gracejoan3

Lunch today is at Les Saveurs de Flora, 36 avenue George V. The dining room is so whimsical decorated with pink butterflies, orchids, pink water glasses - even the big chandelier is studded with different sizes of pink butterflies. Sitting in that room makes you feel like you're in a roomfull of cotton candy!!!!!

For our amuse bouche, glasses of chipped "soupe aux legumes vertes" served with rillettes of pork with olive oil bread squares. A glass of Muscat went well with it.

With the rest of the Muscat, Joan had a veloute de potiron served with a dollop of cream. Lilia's first course was a Tatin de boudin aux pommes vertes. Deliceux!

A glass of Saint Nicolas de Borgeuil was served with a "Couscous de Rascasse aux legumes d'hiver aux Moules, sauce Corse". Joan enjoyed that one. Lilia had confit de Caille, petits legume a l'oriental saute en wok, accompanied aby a glass of petit Bordeaux.

For dessert, Joan had the Poire Melba and I opted for the specialite de la maison - a waffle with marrons glacee, chantilly de Nutella, glace aux marrons and some warm chocolate sauce. WOW!!!!

With our cafe creme (for Joan) and espresso for me, came the mignardise - tiny madeleines and meringue and a very thin "sucettes" (lollipop) made of fresh lemon juice resting on what we thought were chocolates but turned out to be made of metal. C'est domage!!!!!

A bientot et bisous de Paris............

Lilia and Joan

gracejoan3

Here are some pics from lunch at Les Saveurs de Flora:

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RobertaL

You guys are KILLING me. Those pictures made my mouth water. I wasn't sure what half of them were, but who cares? What a lovely presentation, thanks for the great pictures.

(and this was lunch???)

-Roberta

gracejoan3

Yes, that was lunch!!

Lilia does such a good job..we could have had some tags on pics, but takes a lot of time.

Lilia does pretty well with her whimmy diddle..you never say how you are doing with yours??

We are getting with Valdo at 11 today about Friday. Seems to be about 12 or maybe a couple more.

We are stocking wine for apartment party before Cafe Max for all to meet, greet, drink a bit...and see the ET from our windows and perhaps Caroline will also be having a party in the Royal apartments across the way!

A Violon dining report later today..

Wish many of our posting friends could be here with us to enjoy all..we miss you all...

a bientot....

Joan and Lilia

gracejoan3

Here are a few pictures from lunch at Violon d'Ingres today:

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JulieVikmanis

Hi. Fun pix. What is the dish or dishes all covered in some kind of sauce, or salt blanket or somesuch at Les Saveurs? Looks very interesting and very plentiful. Was it for the whole table? A rabbit maybe? What?

gracejoan3

Cool and brisk Tuesday morning - lots of French Fathers walking their children to school all cutely bundled up, the children...not the fathers....

Lovely to be inside the cafe having our grands cafe cremes with our morning croissants.....la bonne vie de touristes a Paris....

Got to rush - we have to buy up those scarves on rue Augereau. Unfortunately, there's only one left. Joan needed more so we will go on another adventure somewhere else.

On to Le Violon d'Ingres. We started with flutes of "Demoiselle Parisienne" (champagne made for Christian Constant). J started with "Salade de noix de Saint Jacques" - those scallops were fat and cooked just right ---so tender they might just melt in your mouth. That was accompanied by glass of Sancerre blanc. L had the "Tranche de Foie Gras d'Oie brioche aux Gelee de Pinot Noir". It's as good as if one is in Perigord. Half glass of the demoiselle accompanied that one. Didn't think we can handle a Sauternes at this time; besides Sauternes make L sleepy (it's too early in the day for a nap).

J had a "Canard Croise" - half a wild duck caramelized and coated with crushed pistachios, served with pureed and sauteed quince, served with a bunch of lambs lettuce. This was accompanied by a glass of Rousillon. L had "Supreme de Bar Croustillant aux Amandes, Sauce Ravigote" accompanied by a glass of Sancerre Red. This is the crispiest croustillant we've ever had.

At this point, Christian comes in the restaurant, stopped by to chat and of course, to give us "des gros bisous" to tell us that Catherine (his wife) will be coming in later to say hello.

