Marilyn February 29th, 2008
This “find” is described by Elizabeth Meryment in The Australian: Hotel du Nord at 102 quai de Jammapes in Paris’s rapidly gentrifying 10th arrondissement is where the beautiful people hang out. This is Paris’s it spot on the Canal St. Martin. Sleek bodies are collected on the terrace, smoking and sipping wine. Built is 1885 as a rough-and-ready watefront inn, the property has endured fluctuating fortunes. After narrowly avoiding demolition in the 1960s, it has been rediscovered in recent years and given a sensitive renovation … avoiding the minimalism rampant in many Paris venues it has soft light, filled bookshelves, antique coffee machine and plush sofas chanelling a nightclub of the 1930s.
Charming waiters, almost as gorgeous as the clientele, keep the meal flowing. The prices ar eminently reasonable, with entrees from 7 euros and mains 16-29 euros. The menu is decidedly exciting, unlike most steak-frites and poulet-ftrites Parisian brasseries. There’s one hiccup: some of the food disappoints. But such disappointments hardly matter. As we step back into the night feeling decidedly more chic than when we entered, the twisting green iron-railed footbridge across the Canal St-Martin invites a late-night jaunt. This, we agree, is Paris. www.hoteldunord.org
Marilyn October 10th, 2007
A great read to get you in the mood to see a more personal side of Paris — ‘True Pleasures, A Memoir of Women in Paris’ by Australian author Lucinda Holdforth. She tells the stories of Collette, Marie Antoinette, Nancy Mitford, Pompadour, Coco Chanel and others, all strong women who made their mark. She introduces you to some of their favourite places in Paris: Continue Reading »
Marilyn October 10th, 2007
Carcossonne – An almost perfectly restored walled city between Toulouse and Montpellier, it is of course crawling with tourists during the day but I recommend you stay at a hotel within the walls and emerge at night (everything is floodlit) to eat and enjoy the magic. Take the tour of the castle.
Hotel Donjon — hotel.donjon.best.western@wanadoo.fr. 132-157E high season for a double room. Old world setting.
Hotel de la Cite — www.hoteldelacite.com if you are feeling cashed up, this Orient Express luxury hotel is wonderful. 375-525E per double. Or just drop in for a drink as we did but expect to pay $A14 for a beer — worth it though.
Continue Reading »
Marilyn October 10th, 2007
What better way, than to buy a house in France? It is easy if you know how, as we found out from Lidia and Stuart Darlow. We spent 3 days with them looking at renovated 17th century village houses with vaulted ceilings, an extraordinary renovated sheep fold (barn) and some country homes. They were so generous with their hospitality and have all the knowledge of 10 years selling properties in the Languedoc Roussillon region – next door to Provence. A handy spot within easy reach of Italy, Spain and skiing in the Alps. They sell properties 1/2 hr inland from the coast, away from the tourist madness.
If you get together with some friends, Continue Reading »
Marilyn October 10th, 2007
I think I have discovered my all-time favourite area to stay in Paris — Ile St Louis, the little island behind Notre Dame. This was the first part of Paris to be settled by the Romans and is like a separate little village in the heart of Paris. It’s also an easy walk to the interesting bits of the Left Bank and the fascinating old jewish sector, The Marais.
As you can tell by the photo (left), it was World Cup time Continue Reading »
Marilyn October 10th, 2007
The outside temperature is minus 59C and I’m on to my second glass of Champagne. My flight back to Oz, after 3 intensive weeks of eating and drinking in France, was supposed to be the start of my diet … but what’s one more day?
I’ve consumed more than my fair share of foie gras, duck confit, cepes, terrine, french bread and sublime butter (what is it we do to Australian butter to make it so … ordinary?). With some of the family we have rented a village house for a week in the Dordogne (or Perigord) –in south west France. This is an area that still feels quite traditional, with many medieval walled (bastide) villages, beautiful rivers, forests and superb markets (marche) are a regular feature of town life – the sheer variety and quantity of lovely handcrafted food leaves me breathless. Continue Reading »
Marilyn August 1st, 2007
This is (Baguette’s Head Chef) Bruno Loubet’s version of a classic French veal casserole. It never disappoints but you will need to source top quality, young veal. It is easy to make at home and serves 6:
700gm veal shank and 800gm veal breast
200gm carrots & 100gm each of leeks, onions, celery
3 sprigs thyme, 1 bay leaf, 1/4 lemon
250ml cream, 30gm butter, 30 gm plain flour & celery salt to taste
Cut veal into chunks & cover with water in a pot with 4 pinches of salt – bring to the boil, lower heat to simmer, skim.
Add vegs cut into lg pieces and tie up herbs into a bundle with the leeks (easy to lift out). Simmer for about 1 hr or until tender.
Strain the stock and reduce by half. Melt butter and when foamy add the flour and stir for 2 minutes. Pour the stock over the butter and flour mixture, whisking continuously to avoid lumps. Add half the cream. Simmer for 15 minutes, add a squeeze of lemon. Taste for seasoning and then add remaining cream and the meat.
Serve with rice or baby vegetables. Garnish with chervil.
Marilyn July 27th, 2007
Stuart and Lidia Darlow live in the beautiful city of Nimes in the south of France. They visit Brisbane every year, bringing details of houses for sale in the Languedoc Roussillon region — houses by the sea, 17th century village houses, farmhouses, maison de maitre (master’s house). They have some very happy buyers in Brisbane and next visit will also go to Sydney and Melbourne.
It is very easy to buy property in France and they can arrange 100% finance at 5% fixed interest for 25 years. You can expect 8-10% capital gains per year and 3/4 of the mortage could come from rentals. You will however have to find 8% of the purchase price for legals etc. Continue Reading »
Marilyn July 23rd, 2007
One of my favourite blogs is Waiter Rant (see recommended blogs on the right). His comments are always perceptive, occasionally outrageous and usually a ‘belly laugh’. If you ever wondered whether you can drop into your favourite restaurant but it’s after 10pm so will you be welcomed? … go to Ask the Waiter — Late Night Dining, July 19, 2007 on Waiter Rant.
Marilyn June 13th, 2007
This dynamic city (and region) today produces half the wealth of China and is a showcase for development in this emerging communist country. It has had a fascinating history of foreign occupation (French, English, Americans and White Russians) during the period when China was closed to the world from 1650 to the early 20th century. In the 1920s it was a modern, decadant city of opium, Chinese ‘mafia’, liberal sexual mores and was known as the ‘Paris of the East’ or ‘Whore of the Orient’ — it was a very exotic port of call. Continue Reading »
