Christmas in Paris

[fgrsk8r1970]

I am learning how to post photos on here and since I am planning another visit this coming christmas I wanted to share my photos from 2011. We visited (our 2nd time, but first time in the winter) 2 weeks before Christmas and were staying at a tiny but beautiful apartment on the Ile de la Cite:


View from our window


Small restaurant 2 min down the street


Hotel de Ville Carousel


Morning view of our Apt building to the right


Said little restaurant of the menu above


Our View at night

We never tired of the ever changing scenery with all the dinner cruises go buy and us warm and cozy with a glass of wine/champagne, some cheese and/or pate in our hand

[fgrsk8r1970]

Especially for Tod2:

[bixaorellana]

I would say you have already learned how to post pictures here, and what wonderful pictures they are.

It looks as though you all had an absolutely magical visit -- can't wait to see more.

Re: macarons ~~ you'll be joining the other macaron maven here on anyport. Check out her report on Macaron Day in NYC and also some Parisian ones from summer of 2011, including McMacarons.

Your night shots are glorious!

[fgrsk8r1970]

Thank you Bixa !!! and I really enjoyed (and already posted) the reports from nycgirl. Fabulous :-)

More Paris to come soon.... while I am getting side tracked posting in other spots too.... ;-)

[lola]

What a view you had. Nice. Thanks, fgrsk8

[nycgirl]

Those macarons, mmmm.

Your apartment sure had a terrific view. Was it affordable? I'd love to stay on the Ile de la Cite.

[fgrsk8r1970]

The apartment is very very small, but well laid out and everything is new and it has a lot of free amenities (free calls to the US, wifi etc.). That said it is a little more than others (or the first one we stayed in) but the view is well worth it. For us especially since my husband can't walk very much at one time and we actually enjoy staying at our apt. much more than the average tourist.
Low season 1000 Euros/week
high season 1200 Euros/week

[htmb]

I like sweets, but I don't remember ever trying a macaron though I'm sure I've had lots of chances. That's a very nice view from your apartment. Will you be staying there again?

[fgrsk8r1970]

Hi htmb - I pm'd you but maybe I did something wrong oops?
We are not staying in this one but the one above owned by the same people. They were just finishing it when we visited and now I want to try the "sister" apartment. It has minor design/decorating difference that I like (big comfy chairs and no mini couch), iPod Dock and an electric fireplace which will be so romantic at Christmas time. otherwise it's exactly the same :-)

[fgrsk8r1970]

I didn't realize that I never finished posting my photos - and since we are getting close again I figured I'd do it now to get us in the mood for the holidays

Walking the streets in the morning


Great view from Notre Dame


I got really lucky as the clouds opened up for this shot of Sacre Coeur




Trocadero Christmas Market


First time seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up for us


The tiniest skating rink on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower


Huffin' and puffin' my way up these stairs to Sacre Coeur


Even though it rained some artists still stayed around


My first endeavor to Laduree in St. Germain - line was not long at all


Walking after dark in St. Germain


Walking back to the apt


Skating at Hotel de Ville - I may do it this year


Back in Montmartre to show the hubby - and had much better weather but also way more people


Afternoon back in St. Germain with the hubby


Walking along the Seine by myself


Small Christmas market across from Notre Dame


Can't wait to see what this years theme will be for the tree at Lafayette




Pont Alexandre - it really started to rain but it made for some cool photos


My favorite photo…. didn't expect the low clouds but got lucky here


Love the reflections in the rain


Accidental movement created a cool effect

[Deleted]

Your photos from 2011 are absolutely fantastic, so I'm sure that your photos this year will be even more incredible.

[htmb]

Yes, I agree. Spectacular pictures!!!

[fgrsk8r1970]

Thank you both so much for the kind words I am very very excited!!! I also have a new camera so curious to see how it compares (especially for the night shots) this year!

I also just got this information in a newsletter from the cooking school for the decorations of the Galeries Lafayette which is supposed to start today:

"it's time to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Swatch! The Swiss watch company marks the countdown to Christmas with a 4 metre Christmas tree in the great atrium under the dome. The tree comes to animated life on the hour, revealing the daily goings on of a peaceful village! Little mice and owls come alive with music and Christmas scenes with Lilly the doll or Mr. and Mrs. Wolf.Outside, the Christmas windows are decorated with five scenes from the tale of Beauty and the Beast. On the fourth floor, children and their parents have the exclusively privilege of discovering 5 minutes of the new film Beauty and the Beast with Vincent Cassel and Lea Seydoux, which is to released in cinemas on February 12, 2014. Fans take note: Belle will be making some appearances in store… "

[mossie]

Some lovely night shots.

[lagatta]

Magnificent, fgrsk8r1970! (I have no idea how to pronounce your name...). Yes, if your husband has trouble walking much, I wouldn't recommend "les escaliers de la Butte". There is a tourist bus around Montmartre www.ratp.fr/informer/pdf/orienter/f_plan.php?loc=reseaux&nompdf=montmartrobus&fm=gif as well as the funicular.