Dessert time: Gelee de Marrons for J (a layer of chestnut cream topped by a layer of mascarpone and topped again by a layer of red fruit jelly); and L had Souffle chaud aux sauce caramel de beurre salee - so light is the souffle paired with the richness of the the butter caramel sauce - just right as before the desserts were serve Catherine Constant came in abd bought us more Demoiselle Parisienne and presented J with one of the aprons from the restaurant. That would make a great souvenir to take back to North Carolina. And a great way to end the afternoon.

On to our new gorgeous apartment - Cotes du Rhone of Paris Perfect. I think we'll stay in now for the rest of our trip. It is so beautiful!!!!

More later.........

a bientot et bisous de Paris......

Joan et Lilia

gracejoan3

We were up and off this morning with petite dejeuner at Cafe Constant..croissants and cafe creme and conversation with Nicolai. Did some laundry and were off to St. Sulpice and holiday marche opening. We shopped around the area and Grande Epicerie for some goodies. Lunch in the area...some pics added below...

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...e/000_0006.jpg

Foie gras et figues, verre de Sauternes. Galantine de canarad pistachee, verre de Pinot Noir. Poilane toast.

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Now those are what you can really call chunks of cheese!!

Tonight we will be going to Fables de la Fontaine...

a bientot..............

gracejoan3

We just came back from the new Jacques Genin boutique at 133 rue de Turenne in the 3rd. Almost fainted when we didn't see the mangue/fruit dela passion flavor on the counter but we had to ask. Imagine coming all the way from San Francisco and going home without her favorite caramels which she first tasted at Le Comptoir (Yves Camdeborde - mango flavor only). Guess what? It was in the refrigerated section. As explained it is so light and delicate in flavor that those caramels need to be refrigerated.

With the new, beautiful shop with modern clean lines, his prices went way up. Caramels are 110 euros/kilo; nougats are 130 euros/kilo. The chocolates we tasted wwere divine but the caramels, we've never tasted anything like it. Monsieur Le Roux, move over. Believe me, these caramels have the lightest most delicate feel in one's mouth. BRAVO, MONSIEUR GENIN!!!!

a bientot et bisous de Paris.....

Joan and Lilia

gracejoan3

Here is a picture out our window of ET and the Monaco Royal Apartments with the Royal Crest on the balconies....

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Roberta,

Lilia does not write anything while dining. She remembers it all..the pictures do help her memory...

a bientot.............

luvparee

You two certainly have the world by the tail over there!!! I've already gained 10 pounds just looking at the pictures!

Are you taking pictures of the new apartment? We ("I&quot would love to see it.

It appears the lights are on in the "royal apartment." Is Caroline in residence? Maybe she will invite our "bon vivants" for a holiday champagne!!!

Thanks to both of you so much for taking the time to post what you're doing, taking pictures, etc., so we can all travel with you vicariously!

Enjoy! (although I don't think I need to tell either of you that!!!) What a lifetime friendship that is beginning between the two of you!

gracejoan3

Hi Joy,

Here is what Madelyn had sent to me before it was finished...it does not show the master B/R. It is large and very nice. Everything is lovely..we are living well!!

Caroline seems to leave a light on all the time. Have not seen her around..she will be sorry to mis our whing ding on Friday..

We are having fun together..too bad you couldn't join us...when will you be in Paris? I will be back mid April..expect everything to just continue!!

Will post Fables later, with pictures...

a bientot et bisous de Paris....

Joan and Lilia

PS - And I will be crying in San Francisco in April... but at least I will have a new granddaughter.....

RobertaL

Joan & Lilia,
As I told you earlier, I am very impressed with Lilia's attention to detail!! Waiting for your next course by course presentation (I am pretty hungry right now so please hurry).

You should tape a note to Princess Caroline's door, inviting her over. Hey, if her balcony door is ever open you can probably shout out your invite!

By the way, those royal crests would certainly make a great souvenir. I know just the place for it in my home. I'm sure no one will mind if one is missing. Hmmm, how do we accomplish this...

Enjoy!!!

-Roberta

gracejoan3

Roberta - we were up very late last night..met a couple from Bern at Les Fables and we invited them to have coffee at the apartment. Actually, we wanted them to show us how to use the Nespresso machine (LOL!)

Bonjour de Paris!

Dinner at Les Fables de la Fontaine. It will always have the Constant touch. Cold evening but no wind so walking La Bourdonnais and rue Constant part of rue Saint Dominique was great for window shopping. Spotted a magnum of La Grande Dame but just ignored the widow Clicquot and went to 131 rue Constant/rue Saint Dominique.

