The Best Bistros in Paris

Although you will find some of the finest dining in the world in Paris, do not forget the humble bistro. A wholly Parisian invention, bistros will give you a real taste of France (remember—these places are judged on the food they serve, not designer décor) through classic dishes such as onion soup, noisettes de porc aux pruneaux (braised pork with plums) or rabbit cooked in mustard sauce.

In these income-challenged times, bistros are making a comeback; many people are finding that the warm, homey fare of a bistro is easier on the stomach (and wallet) than the high palaces of haute cuisine. You’ll find bistros in every arrondissement in Paris, from faded cafes with a few specials chalked onto a blackboard to more upmarket versions. Here are some of my favourites:

• Au Bon Accueil, 14 Rue Monttessuy, 7th arrondissement
  The outside terrace has views of the Eiffel Tower (though you will need to be lucky to nab a wicker seat). Great games dishes in hunting season.


• Le Square Trosseau, 1 rue Antoine-Vollon, 12th arrondissement
  Established in 1900, the art nouveau décor of this wonderful bistro draws a fashionable, bohemian crowd.


• L’ Avant-Goût, 26 rue Bobillot, 13th arrondissement
  This bistro is beloved by local gourmands, especially on Thursday evening, which is ‘chef’s choice’. Lunchtime is great value and if on the menu order the hearty pot au feu.


• Le Buisson Ardent, 25 rue Jussieu, 5th arrondissement
  Although the décor is classic art deco, here you’ll find rather inventive bistro fare such as scallops with lime and coriander.


• Ribouldingue, 10 rue St-Julien le Pauvre, 5th arrondissement.

If you don’t like offal, then stay away. But if pig’s snouts, lamb’s hearts and even cow’s udders make your mouth water, you’ll love this bistro. Don’t worry too much; you’ll find more conservative, though always meat-based, dishes here too.

Going Out in the Montorgueil District

The Montorgueil district of Paris surrounds the Rue Montorgueil, a street known for its delightful market. Montorgueil is a pedestrianised neighbourhood, making it ideal for strolling and window-shopping. There are plenty of good shops and spots of historical interest in the area, in addition to a variety of restaurants and bars.

Some recommendations include:

• L’Escargot d’Or (L’Escargot d’Or) is among the oldest restaurants in the city.
• The pastry shop La Maison Stohrer at 51 Rue Montorgueil
• Au Croissant (which dates from 1730)
• and La Maison Stohrer (famous all over the world for its delicious cakes such as Baba Rum and the réligieuse à l'ancienne).
• La Cocoarde at 7 Rue Marie-Stuart, which is popular for its local food and charming ambience.

Also interesting is Le Dénicheur, an avant-garde jewellery and antique store and restaurant at 4 Rue Tiquetonne. Le Dénicheur is open seven days a week from noon to 3.30 pm, and 7 pm to 12 midnight.

There are plenty of good bars in the area and one of the most popular is Le Coeur Fou (which means The Foolish Heart), situated at 55 Rue Montmartre in Montorgueil. It offers good food and beverages at reasonable prices, and is open from Monday to Saturday from 5 pm to 2 am.

La Grille Montorgueil (50, Rue Montorgueil) is a great wine bar with a lively atmosphere . Another good bar is the Expérimental Cocktail Club, at 42 Rue Tiquetonne.

Paris Fashion week is now upon us

I love Paris Fashion Week so much that I have been counting the days recently until its starts and now it is only a matter of hours until the event begins. As someone who has worked in fashion and always attends some of the shows, it's one of my favourite shows each year.

I guess it's not everyone's cup of tea, but if you are interested in fashion or work in the industry, this is one of the top events of its kinds in Europe and worldwide in fact. This years show runs from the 21st through to the 28th February and the main location is the Carrousel du Louvre.

It is not easy to get tickets for the event, with the majority of the shows really aimed at the industry and business. If you are lucky to get tickets, as I have been then its a great chance to see the summer designs and latest concepts. You can learn more from the official Paris Fashion Week website and Paris information accommodation which can be booked online.

Get away from traditional tourist routes

Where else than France could you go to tale cooking lessons? And where else than Paris should you go for that. Many visitors tend to get more of their trips than just the Eiffel tower replica. A taste of the French cuisine and savoir-faire is the perfect memory to take back home with you.

