Christmas in Paris. What do I need to know?
Nov 12th, 2018, 04:08 PM
#61
Starrs:
I will be in Paris in a few weeks for our annual pre-Christmas long weekend. It is a given that we will pop into Le Bonaparte at least once a day for either a morning coffee or a late afternoon wine or three. It is our "local". Will also be staying at "our" hotel which will be very festive with the Christmas decor. (A highlight of the day is coming back and sitting by the fire.) Yesterday we had a pre-trip meeting to discuss our plans and , of course, there are none. We are happy just wandering around all day with zero game plan.
I will be in Paris in a few weeks for our annual pre-Christmas long weekend. It is a given that we will pop into Le Bonaparte at least once a day for either a morning coffee or a late afternoon wine or three. It is our "local". Will also be staying at "our" hotel which will be very festive with the Christmas decor. (A highlight of the day is coming back and sitting by the fire.) Yesterday we had a pre-trip meeting to discuss our plans and , of course, there are none. We are happy just wandering around all day with zero game plan.
"...to discuss our plans and , of course, there are none. "
That made me smile. Those are the best trips. A list to choose from and time to explore!
It also reminds me of my neighbors at breakfast in the conservatory. There was a young woman, perhaps 20 years my junior, with her 5 year old daughter. We chatted and she wondered how their day would unfold. The next morning she reported that they spent the entire day in the Luxembourg Gardens. She marveled at how different this trip was compared to previous ones and that it was a perfect day, seeing Paris through the eyes of her child. There was an older woman there, perhaps 20 years my senior. It made me smile with happiness. I hope I'm back there in 20 years, making new memories and enjoying remembering previous visits. I MAY go back with one of the greats. I don't know. The 4 year old's first outing was not promising. Maybe at 8 or 9 or 11 years old. The parents were admittedly brats when their grandmother paid for an eight week trip, giving a chance for their Papa to share his childhood memories of growing up in Europe - and studying in Paris. I'm not taking THEIR kids if they aren't well behaved and appreciative!
Enjoy your return visit. Raise a glass to me while you are there. I'll be there in spirit!
Nov 13th, 2018, 01:55 AM
#62
OK, then...
I found the Traiteur I was seeking, J.S.F.P. Traiteur, so it is from there DH and DD shall collect the Rotisserie Chicken for our arrival night supper while DS and I find a Christmas tree. We'll go the Christmas market(s) that afternoon/evening to find pretty baubles for the tree.
L'Ange20 was my first choice for Christmas Eve Dinner (DH and I have fond memories...), but alas, they are closed, so we will have dinner at the apartment. Lunch will just work itself out, though that scares me a little: DD expressed interest in seeing the holiday windows (and shopping); I would like another handbag from Pourchet (more shopping), to see Julia Child's apartment (after 5 visits, this one item remains), and perhaps visit a Christmas market or two; and DH and DS seem to be all over the Musee de l'Armee.
Christmas Day plans are still being sorted. The vote was unanimous for wandering about and taking a family selfie from the Eiffel Tower, so up we'll go at 1100. Where to eat lunch remains the next challenge. Christmas Dinner will be at the apartment, for now.
26 December is still in play, too. Versailles was tossed out; however, three of us have been, and, DH and I just returned from The Hermitage and are still working through the excess overload. Disneyland has thankfully been nixed. I suspect we will be quite happy roaming the city.
I found the Traiteur I was seeking, J.S.F.P. Traiteur, so it is from there DH and DD shall collect the Rotisserie Chicken for our arrival night supper while DS and I find a Christmas tree. We'll go the Christmas market(s) that afternoon/evening to find pretty baubles for the tree.
L'Ange20 was my first choice for Christmas Eve Dinner (DH and I have fond memories...), but alas, they are closed, so we will have dinner at the apartment. Lunch will just work itself out, though that scares me a little: DD expressed interest in seeing the holiday windows (and shopping); I would like another handbag from Pourchet (more shopping), to see Julia Child's apartment (after 5 visits, this one item remains), and perhaps visit a Christmas market or two; and DH and DS seem to be all over the Musee de l'Armee.
