Paris is for L-O-V-E

B

bklyn-joe

Active member
New adventure on the horizon.

Last year I hosted a dinner party in London (to great success) and benefitted from the incredible experience, wisdom and insights of many in this community.

This summer I will be going to Paris to see two of my oldest friends, one of whom has just had his first child - a son named Leo. (BTW - would a Tickle Me Elmo be inappropriate for a 6 month old?) Just by chance, I must admit, I am also in the beginnings of what looks to be a fine romance with a Parisian. We will spend a week exploring the Paris of a native with many long walks, gardens, galleries, churches and tons of restaurants and bakeries of all types. BUT (and here is the kicker) I want to make a surprise picnic lunch or dinner for my sweetie (and possibly my two friends with their partners and the child as well).

So now I open the floor to suggestions. Recipes are wanted that will take advantage of the incredible local markets (specific market specialties are good suggestions too). Suggestions on wines I could find in the markets to pair would also be appreciated (A good suggestion on a native wine to use for my sangria would be awesome!)

Suggestions on great parks for the location (one friend & the sweetie live in Chatillon, the other in Levallois).

And any miscellaneous bits of information that anyone feels could be useful are invited.

I am a man on a cloud - so much so that this afternoon as I mentioned the trip to my mom she asked why I was blushing!!!

"Oh l'amour, l'amour.... toujours l'amour!"

 
and the David Lebovitz blog has lots of great info on visiting Paris and shopping there.

He lives there now and you will find his advice quite helpful.

 
Yes, Tickle Me Elmo would be a nice gift.... 6 months is a little young to appreciate it but...

he will very soon be able to activate it himself and will love the bright color and cute voice.

 
My grandddaughter loved her singing ELMO very young!

She even 'said' ELMO at about 4-5 months! lol It had to be a fluke but she said it none the less. That particular Elmo sang "E-L-M-O..... E,L,M,OOOOOOOO...... E-L-M-O....E,L,M,OOOOOOO" It was sooo cute!!

Babies adore ELMO! smileys/smile.gif

 
Sounds such fun, a basket, chilled wine, cheeses, grass with tablecloth spread there-on, trees, ...

(no beach, sand or wind)baguette, quiche, salads, foi gras terrine, "love in the air"....what bliss.

All the Best for this adventure.

 
Joe, get thee to Bon Marché, Paris' oldest department store, and its best food hall

The entire first floor is an epicerie (grocery and deli), with everything you can imagine, including wine. L'amour, L'amour...be careful not to fall so in love with the place that you forget you're with your sweetie. Other epiceries like Lafayette are more famous (La Pulicité!) but Bon Marche is really better.

From Chantillon, it's right up the 13 Metro line, exit Veneau. Then, take a walk to the Luxemburg Gardens, just east, for a picnic.

You won't need to cook much, because there is exquisite food to go on almost every corner, but if you want to cook for your friends you'll find the best produce you can imagine throughout the city.

Love is grand, but you'll also need a copy of the Eyewitness travel guide for Paris, now published by DK. Accept no substitute.

Enjoy!

 
I agree with Joe on Bon Marche. I'd go with a bunch of wonderful pates and cornichons, the little

pickles. My favourite picnic in France is just baguette, fresh tomates, et jambon (any of their wonderful sliced hams) and always with butter. But that would probably not be too special for the fortunate locals. Ham is really a very different flavour in France. Plus of course, any of the 2 million spectacular cheeses...my fave is Montbriac.

Just don't plan to buy anything else. I was there in October, and again 3 weeks ago and the differences in the prices just took my breath away. And I discovered that what I wanted to buy in the way of cookware, was, even for a French product, 2/3 of the price here. At Bon Marche, I looked at a ponytail clip that I might have paid $40 for here. It was marked 230 Euro...$350. It was plastic and rhinestones. I told the saleswomen that I just wasn't that much of a fool and after they tried to convince me that it was good quality, I think they actually agreed with me. It was an insult to try to charge anyone a price like that, so you may want to be wary...there's a lot of that around. Also much complaining by locals about how unaffordable life is there.

I think the Euro is out of control.

And as for LOVE, well, you won't even notice the food. What a phenomenal city to be in love in!! Sigh.

 
I would be cautious about a toy that makes noise - more

Last Christmas, our Post Office building here at work was evacuated because someone was mailing a toy that was making noises.

When I tried to return a toy at the post office, they opened it first.

So - worrywart that I am, I would be concerned about traveling with a toy that might make strange sounds although hysterical giggling might be easily identified.

 
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