You will find today a wide array of schools and listings available online and through operators. We did try one of the most renowned one, the master of all French patisserie, Lenôtre, located next to the US embassy at the Pavillon Elysees. The experience is worth every moment you spend there. It is also a recommended activity for small groups, and a perfect getaway find for Christmas parties.

So, get more out of Paris and taste the pleasure of a 3 course meal, handmade cordon bleu at your fingertips!

Join us at the Contemporary Art Fair, Paris

It is that time of year again and time when the winter slowly draws in but also when there are some excellent fairs and exhibitions taking place in Paris.

One such event which takes place every October and which I love to attend is the Contemporary Art Fair, an international event which highlights everything from sculptures, paintings and some quite unusual creations. Popular artists including the likes of:

• Mathew Hale
• Frédéric Lecomte
• Elena Berg
• and François Rouan

for example are just a few of the artist who will be represented at the event. If you have never heard of these artists then do not worry as by the time you leave the event you will quite likely be impressed with many of the exhibits and artists.
If you are new to Paris, Winston Churchill Avenue is the location for the event - with the impressive Grand Palace the venue. The venue in its own right is worth visiting in fact, aside from the art fair itself. 22nd through to the 25th October 2009 are the dates for the diary!

The top 5 famous sights in Paris

1. The Eiffel Tower - The Eiffel Tower is one of the most remarkable monuments worldwide. Annually many people from all over the world come this part of Paris to visit this 324 meters high tower. In November 2002, the Eiffel Tower welcomed its 200 millionth guest. On the 3rd floor is the work office of Gustav Eiffel, that lived there for years. The view from this point is phenomenal and worth every dollar or euro. On the first platform is an exposition about the Eiffel Tower with paintings, photo’s and information. There is an elevator that brings you to the top floor of the Eiffel Tower. Information panels show which buildings can be seen from the top floor.

2. The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris - The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris is an impressive cathedral, build on an island called Île de la Cité, in the Seine. After the damage during the French Revolution, this 130 meters high cathedral needed a 23 years restoration starting in 1845 by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. It has beautiful windows, many paintings and 17th century statues. There is also a treasure room where 3 relics of Christ are kept.

3. Basilique du Sacre Coeur - The Sacre Coeur is a basilica in Paris, is situated on hill Montmartre in the 18th district and is dedicated to the ‘Sacred Heart Association’. You can see the church from the Eiffel Tower and people can visit this church. The outside shows similarities with a cream pie. Inside is even more beautiful in the form of one of the world’s largest and most remarkable mosaics.

4. L’arc de Triomphe - The L’Arc de Triomphe is the second largest arc worldwide. It is situated in the 8th arrondissement in Paris and is build on the Place Charles de Gaulle, which is one the busiest traffic courts. The construction began in 1806, in honor of one of Napoleon’s victories at Austerlitz. Later, in 1836, the building was completed under the guidance of King Louis Philippe. People can visit the roof of the arc, which is 54 meters high and offers a beautiful view.

5. Chateau de Versailles - This is a castle and since 1792 a national museum called des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon. Once they were symbol for de greatness of King Louis XIV. The most impressive space is the 70 meters long mirror room called Gallerie des Glaces. The palace is closed on Monday en during official French holidays.

Bastille Day in Paris

Bastille Day in Paris is similar to Independence Day in the United States. The annual event is called Fête Nationale, what means National Celebration and it is held on the 14th of July. This day marks the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris in 1789 and it is considered to be the beginning of the French Revolution.

These days, Bastille Day is the most patriotic event of France which will be celebrated with a lot of fireworks, trumpets, drums, bugles and a parade. The president of the republic will be there too and an impressive arrival is expected.

After the parade the fireworks will be shown near the Eiffel Tower, which will be viewed by many France people but also many foreigners.

During the ‘after party’ of this event, Parisians and tourists can enjoy the parties in the capital city. There are many local orchestras and well known bands playing along the streets and in bars and cafés. Besides all these parties, there is one main party which is called The Bal du 14 Juillet. This is a massive party that is located on the Place de la Bastille, the place where the Bastille prison once stood. This party is not being held on Bastille Day itself but the night before (the 13th of July). Every year they use another theme.

