Month: November 2018

Top 5 Christmas Markets to Peruse in Paris this Holiday Season

Throughout Europe, the tradition of the Christmas market is alive and well, but the further north and east you go, the more traditions you’ll find. Paris, however, despite its central location, boasts several great Christmas markets. Some are more charming than others, so to save you the trouble of seeking out the best, here are our five faves this holiday season.

1. Most Nordic – “Un Noël à Norvège,” December 1-2

This small market near the Opera building is inspired by a Norwegian Christmas atmosphere. For two days only, this little market will introduce visitors to Norwegian culinary specialties and artisanal products ranging from knitwear to eco-design. This market also boasts a Christmas concert both days at 4pm.

Eléphant Paname, 10 rue Volney, Paris 2nd

2. Most Traditional – Alsatian Christmas Market, December 5-21

Paris’ famous Alsatian Christmas market is appropriately located just outside Gare de l’Est, where trains depart for eastern France. This 37-year-old market is the ideal place to try some of the most traditional elements of a Alsatian Christmas, including pain d’épices (French gingerbread), kougelhopf (a brioche-like cake studded with raisins), and goose foie gras – a must for any French Christmas celebration.

Place du 11 Novembre, Paris 11th

3. Most Charming – Montmartre, December 1-31

Is there any neighborhood more charming than Montmartre? This beautiful Christmas market is located just steps from Sacré Coeur basilica, boasting 70 wooden chalets selling everything from ornaments and baubles to candy to a classic of French winters, vin chaud (hot mulled wine). Pay it a visit on your own, or let us take you there as part of our Secret Montmartre tour!

Parvis du Sacré Coeur, Paris 18th

4. Most Picturesque – Notre Dame, December 14-23

Is there anything more beautiful than strolling through a Christmas market overlooking the Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral and its immense Christmas tree? This market is smaller than some, but the view – and the emphasis on small, local artisans – makes this marché one of our all-time favorites.

Square René Viviani, Paris 5th

5. Most Kid-Friendly – Tuileries, November 24-January 6

The Tuileries Christmas market boasts not only stalls and typical Christmas goodies, but also rides for the little ones, including a gorgeous Ferris Wheel with fantastic views over the city. Consider paying it a visit before or after a kid-friendly tour through the Louvre museum, just a few steps away!

Jardin des Tuileries, Paris 1st

Top image: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra

Top 5 French Comfort Foods to Enjoy this Winter

Comfort food doesn’t look the same in all countries. In France, it translates to a lot of melted cheese and a lot of rich wine sauces, as in classic dishes boeuf bourguignon and coq au vin. Here are just five of our favorites.

1. French Onion Soup

Also known as soupe à l’oignon gratinée, this classic bistro dish of onion soup topped with a crouton of bread and mounds of melted emmental cheese is often served at French weddings to help guests overcome the large quantities of wine they’ve consumed! Our favorite in Paris is the classic at Au Pied de Cochon, open 24-hours a day and one of the original Les Halles area classics to serve this dish in the capital.

2. tartiflette

Visit any Christmas market, and you’ll surely encounter tartiflette, a dish from the Savoie region made with potatoes, garlic, onions, cream, and tons of melted Reblochon cheese. While locals would love you to believe this homey dish is a time-tested classic, it was actually invented in the 1980s!

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3. Aligot

In keeping with the cheese-and-potato theme, aligot, a specialty from Cantal, unites rich cheese and mashed potatoes for a moreish side usually served with sausages. Our favorite in Paris can be found at l’Ambassade d’Auvergne.

4. Boeuf Bourguignon

Combine a homey beef stew and the rich flavor of Burgundy wine, and you have beef bourguignon, one of our favorite dishes for a cold winter’s evening. This slow-cooked dish is particularly marvelous at Café des Musées, where it’s served with a buttery mound of mashed potatoes.

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5. Hot Chocolate

On the sweeter side of things, hot chocolate is always a welcome way to warm up. No one does it better than Angelina, where the African Hot Chocolate is closer to a cup of melted chocolat than a cup of hot cocoa. You won’t hear us complaining!

Top image care of Hotel du Vin

5 Spots to See Autumn Colors in Paris

There’s perhaps nothing more beautiful than the bright yellows, oranges, and reds of a Parisian autumn. Standing out against the city’s beige limestone façade, these hues seem all the more vibrant. Here are five of our all-time favorite places to encounter them this season!

