La Péniche and Le Foodist

Stéphane, the sommelier for Le Foodist 

Every once in awhile someone comes up with a really great concept and I tip my hat to Fred Pouillot for his creation of Le Foodist. An evening with Fred will open doors to french culture through food and wine by offering unique taste experiences accompanied by entertaining stories on history, culture, food and wine. Sharing Fred’s passion for food and his knowledge will bring you to a new level of dining appreciation.

The current home for Le Foodist is the adorable péniche, Bateau Daphné, just by the Batobus (or water taxi) stop for Notre Dame called Quai Montebello. This was my first time on a péniche which is one of the flat bottom barges commonly seen on the Seine. The top deck of the boat serves as a delightful starting point for an aperitif with first rate views of Notre Dame. As chilly as it has been in Paris, it was difficult to leave the beauty of the Seine and Notre Dame and descend into the warm cozy dining salon.

To find out more, see the article as published in Bonjour Paris: http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/la-peniche-and-le-foodist/

A french “dégustation” and products from the “terroir”

One of the perks of living in Paris is to have the opportunity to go to “dégustations”. These are events sponsored by small producers of wine and specialty food products to sample their wares.

The term that is used is “terroir” which means soil or land. It now has a gourmet connotation and is used in referring to the local production of honey, oil, poultry, beef, wine, champagne, etc.The popularity of local products continues to increase due to their quality and the vigorous adhesion to high standards. 

In terms of labeling, the concept of “terroir” is now guaranteed by the sign AOC (appellation d’origin côntrolée). To obtain this seal, there are specific criteria that include traditional fabrication and ingredients as well as limited geographical areas for some items. The first product to obtain protection in labeling was Roquefort in the 15th century. The first modern laws on the Protection of the Place of Origin was in 1919. The organization AOC was established in 1935 to oversea the production of wine. It has continued to expand and now includes vast agricultural products. The label is an assurance to the consumer for proof of superior quality and a certification of origin.

For the full article go to BonjourParis website: http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/french-degustation-and-products-terroir/

Vézelay, a pearl from the middle ages in Burgundy

Vézelay is a wonderful little village not far from Paris that makes for a wonderful day or weekend trip from Paris. Thank you to "Bonjour Paris" for publishing my story on Vézelay and hopefully it will motivate you to take the time to explore the village and the surrounding countryside.

http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/vezelay-pearl-middle-ages-burgundy/

Le Marché des Enfants Rouges

Thanks to Bonjour Paris for posting a story of mine on their website on Le Marché des Enfants Rouges. I hope that you enjoy this postcard that offers a wonderful place to visit, learn about its history and hopefully you will be able to visit Le Marché des Enfants Rouges to begin your holiday shopping. 
http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/le-marche-des-enfants-rouges/

Sipping Pastis in Marseille

train station Marseille

Its reputation may be tarnished, but Marseille offers travellers pretty much everything; sunny skies, art, terrific food and a rich diverse history dating back more than 2000 years. Marseille was not a destination that I had initially considered, but it was a starting point before going to Cassis for a beach holiday. You can take the rapid train (TGV) from Paris and arrive in Marseille in three and a half hours. This is an easy trip especially if you have a certain appreciation for train travel.

Upon arriving at the Marseille train station, you'll immediately notice the trees that are growing in the station. That's when I decided that I was going to like this city that had planted real trees in their train station. And they didn't just plant one tree, but many. As an added bonus, the station is a monument in itself. The ornate, decorative staircase leading down from the station was first opened to the public in 1925 and it is truly exceptional.

An Organic Farm in France

Claire Barczewski

During this year's summer vacation we headed first to the Loire Valley for a 4th of July celebration with friends from Key West, Florida. There is a large expat community near Tours and it was a wonderful way to start our trip by connecting with new and old friends who divide their time between the US and France. In the Loire Valley we stayed in a small chateau run by Arlette et Alain Maqueton called La Noblaye. Just across the street is an organic farm run by Claire Barczewski and Jean-Camille Cordes, who were very generous with their time and provided an in depth tour of their lovely farm. Here is a summary of that experience published in BonjourParis. Enjoy!

http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/discovering-organic-french-farm/

What do Wallpaper, Balloons and Revolution have in common? La Folie Titon!

Another short article has been published in Bonjour Paris that I wrote. This one is centered on a nondescript address where major events in the history of Paris took place. The address is 31, rue de Montreuil in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. The neighboring metro stops are Faidherbe Chaligny, Ledru Rolin and Nation.

When the French Revolution is discussed everyone thinks of the Bastille. However, there is a little visited site in Paris where riots began on the 28th of April 1789. These riots set in motion the rioting that marked the beginning of the French Revolution and the historic storming of the Bastille. This historic spot is the La Folie Titon on old Faubourg Saint Antoine marked by two simple plaques. The plaques are attached to a stately apartment building that is, of course, locked. Be patient, someone is bond to enter or exit. If you can get past those locked front doors there is beautiful tile work describing the history of La Folie Titon. The tiles are mounted very high in the entrance on the left side and I had wished that I had a flashlight to better see them. 

http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/what-do-wallpaper-balloons-and-revolution-have-com/

Ma Cantine : Variations Restaurant

Bonjour Paris has just published an article that I wrote for them on one of my favorite restaurants near to our apartment called Variations.  It is located at 18 rue des Wallons, 75013 Paris. It can be accessed by metro stop Saint Marcel (ligne 5), Gare d'Austerlitz (ligne 10) or Les Gobelins (ligne 7). The phone number is 01 43 31 36 04.
  
There is nothing quite like dining in cafés, bistros or brasseries in France. Arguably, the French have everyone else beat and every neighborhood in Paris has a plethora of choices. But even with the many choices, locals tend to gravitate to the same restaurants. One in particular, Variations, is fondly called our “cantine”.  This term is used if one tends to go to a favorite spot so often that it feels like your own kitchen.
For the entire article go to Bonjour Paris:   http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/dining-variations/