Paris…
I so love Paris. It is one of the most beautiful, elegant cities in the world. There is a cosmopolitan energy to the city with just the right air of sophistication. Every time I return, I fall more in love with the city.
This time I am back with a friend, who has not been here in 15 years, to go to the Paris Photo Show. One of my favorite art shows. Galleries across the globe that represent only photography come together for a few days at the Petit Palais. The annual art book award takes place here too. Having one medium, photography, in such depth is just not as overwhelming as the big art shows.
This journey is a bit of the top hits. I am shaking it up with three new restaurants and returning to some old faves. First day, right off the plane, was a stop at Cafe Flore for breakfast. Next stop Bon Marche. You could seriously spend hours there. Now, why does that huge department store work? It is beautiful and discovery is everywhere….and it is always filled with shoppers. Dinner was at La Bourse et la Vie. Delicious and as always an excellent steak and fries.
The first full day we started at the Circus Bakery. A new spot that is absolutely wonderful. Old school space churning out bread and pastries that feel somehow like we are back in the time.
The cardamon roll is the call. Layers of dough with just a simple crunch on top yet yeasty and so soft that you can pull it a bit like taffy. Cardamon is such an underrated spice. The savory sweetness of it mixed with butter dripping through the roll is not a bad way to start the day. The cinnamon bun is good too but the cardamon is queen.
We walked and walked and walked, and shopped. Lunch was at Mokonuts, a spot I can never miss. Those cookies, peanut butter chocolate, and miso sesame, and creme caramel. Warm, soft yet crispy around the edges. Just perfect.
Comments (Archived):
I as well love the town.Thanks for the share.
I swear someday I will make it to Paris and I will do a search for your blog posts about it, and will go to all the places you have mentioned over the years. I love seeing all the photos.
Go!!
I just put up a map of Paris in the “love corner” of my house (as per Feng shui). We’ll see what that brings.
Do it!
The jet is fuelled and waiting…
I save all GG Paris posts in my travel folder. I have been spending every July there (would recommend a non-summer visit), and use them as my Zagat guide. Definitely Mokonuts, delish and the most interesting fab cookies ever. Hoping there is a cookbook in the works.
Your carbon offset bill must be ballooning.
lol
🙂
Mokonuts!!!
A favorite Paris memory: having lunch at a sidewalk cafe near a bakery. A Parisian walks by with just-purchased baguette, end protruding from bag, bites off the end to snack on way home. This was repeated at by at least a half-dozen others. Almost became a game, watching to see if the baguette would remain intact or nipped off.
perfect Parisian memory
Cardamom, now you are speaking my language. A lot of my grandmother’s Scandinavian desserts had cardamom in them. Best cinnamon rolls I have ever had are at Ann Sather’s in Chicago. Scandi place.