreshing...

The dessert is an interesting composition of strawberry sorbet, Espresso and Madeleine.

Opposite the bistro, there is this little red soup restaurant that caught my attention, may be I will paint this one day...

LADUR�E

I am still indulging in the little Paris trip we did last week. Now I want to talk about the forever famous and forever busy LADUR�E. With only a few outlets, Ladur�e is always busy and always with a long Parisian line at the patisserie counter.

Rue St Honor�

This is one of the outlet at the cross junction of rue St Honor� and rue Royale

The window display with tempting tartlets, macarons and other items of LADUR�E
We arrived at the Rue Royal outlet rather late, almost 6pm but they still serving tea in the establishment.

The interior of Ladur�e, classical French design and rather warm in the afternoon

The menu card in pastel pink color, it didn't take long for me to decide what I want...

and then waiting patiently and full of anticipation for them to arrive....


Johannes ordered this of which we don't know the name, it is kind of made by the waffle of macaron but I find it a little too sweet.

The tart is garnished with raspberries, strawberries and intertwined with pistachio nut. Frankly speaking the tartlets would have taste even fresher if it is earlier in the day, there is a slight of tiredness and age in macaron pastry as has been exposed to the air for just a little too long, nonetheless, they are still good...


My La Divin

La Divin - taste really yummy, soft texture, creamy and full of the aroma of raspberries, not too sweet at all

The patisserie taste best with my cup of tea. Tea is served again in the French silverware and a large sign of 'L' thoughtfully design to protect one from the heat of the hot teapot handle.

This is another outlet of Ladur�e inside Printemps, we didn't go into this one as it is too early for tea when we were at the Op�ra area avoiding the rain. I bought the Ladur�e macaron though from the outlet at Printemps and then carrying them around in this little pastel green paper bag and walk around Paris with it...

Even while we were catching a bit of fresh air after the humid rain fall at the green field between Jardin du Tuileries and the Luvre museum. The green LADUR�E bag sits stylishly on the field and complementing the Luvre annex building in perfect harmony...

For now, I hope you enjoy the journey with me...

With LOVE from Paris

Hello from Paris again..

Today we have a bit of rain in Paris but yet it was a relief to see the rain drops as it ease the dust down quite a bit

First of all, with LOVE from Paris

We started our late morning by suntanning a bit at Jardin du Tuileries, while Johannes doing his reading, I took a nap due to the tiredness from yesterday.

Then we check out the macarons

As it started to rain, we went to the roof top terrace, Johannes with Eiffel tower at his side

While I have the Sacre Coure and Montmarte on my side
We discovered a 'little Japan' street right in the center of Paris with really authentic Japanese restaurants and small shops selling Ramen and shops with Japanese owner

We did the thing that we thought we will never do, i.e. taking the Seine river boat trip (like any tourist to Paris). It was during the late afternoon, the weather is reasonably warm and our feet are tired, since Johannes never been to the boat ride and I have never been on the boat with him, so we did it, a rather relaxed 1 hour and 10 min with sunset. It was rather romantic too...

The boat ride ended at 9:30pm and when I took the last photo of Eiffel Tower, she blinks for me for the last time

We walked back to the 'little Japan' street for our late dinner. This photo marks the last night in Paris.

Tomorrow (or rather today since it is already passed midnight) we are heading home, but for now with a pair of tired feet, satisfied stomach and sun tan marks the end of this short city culinary trip.

Restaurant Marius Paris

I promise this will be the last blog entry for tonight (or morning since it is already 2am). We went all the way to almost the end terminals on one Paris metro direction south west. It was worth the effort because the seafood was GREAT.

Restaurant Marius

No English menu (which is good meaning the restaurant is not cater for tourist, but we have to exercise our limited French to fullest in order to understand the plate du jour and the suggestion from chef).

This is what we ordered for starters....

My crab salad in vinegar sauce - it's fresh shredded crab meat and naturally sweetness is perfect combination with the vinegar

As you can see from the smile of my face how much I enjoy the crab salad

Johannes had this white asparagus, although from the look of it is not appetizing but these asparagus much have been poach with seafood or meat that it soaks in the extra flavors but yet very light and not overpowering the original fragrance of white asparagus.

We both had sea bream as our main course. Again it was wonderfully done and we eaten ours without salt or pepper because the freshness from the sea bream alone is enough

The mash potato is great, not grease and no strong butter odor, the spinach is wonderfully done as we could taste the coarse texture of the spinach leaves.

It really worth the effort to go all the way to this restaurant and left in complete satisfaction.

Dear Mr Pierre

Dear Mr Pierre

I have heard so much about you and seen so many of your creations over the Internet, you seems to be the most talk about Patisserie chef in this city. I was determined to meet you (visiting your boutique) and sample some of your best seasonal creation this trip to Paris and today I finally meet you face to face and for once without the parisian queuing outside the boutique:)

The PH store at Rue Bonaparte, a rather petite (small) store next that you could easily missed and by passed without realizing it is one of Pierre Herme stores.

A box of 12 macarons - some of the macarons are especially from dear Pierre and not imitable and base on the season.

A box of PIERRE HERM� Paris and my colorful bead necklace come to complete match

The La Ros� macaron and the booklet that explains the available taste of the season. I just tried this one so far in the hotel room. The macaron waffle is extra delicate and soft, very crisp and vulnerable, the butter cream is a bit watery and soft (I guessed it is due to the fact that I carry them along for hours under the rather summer weather). Love Macaron la Ros� but it is comparable to the one from Carette. Need to taste the rest to come to the verdict....