 

1. Montmartre

The quaint former village of Montmartre is crawling with vines (pun absolutely intended). Not only does the neighborhood play host to its very own vineyard, but ivy can be found all along the narrow streets that dot this picturesque bit of Parisian paradise. Let us show you around this beautiful neighborhood (and show you all the best spots to spot these autumnal colors).

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2. La Petite Ceinture

Before New York had the high line, Paris had la petite ceinture and the promenade plantée, converted sections of the former railroad line leading posh Parisians to the Bois de Vincennes. Today, both the promenade plantée near Bastille and the petite ceinture to the south of the city boast some beautiful views of fall foliage.

3. Jardin des Tuileries

You don’t have to meander far from central Paris to enjoy fall colors. The Tuileries Gardens, just adjacent to the Louvre, boast some beautiful foliage. The garden is planted in a traditionally symmetrical French style; we love the way that this creates gorgeous vistas with the former palace in the background!

4. Bois de Boulogne

Just outside the city of Paris proper sits the Bois de Boulogne, a haven for those looking for a touch of nature in Paris. Formerly part of the royal hunting grounds, today, the Bois de Boulogne is home to walking trails and beautiful views of Paris (including the Iron Lady herself!)

5. Quais de Seine

Walking along the Seine River is one of our favorite Parisian experiences any time of year, but it’s particularly beautiful in fall. This view of the Institut de France from the famous Pont des Arts is part of our Paris Highlights tour and is one of our favorites for enjoying the colors of the season.

Top image: Valerii Tkachenko

What’s the Deal with Beaujolais Nouveau?

The third Thursday of November, the French celebrate Beaujolais – but not just any Beaujolais.

Beaujolais is a wine region in the northern Rhone Valley known particularly for its red wines (which make up 97% of the region’s production). But since the 80s, Beaujolais has been particularly well known for its nouveau or new wines, which are sold only months after being made.

Here are three things we think you need to know about this wine.

1. It’s Not the Only Nouveau wine.

While France makes a big deal of Beaujolais nouveau, it’s not the only wine that’s made in this style. Young wines that are sold within months of being made are also known as primeurs, and almost every region has them. It’s just that the Beaujolais markets them particularly well: since the 50s, Beaujolais is required by law to be released on a specific day of the year (fixed as the third Thursday of November in the 80s), so its release can naturally coincide with a big party!

2. It’s an acquired taste.

Beaujolais nouveau is not everyone’s cup of tea (or glass of wine, as the case may be). It tends to be quite fruity, and many compare its flavor to that of banana candy (a lot like banana Runts!) That said, it’s quite easy to drink, as it has no real tannins to speak of and is about 12% alcohol, as compared to some southern reds that can range from 12.5 to 14%.

3. It’s Not the Only Beaujolais.

The Beaujolais region produces several other red wines aside from Beaujolais nouveau, including Beaujolais-Villages and Beaujolais-Supérieur. These wines are quite distinct from Beaujolais nouveau, with a more balanced fruitiness stemming from the predominantly Gamay grapes used.

Next week, take advantage of Beaujolais Nouveau Day to discover both Beaujolais nouveau and other Beaujolais wines – in Paris or elsewhere!

Top 3 Things to Do in Paris in November

The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, a food tour – there are certain Paris must-sees that never change. But the French capital is also home to a thriving, ever-changing scene of exhibits, concerts, and more! Here are the three things we’re most excited about for this month.

1. Celebrating Beaujolais Nouveau

The third Thursday of November is time for celebrating the very first primeurs, the first wines of the year. The first region to release its primeurs is the Beaujolais, where fruity Gamays make for easy fall drinking. Pretty much every bar and café in Paris will have a few bottles of this wine on-hand to enjoy, but here are some of our favorites:

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2. Discovering Renoir (Father and Son) at the Musée d’Orsay

It’s hard to decide which of Pierre-Auguste or Jean Renoir is the more famous: the father was one of the founding fathers of the Impressionist movement, while the son was an illustrious artist of the screen. Both are being featured at the Musée d’Orsay through January, and we’re excited to see how the museum (recently voted the world’s best) is going to do these great men justice.

3. Enjoying a New Chocolate Bar in the Marais

Summertime in Paris is all about where to find the best sidewalk terrasse, but it turns out you can also enjoy sitting outside in wintertime, thanks to the Marais’ Jardins du Marais hotel. Starting on November 9, the hotel is inviting the pastry masterminds behind Hugo & Victor to create a chocolate wonderland in its private courtyard. Pull up a chair and enjoy the heated terrace complete with twinkle lights and chocolate creations ranging from macarons to waffles to hot chocolate.