I remember my first RER trip back from Charles de Gaulle. Clutching my two overstuffed suitcases and taking it all in, the doors suddenly opened and an Opera singer walked in: As if it wasn’t enough to take in the Parisian countryside on my way into the heart of the city, … Read more
In the States, Valentine’s Day starts when you’re a kid. You get those paper Valentine bags at school and exchange cheesy conversation hearts with your buddies. But in France, the holiday is almost exclusively an adult, sophisticated celebration of romance. For the well-off couple, traveling to Paris is a great way … Read more
Mimosas; poached eggs; the only way you’ll get me out of bed before 10am on a Sunday. Yes, Goutasters, today we’re talking about Brunch. Capital B. Brunch is not a French concept, but it’s the American meal that aligns best with the French habit of eating as a two hour event, … Read more
Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, former spokeswoman for Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidential campaign, just won the primary election to become the UMP candidate for the 2014 Mayoral seat in Paris. Her rival, Anne Hidalgo, snagged the Socialist Party candidacy, meaning 2014 will see Paris’ first female mayor. The disparity between male and female representation … Read more
It seems like the French can have it all. They eat four times the butter we Americans consume, 86% of French adults get more than 30% of their calories from fat, and 96% of French people eat more than 10% of their diet in saturated fat (found in foie gras, butter, … Read more
Cannabis is now legal for recreational use in Colorado, which not only changes things politically, but also makes us foodies wonder, “Can we cook with marijuana? Is it tasty? Could pot even be the new ‘kale?’” One of the world’s most adventurous (and wackiest) classically-trained chefs, Laurent Quenioux, decided to experiment … Read more
Ahh! The taste of a crispy Alsace (al-ZASS) in the Springtime. These dry wines are total “gateway-whites” – that is, they’ve been known to convert even the most stubborn red-exclusive drinkers to the “light-side.” I’ll give you a basic overview of the beautiful Alsace whites so you can learn the subtle differences … Read more
French fashion icon and pioneering female entrepreneur, Coco Chanel, turns 130 today. “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” ― Coco Chanel Among many accomplishments, Coco Chanel brought the breton stripe to streetwear and completely redefined women’s wear as we know it. Her philosophy has always been one … Read more