Learn about Paris before planning your itinerary

When visiting this amazing city, it’s very important to plan an itinerary if this is your first visit. Like any other city, you should always be aware of the pros and cons before you put on your explorers hat. Paris are blessed with more pros than cons, if art and architecture makes you tick you are coming to the right place. Paris has a lot of everything, from family attractions to amazing monuments, endless streets with museums, all held together by a blanket of historical buildings.

A tourist can easily get lost in planning a holiday-list that overrides any page; therefore it is necessary to concentrate on the ones that would have the best impact on your holiday experience.

Why would you say that Paris is known for being the ¨most visited¨ destination in the world?
Here are your reasons why more than 30 million people visit Paris each year:

Champs-Elysées: La plus belle avenue du mundo, ¨The most beautiful street in the World¨Paris is a city where the Kings and Queens of fashion design originated from. A Street filled with glamorous shopping malls and cabarets that you will remember for a lifetime. If you have a passion for fashion, you can make your way down this avenue.

No one says ¨I love you¨, like the French
Lovers tend to find themselves lost in each other´s eyes in the gardens alongside the Seine River. Here you can see young honeymooners to old couples still sharing the same umbrella. Even if it is only for a weekend, nothing in this world sounds more romantic then taking your loved one to Paris.
Sites not to be excluded in your itinerary:Most visited historical landmarks:

• Eiffel tower
• Arc de Triomphe
• Notre Dame Cathedral
• The Bastille prison
• Most visited Museums:
• Musée du Louvre
• Picasso museum
• Musee National d´Art Moderne

Tip:
Most efficient way of travelling in Paris would be the metro. Be sure to know the basic French, most Parisians do not speak English. Easy and short language guides are available and adaptable to most mp3-players or your mobile telephones.

Misunderstandings on Paris, France

A lot is said about Paris and also Parisians and having spent a lot of time here in Paris a few thoughts.

Frogs legs are a speciality and not a common place food. Similar to dog restaurants in South Korea (where they do exist but are a speciality and only really common with the oder generation) frog legs are a food many French people themselves have not tried. I experienced the same thing when living in Helsinki, Finland. I was told that all Finnish people have done the sauna to hole in the frozen ice dunking so I did it. Afterwards I found out that many Finnish people have not even tried it.

Parisians I also have found to be very friendly. It is like anywhere in that if you can at least try and speak even 1 or 2 words in French then people will try and help you. French people can be stubborn but then so can Catalans, Brits, Italians and every other nationality.

Culturally Paris, France is a fantastic city and a great city break or week long break location. Happy Xmas to al lour blog readers. You can also learn more about Paris cuisine online.

Faire du shopping a Paris!

When is comes to shopping, Paris has it all. Even those people who hate shopping enjoy the experience. You can find something for everyone from haute couture, perfume, flea markets, misic stores, department stores and outdoor markets.

Opening hours - In Paris, the shops are open from 10:00 to 19:00 Monday through Saturday. The department stores remain open until 21:00 one evening each week. On Sundays you can find the large chains open and some on the Champs-Élysées but almost every where else will be closed.

Department stores - The main department stores are Bon Marché, Galeries Lafayettes, Samaritaine, Printemps, and Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville (BHV). They all ffer a huge selection of products.

For music, books, gadets, and electronics, try either Virgin Megastore or FNAC. They also sell tickets for shows and travel services.

Paris fashion - Everyone knows a little about Paris fashion and the boutiques of the major designers are situated on avenue Montaigne (Yves Saint-Laurent and Christian Dior, Faubourg Saint-Honoré (Hermès and Gucci), la place de la Madeleine, Saint-Sulpice, or Sèvres-Babylone areas. The more hip could venture to the Halles district (Agnès B, Claudie Pierlot), la Place des Victoires, (Kenzo) or Marais (Ventilo, Et Vous).

Carrousel du Louvre which is a huge mall under the Louvre museum has loads of stores such as André Courrèges and Lalique. There are also a number of boutiques and a gigantic food court. Perfumes and cosmetics are found in the Opéra area. If it's food you want, For gastronomic products, try the two great gourmet food shops of Paris, Hédiard and Fauchon which can be found on place de la Madeleine.