Christmas Day plans are still being sorted. The vote was unanimous for wandering about and taking a family selfie from the Eiffel Tower, so up we'll go at 1100. Where to eat lunch remains the next challenge. Christmas Dinner will be at the apartment, for now.
26 December is still in play, too. Versailles was tossed out; however, three of us have been, and, DH and I just returned from The Hermitage and are still working through the excess overload. Disneyland has thankfully been nixed. I suspect we will be quite happy roaming the city.
Nov 13th, 2018, 02:11 AM
#63
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Have fun! Handbag shopping is always a good thing to do in Paris 
Have you checked out Polene? https://polene-paris.com/ Slightly more expensive than Pourchet (maybe about 50 euros more) but beautiful bags made in France, Spain or Italy. I have two of the Numero Deux on my list for our upcoming trip (the black moc croc and the green).
It doesn't sound like your plans will take you over to the 16th arrondissement, but if you happen to be in the Pont Mirabeau area, perhaps to see the statue of liberty there, this is a very good, congenial restaurant and not expensive: La Terrasse You can try out your French chatting with the restaurant's pet parrot
The resto is pretty new; the previous incarnation closed almost a year ago and it's taken a new direction in style and ambience since then.
Have you checked out Polene? https://polene-paris.com/ Slightly more expensive than Pourchet (maybe about 50 euros more) but beautiful bags made in France, Spain or Italy. I have two of the Numero Deux on my list for our upcoming trip (the black moc croc and the green).It doesn't sound like your plans will take you over to the 16th arrondissement, but if you happen to be in the Pont Mirabeau area, perhaps to see the statue of liberty there, this is a very good, congenial restaurant and not expensive: La Terrasse You can try out your French chatting with the restaurant's pet parrot
The resto is pretty new; the previous incarnation closed almost a year ago and it's taken a new direction in style and ambience since then.
Nov 14th, 2018, 07:37 AM
#65
kerouac, thank you for reporting out on the windows. I have purposefully not looked at your videos in anticipation of a real-life experience; since I am the chief architect of most holidays, we will go view the displays.
WeisserTee, thank you. We saw the Statue of Liberty on a previous visit. I will look at Polene, though I am partial to Pourchet. When I had to replace a dearly loved Pourchet pocketbook after years and years, and years of love, I wrapped it in its dust cloth and tucked it into my wardrobe. I could not part with it.
The plans are coming together:
24 December
Lunch reservations at Auberge Nicolas Flamel.
Dinner will be a charcuterie board at the apartment, and then perhaps we'll go to admire the lights along the Champs-Élysées
25 December
Eiffel Tower in the morning; tickets purchased.
Lunch reservations at Les Antiquaires
Duly noted that we'll need to secure a Bûche de Noël for Christmas dinner at the apartment.
26 December (our final day)
Dinner reservations at Le Procope (a request from DS, who somehow remembers it from a previous visit)
WeisserTee, thank you. We saw the Statue of Liberty on a previous visit. I will look at Polene, though I am partial to Pourchet. When I had to replace a dearly loved Pourchet pocketbook after years and years, and years of love, I wrapped it in its dust cloth and tucked it into my wardrobe. I could not part with it.
The plans are coming together:
24 December
Lunch reservations at Auberge Nicolas Flamel.
Dinner will be a charcuterie board at the apartment, and then perhaps we'll go to admire the lights along the Champs-Élysées
25 December
Eiffel Tower in the morning; tickets purchased.
Lunch reservations at Les Antiquaires
Duly noted that we'll need to secure a Bûche de Noël for Christmas dinner at the apartment.
26 December (our final day)
Dinner reservations at Le Procope (a request from DS, who somehow remembers it from a previous visit)
Nov 14th, 2018, 05:27 PM
#66
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Enjoy. Sounds like you have a plan. I love Paris at Christmas (and I also love Le Bonaparte and St Germain). Feel free to check out my old trip reports but you have lots of great plans and I am sure your trip will be lovely. I have to go to Laurent Dubois for cheese for Christmas (and salted butter).
@Weekender - one of these days we will end up in Paris at the same time!
