Paris pink

Large display window at Pierre Hermé's Rue Bonaparte store.

Front row

Once again it's Paris Fashion Week as both big names and off-the-radar designers strut their stuff.

Below: young designers set up their showroom in the Marais district

Sharing

 

 

Canapé seating (pun intended) both inside and on the terrace, it's in Montmartre, it has a fun vibe and street view, and all of the wines are from Burgundy.

Where is it?

Above: two planches mixtes were plenty for four

October newsletter

Coffee gourmand

Coffee and a sampler of the day's desserts.

Royale view

Rue Royale and Place de la Concorde as seen from L'Église de la Madeleine just before the rain.

A Montmartre garden #2

Studio of Suzanne Valadon overlooks the garden.

Below: view from interior of the tea room

A Montmartre garden

Renoir's garden as part of the Montmartre Museum, once a stately home.

Below: a view from the pond

A shady spot

Relaxing on the tip of the Île Saint-Louis.

Fromages en fleur

Flip your cheeseboard (and host/hostess status) into new realms with AOC goat's milk cheeses smothered in petals.

September terrace

Taking advantage of warm evenings before it gets too wintry.

À partager

A simple charcuterie-cheeseboard (planche mixte) to share, enough for a light meal.

Above: La Tartine - 24 rue de Rivoli 75004

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Charcuterie-cheese memories: 
  When I was in high school my father would pick me up after work and we'd sneak off to a tiny French épicerie in Georgetown to load up on patés, cheeses, sausages, greek olives, and fresh baguette, then sit quietly in the car together, indulging. When we got home to my mom's dinner we'd say we were "starving".... - BPJ

Market mix

There's something for everyone on Paris' market streets.

Above: by noon the square in front of l'Église Saint Médard resembles a village scene in Provence

Below: fall vegetables make a comeback; fresh oysters and wine at a fish stall; singing to the tune of roasting chickens; dancing on an open square

Mouffetard Street Market

Start at chocolaterie Mococha #89 rue Mouffetard and meander down

Best day: Sunday

Calm before the market

Ernest Hemingway described Rue Mouffetard as, "that wonderful crowded market street which led into Place Contrescarpe."

In an hour there will be shouting vendors, sprawling cafés, small shops and stalls selling fresh produce, cheeses, wines, fish, breads, pastries, more. Add live music and dancing in a square on Sundays and "La Mouffe" is an outing. - BPJ

Cocktail maison

My version of a "Corsican cocktail" made with dark rum, Lillet Blanc, limoncello, soda water, fresh raspberries and a twist of lemon peel.

3 hours (or less) from Paris: Prague #5

Goodbye for now to the sublime beauty that is Prague. 

Above: in-spiring sunsets

Below: Jewish cemetery; John Lennon Wall; a "Botero" chair

 

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PARIS - PRAGUE

 
Direct flights daily (1 hour 40 minutes) 

3 hours (or less) from Paris: Prague #4

Prague (Praha in Czech) is called "The City of a Hundred Spires" for good reason.

Above: interiors of just a few of Prague's many churches; elaborate tomb of Svatý Jan Nepomucký, Saint John of Nepomuk, Prague's patron saint, inside Saint Vitus Cathedral  

Below: miracles have been attributed to The Infant Of Prague

3 hours (or less) from Paris: Prague #3

Prague castle / Saint Vitus Cathedral.

Below: Prague at night

3 hours (or less) from Paris: Prague #2

Casual cafés and restaurants line the banks of the Vltava.

Below: perusing the menu with views of Charles Bridge; chef-helmed restaurants with open kitchens rival Paris' best; dry ice used to dramatic effect; chocolate as art

3 hours (or less) from Paris: Prague #1

Prague's medieval Astronomical Clock pulls in crowds every hour to watch The Twelve Apostles put in an appearance when the chimes start.

Below: entertainment on Old Town Square and Charles Bridge