France back in the day wasn’t a very vegetarian friendly place. When Carrie Solomon first moved to France 20 years ago, it was far from “la belle vie” for a vegetarian immersing herself in local cuisine. Restaurants promoted nose-to-tail cooking and chefs had yet to start normalizing farm-to-table cuisine. Continue reading “Bohème Cooking: French Vegetarian Recipes”
Plat du Jour
Susan Herrmann Loomis’ cookbook “ Plat du Jour: French Dinners Made Easy” is a virtual journey to culinary France via recipes, photos, anecdotes and tips. From French “plat du jour” means dish of the day. Loomis is talking about “those dishes you find on handwritten menus outside French bistros or cafés, the ones that beckon everyone inside to sample a restaurant’s mouthwatering menu.” She says “Most plats du jour are classics lifted from the heart of French regional cuisine, dishes that evoke the essence of France, the spirit of terroir and grandmere… from Boeuf Bourguignon and Blanquette de Veau to Bouillabaisse and Croque Monsieur.” Continue reading “Plat du Jour”
Paris’ Secret Vineyards
Until recently, much of Paris was a collection of villages, fragments of which can still be detected by the sharp observer. Needless to say, their wine-loving inhabitants covered a substantial portion of their territory with vineyards… to everyone’s joy.
The River That Made Paris
“The Seine is the most romantic river in the world. She encourages us to dream, to linger, to flirt, to fall in love…” says Elaine Sciolino author of “The Seine, The River That Made Paris.” A melange of historical vignettes, personal antidotes and poetic quotes spiced with photos and illustrations, this charming book is both informative and entertaining. Continue reading “The River That Made Paris”
Half An Hour From Paris
Many guides claim to be for and by insiders, but this one truly is. Annabel Simms—living in Paris since 1991—delights in exploring the Paris countryside by train and sharing ideas with her friends for discovering little-known travel gems. This summer she updated the book with two new chapters including Brunoy and the Parc Saint-Cloud, while adding color photos and maps. Her previous book “An Hour From Paris” is a long-time favorite for both visitors and ex-pats. Continue reading “Half An Hour From Paris”
36 Hours in Paris
Only in Paris for a few days and overwhelmed by the options? Follow this suggested itinerary for an unforgettable trip. The following is an extract from Ruby Boukabou’s “The Architecture Lover’s Guide to Paris” (White Owl Books), a fabulous new guide book catering to both armchair travelers dreaming of a future visit and those lucky enough to actually get to Paris during these troubled pandemic times. Available worldwide. More info and online orders at www.rubytv.net/books . Continue reading “36 Hours in Paris”
Inventing Haute Couture
The exhibition “Worth, Inventer la haute couture” at the Petit Palais revisits how Englishman Charles Frederick Worth (1825-1895) became a key figure in the history of fashion and the founder of a fashion house that became the epitome of Parisian luxury (to Sept 7, 2025). Worth founded his eponymous fashion house —whose history spans four generations—in Paris (1858) at 7, rue de la Paix. He is credited with revolutionising the business of fashion… Many consider him “le père de la haute couture.” Continue reading “Inventing Haute Couture”
Danish House “Double Mirror”
Glaciers are melting fast… According to recent studies the planet’s glaciers have lost 5% of their ice in little over 20 years. The melting has contributed to raising sea levels by about 2.7 centimeters since 1961. Researchers believe that most central and eastern Himalayan glaciers could virtually disappear in ten years. Climate headlines are shocking, but even more shocking is the world’s failure to meet the challenge. Continue reading “Danish House “Double Mirror””
Posters as Urban Art
The Musée d”Orsay exhibition, “L’art est dans la rue,” revisits French street posters with an exceptional collection of nearly 230 works, exploring the spectacular rise of the illustrated poster in Paris during the second half of the 19th century (until July 06, 2025). Organized in partnership with the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the exhibition brings together outstanding works by such “Maîtres de l’Affiche” as Bonnard, Chéret, Grasset, Mucha, Steinlen, and Toulouse-Lautrec. Continue reading “Posters as Urban Art”
Matisse et Marguerite
The Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris features an exhibition of work created by the renowned French painter Henri Matisse (1869-1954) starring his daughter Marguerite as his favourite model (until August 24, 2025). Of all the faces Matisse painted those of his daughter Marguerite stand out for their special emotion. The artist created over one hundred portraits of her from childhood to adulthood. She was his most faithful model posing for him over several decades until the end of WWII. Continue reading “Matisse et Marguerite”
Suzanne Valadon at Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou— closing soon for a five year renovation— exhibits famed Montmartre artist Suzanne Valadon (1865-1938) with a retrospective. First a model calling herself Maria, then changing her name to Suzanne Valadon, she learned to draw by observing the work of artists for whom she posed (until May 26, 2025). Continue reading “Suzanne Valadon at Pompidou”