A Fork And A Suitcase

Complet is one of the very few French words I really don't care for, especially when trying to book a table at Frenchie.  The man behind Frenchie, a nickname given to him by Jamie Oliver, is Gregory Marchand, who has worked in New York, London, Spain, and Hong Kong.  Having great reviews, and being able to seat fewer than 30 people, Frenchie is a difficult reservation to score.  Marchand opened the restaurant in 2009, it was very well received, packed each evening, and really difficult to get into. Frenchie Wine Bar, opened across the street, followed by Frenchie To Go.  Rue du Nil is a very small street, so having three Frenchie establishments all in one place, makes it kind of neat.  For their next venture, I would propose a Frenchie Milk Bar, Frenchie Cookie Corner, and maybe Frenchie Vegan?  Not being able to score a table at Frenchie, and not enjoying wine (Sacre Bleu!), I settled for Frenchie To Go.  I used the word settle, but that is not ...

 Give me a market, any market, and I am a happy gal.  A leisurely stroll through a market offers a lovely insight into the city, the people, and the daily life.   It's a wonderful opportunity to spend some time being an observer or, if I choose to, a participant.  I can just watch, take photos, or talk with some vendors, sample the food, and slow it down a bit just for a few moments. Marche Aux Fleurs, a beautiful flower market located in the heart of Paris on Place Lapine has been here since 1830.  In 2014 it has been renamed to Marche aux Fleurs Reine Elizabeth II, during a visit by Queen Elizabeth II who came to France to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day. The market consists of six Art Nouveau cast iron pavilions, which hold the most picturesque assortment of  seasonal flowers, plants, shrubs, seeds, exotic flowers, etc.  My mom and I ended up spending well over an hour strolling through this charming market, nourishin...

I can never just walk by a flower shop in Paris without stopping to smell and admire the gorgeous display.  The set up on the sidewalk is usually stunning and done with such precision; the colors and the sizes are arranged for maximum curb appeal.     And the smell.........oh la la, the smell.  If they would let me, I'd like to set up a chair in the middle of this oasis and admire it all day.    This florist, Roses Costes Dani Roses, 239-241 rue Saint-Honore, sells only roses and has the most spectacular displays in the window.  The sidewalk is too busy for any display, so one must venture inside to take it all in.   Is this not the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?      This beautiful lavender was on Rue Cler.   I love the color combinations in these arrangements.  I draw inspiration from these for my own table arra...