Still thinking of La Grande Dame which does not match the pocketbook, we opted for 2 flutes of Demoiselle Parisienne. Hey, any sparkling wine would fill the longing at this point (LOL!).

Mme. J had the huitres speciales Gillardeau numero 3 (we surmised that was plumper and bigger that numero 1...) and that was delicieux. Mme. L had a Bouillon leger d'Ossau Irraty, gambas rotie au lard, creme glacee au piquillo. That was one lovely dish - a round piece of the Basque cheese topped with a large roasted prawn, topped again by an oval scoop of frozen creme of piquillos (a Basque red pepper), all floating in a light bouillon with a slight foam. That could have been dinner but we have to conitnue, n'est-ce pas?

There was something in their menu we have not seen before: "Maigre de chalut, croustillants de topinambours et chataignes, jus au chorizo". We both had to order that one! Maigre is a deep-water fish, a sort of cross between a bass and a sea bream; firm in texture with a deep-sea taste to it. Chalut is a small fast boat that fishermen take for deep-sea fishing. The maitre-d was very pleased to explain to us and he enjoyed coming by every once in a while and making sure les mesdames are alright. With all that, forgot to ask what a topinambour was but it had the taste of patate douce; together with the pieces of chestnuts inside the croustillant (they came like a couple of large nems) made the dish more delightful - salty, sweet, crunchy and slight bitter taste from the green herbs added to the plate. WOW, I'd like to have that one again. a big BRAVO to Sebastien et David(Fables two chefs).

Riz au lait a la confiture de figues, creme legere de pain d'epices pour Mmme. J. It would be a shame to translate that to just plain Rice Pudding, don't you think? Gateau Basque was on offer that night pour Mme. L which, of course, does not need translating.

We have invited the Swiss couple from Bern sitting next to us at dinner for coffee and some of the best caramels (my humble opinion). It is from the new shop of Jacques Genin at 133 ru de Turenne on the 3rd. IT IS WORTH THE SPLURGE!

a bientot et bisous de Paris......

Joan and Lilia

robjame

wonderful report! I love the food descriptions.

Glad you had a good experience at Violon d'Ingres. It was one of the greatest disappointments for us two years ago. Just a bad night - Nothing seemed to work.

topinambour = Jerusalem artichoke

gracejoan3

Pictures from Fables:

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gracejoan3

Pics from Galeries Lafayette:

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Fauchon

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RobertaL

Hello Joan & Lilia,
It was great talking to you today!!As I told you earlier, it seems you never had a mediocre meal! Those oysters look divine.

-Roberta

gracejoan3

We went out and strolled down the streets..difficult to take pics with people and cars...

One looking across street to Plaza Athenee Hotel

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gracejoan3

Today, we were amidst the Embassy people; several business lunchers; shoppers and two visitors from the good U.S. of A. The setting is an old classic Burgundian Bistro on the rue Boisy d'Anglas.

The service was good, food was classic (just like your Aunt's which is what we expect from Tante Louise, oui?) and the people watching was excellent!

Little bites of saumon fumee and creme fraiche accompanied our coupe de champagne which we continued to drink with our entrees, Mme. J having the "Marbre de rouget et pommes de terre larde". This is a terrine of fish and thin slices of potatoes larded so the appearance is marbelized. Mme. L had the "Ravioles de Royan au jus de poulette, creme de champignons. This are very tiny raviolis filled with cheese and mushrooms, finished off with creme if mushrooms and light chicken stock.

With the plats principal, we had glasses of Santenay (1er Cru) which has been bottled for Bernard Loiseau. That went well with "Supreme de volaille poche, legumes au bouillon" for Mme. J and a "Blanquette de veau a l'ancienne, riz pilaw" pour Mme. L. These are classical french dishes sthat do not need translating.

For dessert, we had "Clafoutis de noix de macadamia et poire" and "Panna cotta aux fruits exotiques". With our coffe, came a plate of mignardises - pates de fruits, mini financiers and caramels (unfortunately not in the class of Jacques Genin caramels...)

The sun was shining and it is a good afternoon to walk and see some of the stalls at the Champs Elysees Marche de Noel. We were at the opening of the Saint Sulpice Market which is much better than the one in the Champs Elysees.

a bientot et bisous de Paris.....

Joan and Lilia