A Room with a View and a Beam One of the first things that I managed to do after arriving in my Paris apartment was to run into a beam. This may sound a little crazy but the said beam that runs from floor to ceiling, on an angle, between the only two windows in the apartment …
Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. A. A. Milne Is it a coincidence that the past five years (barring one) when I go to Paris, my trip is peppered with a little drama? Would my adventures be more enjoyable without the …
Nope, it isn’t any of that stuff, that is what I love about Paris. This is what I don’t like about Paris. I never look forward to it, in fact I dread it, I get emotional and anxious. I don’t like to think about it or talk about it. My last day in Paris. …
Parisians love their Sunday brunch, a long leisurely affair that can last for hours and can keep you fueled until dinner time. I experienced a number of firsts during the course of a long but lovely day today. Not that it is unusual when I am in Paris for this to occur, there …
Asking myself the question whether to cook French for the French, had me a little nervous. I opted for a combination of Asian and Moroccan flavours instead, with a hint of French culture. Last night I began the preparation for tonights dinner to take the pressure off me for today. Cooking in …
Having a large dining table, a reasonably equipped kitchen and a gas stove inspired me to invite a couple of friends over for dinner. The burning question is … do you cook French for the French? Especially when the French in question happen to be food lovers, with a discerning palate and not shy to be self …
This was my mission for the day. Two tiny buildings, sandwiched at a T-intersection on Rue Galande in Paris. I don’t venture over to this part of the left bank often, it might be the multitude of tourists or the kind of ‘je ne sais quoi’ that I can’t put into words but it feels like foreign territory to …
Paris Greeters is a great initiative. Local residents volunteer their time to take fellow visitors like myself around their neighbourhood and bestow a bit of culture, interesting facts and sites and warm Parisian friendliness. This is my third consecutive year to donate to the cause and learn more about the city of Paris through the eyes …
For some strange reason I tend to avoid Rue Montorgueil but now that the throngs of tourists have thinned out, I decided to take a little wander and a closer look. Over the last fews days, each time I drag open the giant heavy front door to my apartment block, I am confronted with …
According to the famous chef, Raymond Blanc, Pot au Feu or Pot on the Fire, is the quintessential French family dish. The honour and pleasure that I had tonight was to be treated like one of the family, when I had for the first time, home cooked Pot au Feu. When I realised that I had …