Bonjour à tous!

The first taste of France should always be a sweet one! Upon waking to a French summers morning, we could smell a honey sweet baking waft through our window. This meant one thing FIND WHERE THIS SMELL IS COMING FROM!!! Around the corner from our accomodation we come to find a bakery stocking hot bread of all kinds, mini cakes, slices and biscuits and the highlight, an elderly lady making the thinnest , biggest crepes coated in honey and sliced almonds. Cut one in half and share this for breakfast with Daniah while sitting on the edge of a water fountain people watching.

After cooling off inside of the walls of the Louvre, we followed a local to the best spot in town to try traditional snails and frogs legs with a side of French fries. Both simply cooked in a good helping of butter, parsley and garlic. Snails reminded me of garlic prawns but a bit chewier and as for the frogs legs, yes they taste like tender chicken with not much meat on it. An experience and a half but how could you come to France and not try both of these at least once?

Strolling around the streets of Paris we came across what is now my favourite bridge ever. This is the oldest bridge in Paris and story has it that Henry IV threw a party, got his guests very happy on french Champagne and had their faces carved to be placed on this bridge! You cannot miss it. I recommend picking up some giant macaroons to enjoy your view with. Pistachio is my go to flavour of choice, crunchy yet chewy outer shells with the richest green buttercream swirled in between.

As we said our goodbyes to this wonderful city with the most gorgeous banquet rooms imaginable (goals for sure) we grabbed a quick French vanilla slice from Pauls and headed on our way. For a chain store the creamy custard and layer of strawberries were a wonderful finishing note on the first experience of Paris. Why I didn’t feel I enjoyed this city I don’t actually know. Maybe we spent too much time in Spain living like locals prior or I was too excited to get to Italy? But not to worry, Paris, Chanel will be back very soon.

Joyeux Noël

The most beautiful place to travel to between Christmas and New years in Europe is Paris! Arriving into France I was so extremely excited to see the city lit up entirely by Christmas lights and displays, truly feeling like the festive season.

My favourite part is strolling the Champs-Élysées where the street is transformed into a giant stretch of market. Stands overflowing with cheese, novelty trinkets, hot crepes filled with nutella, belgium waffles with any toppings you desire, the biggest prawns I have ever seen amongst other seafoods and my absolute top pick – freshly baked baguettes filled with jamon then layerd with melted cheese from giant cheese wheels that have been slowly melting under a grill. WOW! This form of melted cheese is known as raclette.

This quick layover in the city of love and lights would not be complete without a quick visit to the biggest supplier of French macaroons, Ladurée. My tip, avoid the location on the main strip and head off the beaten tracks near the university to find a much less tourist occupied location. The stroll to find this store was well worth experiencing the coldest I’ve ever felt in my life. One thing about winter and Paris, the wind off the banks is absolutely freezing to the bone. But none the less, what better way to defrost than stepping foot into the sugar filled air of a bakery.
The display was full of delicate, multi flavoured and layered desserts and the rage of macaroons made the decision to only try a few was a tough one. Taking a seat at the bridal consultation desk, my sweet hunter friend Amber and I dived into fresh, crispy indulgent raspberry macaroons. If it wasn’t for the texture you would have thought you were eating a real raspberry! Next up, liquorice [this one was for mum!] and again, this was just as delicious and no black tongue after either!!!

With the lights sparkling brighter than ever on the Eiffel tower, we waived goodbye to this city yet again… just for a little while!

Bon anniversaire!

How to celebrate turning 30? Jump on the train to Paris and have ice cream on the Champs-Élysées for dinner. Glass of Rose while sitting at Flora Danica, what more could two girls ask for. One scoop of raspberry sorbet, dark chocolate and vanilla bean ice cream, all topped with a generous helping of rich thick French cream, fresh strawberries and slithered almonds. 30 is looking quite enjoyable!

Wandering around the hot streets on our way to Les Galeries LaFayette [this place even has a rooftop bar!] the smells of french patisseries are too good to ignore. Stepping into Eric Kayser we grabbed a true Parisian breakfast; soft flakey croissant baked with vanilla custard in the middle and topped with an almond cream and slithered almonds – still warm! A quick espresso to top it all off, wonderful.

We made our way through the Parisian streets to Sacré Cœur our noses led us into a French patisserie chain called La Cure Gourmande. Grab a gift tine and fill it to the brim with lemon curd filled shortbreads, biscuit enclosed sour cherries, mixed nut biscuits shaped into diamonds or chocolate centre shortbreads just to name a few in the delicious range available. Grab a bottle of bubbles and demolish half the tin in bed for an afternoon snack cooling off from the summer heat!

If you ever want a food bucket list item while you’re in Paris, this is it!!! Le Relais de L’Entrecote; there are no menus here, they only serve steak frities! Once you are seated and order the table a bottle of house read, you are served a salad of lettuce, walnuts and a mustard dressing. Next you are asked how you would like your steak cooked & this is noted on the table cloth. First you are served half of your steak smothered in a secret green sauce and a pile of fries and once you have licked the plates clean, they serve the other half of your steak and another pile of fries with it! I don’t think I’ll ever experience this gorgeous green sauce again but oh how I wish I could.

Chaun’s 30th birthday, eat at a restaurant affiliated with our birth month, Saint Augustin. Rich carbonara made with French cream, lots of chives and topped with garlic prawns. Not very French but oh so good. Another few large glasses of rose and top this fantastic people watching feast with a French creme brûlée. THAT CRUNCH OF THE TOFFEE, YUMM!!! The custard was consumed with glorious vanilla bean and so velvety on the tongue.

If you can climb your way up to a rooftop in Paris, please do it! Our pick this trip was Le Quarante Trois [above the Holiday Inn Hotel, ask at the bar for an access card to get up the lift] Take a seat in the afternoon sunshine, order a big aperol spritz and settle in to enjoy the sun setting over this magical city with a big platter of cheese. 5 types of cheese; brie, camembert, swiss cheese, smoked cheddar and a gouda. My top pick was the creamy camembert smeared on some crunchy bread. My kind of dinner and what can I say about that view, breathtaking.