@Weekender - one of these days we will end up in Paris at the same time!
Nov 15th, 2018, 01:15 AM
#67
It sounds like a wonderful plan!
Since you mentioned "Dinner will be a charcuterie board"
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/plai...d6jd2Ge5fI4aAg
If you opt to go out instead of eating in, this was by far the best charcuterie board ever!
The restaurant is tiny. Itsy bitsy. Family run. Carefully sourced beef and meat from farms they chose carefully.
They do take reservations. I ate there on Christmas Eve a couple of years ago.
Oh no! It's permanently closed!
That's such a shame. It was such a special place.
Nevermind.
denisea and weekend, give me a shout if you plan a meetup. If time and circumstances allow, I'd love to meet you in person!
Since you mentioned "Dinner will be a charcuterie board"
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/plai...d6jd2Ge5fI4aAg
If you opt to go out instead of eating in, this was by far the best charcuterie board ever!
The restaurant is tiny. Itsy bitsy. Family run. Carefully sourced beef and meat from farms they chose carefully.
They do take reservations. I ate there on Christmas Eve a couple of years ago.
Oh no! It's permanently closed!
That's such a shame. It was such a special place.Nevermind.
denisea and weekend, give me a shout if you plan a meetup. If time and circumstances allow, I'd love to meet you in person!
Nov 15th, 2018, 01:53 AM
#68
denisea, thanks. I have read your trip reports. As much as I would like to run about Paris collecting all of the yummy for Christmas, we only really have the afternoon of the 23rd to make it all happen, and allow us to enjoy the city a little bit. Picards and the Carrefour are my targets. But I am not complaining.
starrs, too funny.
starrs, too funny.
Nov 15th, 2018, 02:59 AM
#70
WeisserTee, yes! A "kitch" will almost always be a dealbreaker. Dishwashers, full cooktops/ovens, and refrigerator/freezers are a requirement, though I can swing either way on a dishwasher when the children are with us. 
I love to cook, even on holiday, but don't want the surprise of grating cheese with a colander.
I am also working on having the apartment manager accept our Picards delivery on our arrival day (to guarantee certain foods). We'll see how this plays out.
I love to cook, even on holiday, but don't want the surprise of grating cheese with a colander. I am also working on having the apartment manager accept our Picards delivery on our arrival day (to guarantee certain foods). We'll see how this plays out.
Nov 15th, 2018, 04:35 AM
#72
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FFT, did you see this blog about the Picard holiday items? Picard surgelés prépare Noël 2018 - Le blog de Lili
None of the bûche options are exactly what we want, but they do have some nice offerings...
None of the bûche options are exactly what we want, but they do have some nice offerings...
Nov 15th, 2018, 04:39 AM
#73
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Grating cheese with a colander! How creative! A new beau came over last week to cook me dinner. He texted pictures of what things he needed in the kitchen. One was a grater. Mine is terrible (I’m going to try the colander!) so he brought his own. 😂
Nov 15th, 2018, 04:49 AM
#74
FFT, did you see this blog about the Picard holiday items? Picard surgelés prépare Noël 2018 - Le blog de Lili
None of the bûche options are exactly what we want, but they do have some nice offerings...
None of the bûche options are exactly what we want, but they do have some nice offerings...
Nov 15th, 2018, 05:33 AM
#76
There's a difference? Sigh. Our Christmas dinner finale is typically Polish Christmas cookies that I have prepared while everyone involved divides between a holiday movie and a rousing card game. I seek enlightenment!
Nov 15th, 2018, 05:35 AM
#77
Nov 15th, 2018, 05:37 AM
#78
FFT, did you see this blog about the Picard holiday items? Picard surgelés prépare Noël 2018 - Le blog de Lili
None of the bûche options are exactly what we want, but they do have some nice offerings...
None of the bûche options are exactly what we want, but they do have some nice offerings...
Nov 15th, 2018, 05:44 AM
#79
Things we get excited about. I just told my husband that we have a Picard very close to us in Old Lille and of course in the 15th. Ovens in both apartments. We love eating lunch out, breakfast in and snacking at night. https://www.parisdiscoveryguide.com/...-december.html
