If you have followed this site or my quick stories on Instagram since January, you may have seen that the year didn’t start off especially smoothly. France took a physical and emotional hit, I was knocked down by the flu and my cat became quite ill, leaving us in a fog of vet visits and parental panic. I’m sure those of with you animals can certainly understand the wrenching feeling.
Through it all, I’ve begun the process to make some big professional changes and done my best to fill my days with little pick-me-ups. Fortunately, a handful of projects and discoveries, most revolving around food, offered just the distraction I needed. Here are a few highlights:
1/ New éclair collection for spring from L’Eclair de Génie.
Rouge Baiser, seen above, was launched for Valentine’s Day and should be sticking around for some time. But the exciting developments are in Christophe Adam’s new fruit flavors – blood orange, crispy raspberry, vanilla/green apple, wild strawberry, pineapple or blackcurrant (see above, right) – and the Barlette, his new creation that blends a bar and a tartelette into one fruity, crunchy treat. All new flavors available as of April.Visit La Fabrique where the éclairs are made (they can be purchased here as well):
32 rue Notre Dame des Victoires, 75002
2/ An early taste of spring
As snow and glacial temperatures pummeled the east coast, we’ve been spoiled in Paris with an exceptionally mild winter with sporadic moments of incredible warmth and sunshine, best on display at my favorite spot in Paris, Palais Royal.
3/ Lunch at Le Gabriel
There are food experiences that remain fresh in our minds long after we’ve had them; each dish almost as potent as the first bite. My lunch at Le Gabriel, the restaurant from chef Jérôme Banctel in the equally as new La Réserve Hotel was one of the experiences. The chef marries impeccable Gallic skill with a smattering of Japanese flavors for an elegant but not overly precious cooking style. His dishes are anchored in traditional technique but lightened to match the kind of cooking diners are coming to expect more and more. Each ingredient needed to breathe, he told me at the end of the meal, in part since the dining room is so grand. His modernist approach doesn’t just allow each ingredient breathe, he makes them sing. If I could have any one of his dishes again at this moment it would be the refreshing mushroom ravioli you see below, drizzled with a lemon-ginger sauce and crisp, rolled cucumber strips.
Following the meal, I got to talk to the chef about his background, his ambitions for Le Gabriel and some of his favorite places in Paris to eat, drink and shop for culinary equipment. See a part of our chat on T Magazine!
Le Gabriel
42 avenue Gabriel, 75008
4// Sablés at Bontemps
I never turn down an opportunity to discover a new bakery and was overjoyed when an outing with my friend Frank found us popping filled sablés at Bontemps, a new pâtisserie across from the Square du Temple garden. The mini sablé told me everything I needed to know about these ever-so-sweet confections and instantly ordered a box to take home. Two sisters and a pastry chef who previously worked with Pierre Hermé bring the sweet shop to life and are already having a ball introducing new seasonal flavors after only a few weeks since opening. If I can make any recommendations, it would be to head straight to the fruit flavors – passion-fruit and blood orange tasted of summer insouciance that I can only insist you try for yourselves.
Bontemps
57 rue de Bretagne, 75003
5// Cake and coffee at Fondation Café
As much as change feels good and does us some good, I love the cake-and-coffee ritual I have established with a couple of close friends. This time, it was my friend Frank (yes, the same Frank who encouraged my sablé binge above) who brought the cake, a cupcake to be precise, that he made himself. He knows the way straight to my heart.
And in a rare moment of style-blogger-behavior, I’d like to draw your attention to that pretty little watch I sported to our coffee date. I discovered Daniel Wellington through my pal Will of Bright Bazaar who loves their collection with striped bands and bought one for C. for the holidays (I should note that he has since become the bastion of style at his office). Then the envy settled in and I wanted one for myself – the Classic St. Mawes Lady arrived soon after. Now it’s your turn: the fine folks at DW have offered my readers 15% off any timepiece (free shipping guaranteed) until March 31! Just use the code LOSTINCHEESELAND at checkout! Take a look at their watches here: www.danielwellington.com
Fondation Café
16 rue DuPetit-Thouars, 75003
6// Bistro lunch chez Philippe Excoffier
Fun fact about Philippe Excoffier: he was the head chef for the American ambassador in Paris for eleven years, regularly organizing banquets for two-hundred guests. For nearly four months, he has managed a much more intimate space- his namesake bistro in the 7th arrondissement – but with just as much finesse. His cooking skews traditional, sauce and all, with a slightly more modern twist. Seasonal, market-fresh ingredients are the focus of his straight-forward, generous cooking and never deviates too far from the tried and true classics, at least in spirit. He’s made lobster one of his specialties, seen above in the form of a mini burger starter, mixed with avocado and a bite of crispy bacon. His celery remoulade with smoked haddock was an equally pleasant way to begin the meal. If you’re still hungry by the end, which he hopes you will be, you should splurge on one of three soufflés, all sinfully comforting. This is the perfect address for those looking for no-nonsense, unequivocally French cuisine. Content belly guaranteed.
Philippe Excoffier
18 rue de l’Exposition
75007, Paris
Until next time…
*See more Paris photos on Flickr HERE.