According to the RATP website, it runs all year round.

In general, buses are easier than the métro for people who have trouble walking.

You'll have to take me some CHEESE photos - I'm more "savoury" than "sweet"...

It must be incredible to be dead centre in Paris.

[Deleted]

Stunning photos! Makes me want to GO!

And I suggest we call the OP "figgy"

[fgrsk8r1970]

LOL Thanks lagatta and lizzy
It's short for Figureskater

Since we've been to Montmartre last time we will concentrate a little more on accessible spots this christmas and of course the Musee des Arts Forains is on our list as well. I have done quite a bit of research on the bus system so hopefully all will fine. I also plan to push the husband through the city as much as I can (that's my workout plan for that week LOL) - I told him that will allow me an extra bottle glass of champagne and cheese (there will be lots of cheese lagatta because I am also very much a savory person at heart!!!)

Also they posted a photo of the Galeries Lafayette tree today as it was lit yesterday and I am a little underwhelmed. I hope it looks better in person to be honest. It is different for sure!
www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/lighting-up-galeries-lafayette-7266632/slideshow#/slideshow/article/7266632/7266662

[Deleted]

I almost went there today (not knowing when it was to be inaugurated anyway), but I will probably drop by tomorrow for a few pictures.

I was in the Montparnasse mall today and it was already completely decorated for Christmas.

[questa]

figgy...your photos have a brilliance of light and colour about them...fantastic. I like how you see the great visual appeal of a "mistake". It is like impressionist art.

[mich64]

Figgy do you remember the flavor of the darkest macaroon in the photo with them in the box?

Will be looking forward to the additions to this thread!

[fgrsk8r1970]

Now "Figgy" is definitely different LOL …. most people have called me skater - but you pick and choose

Thanks questa and mich64 - I really appreciate it !!!

Mich64: the darkest macaron was licorice flavored and I was so sad that I didn't get more because it was so good (and that was our last evening). it was a very subtle flavor (as I know some people really either love or hate licorice) - just really really good in my opinion.

Kerouac - did you go and see the tree for yourself today?

[Deleted]

Yes, I'm starting the new thread right now.

[Kathleen Jestin]

Fantastic photos - well done!

You have really captured the mood of Paris.

[fgrsk8r1970]

Thanks Kathleen !

I know I have posted most of my Paris photos on other threads but figured that I can post some of the "normal" ones here as well as my Macaron making class photos I took at La Cuisine Paris. I have just ordered supplies to recreate and will also then share those photos next week

It was a three hour class that I stumbled upon on the review site of the apartment we rented - recent renters talked about it and it was right across the bridge from us so very close. I have been wanting to learn how to make them since I tasted my first Laduree two years ago and I am hoping to really get good at it and create some of my own flavors (like an Arizona filling… prickly pear for example…. how cool would that be )

OK, so here they are, the Instructor Diane was awesome. Funny, knowledgeable, engaging - just really what you want for a fun class. We were 8 people, paired by 2, there was a couple from Seattle (and the only guy…. he did great, had never baked before), two mother/daughter combos, one from Texas and one from Ottawa and then a single gal from Chicago that paired with me.
We learned 4 fillings: dark chocolate ganache, Fresh fruit (pineapple), Coffee Creme au beurre and Vanilla Creme Patisserie.
We also learned the two types of meringue used - Italian and French.

I preferred the Italian Meringue macarons (the hot simple syrup is heated to exactly 118 C and then added to the whipping egg whites creating a very silky meringue that makes a lighter "cookie" which is also more dense in the middle and not as intensely almond tasting as the french, which doesn't cook the egg whites and creates an almost hollow kind of cookie that has a much stronger almond flavor. Both are yummy - I preferred the (of course more labor intense) Italian one and I think that's what Laduree and Pierre Herme use as well.











Diane demonstrating on our batter how the consistency should be - slow lava ribbon !

[fgrsk8r1970]

we then played with mixing/marbling colors


ready for the filling… front is the pineapple (which was amazing… well they all were), then chocolate ganache, coffee butter cream and vanilla pastry cream






Et voila!!!


And this is what I took back to my husband

[htmb]

It looks like you had a wonderful time, skater!

[Deleted]

The macarons look absolutely perfect. I am always bemused when I see macaron mixes on the shelves of French supermarkets. I just cannot imagine that it is possible to make such items from a mix.

[fgrsk8r1970]

Thanks so much htmb and kerouac!!!

I know what you mean K - I can't imagine either…. I'd imagine those result in a very hard cookie type consistency? It's interesting too because you have to use the batter rather quickly (once piped they can "dry" on the cookie sheet before baking for up to 20 min even longer but if you leave the batter in the bowl for more than 30 min the resulting shells won't have the "foot" and will crack and kind of look more like a mini pancake. Diane actually baked one sheet (without us noticing) from the "old" batter and showed us at the end of the class. It was so interesting how much they DIDN'T look like our wonderful little shells.

[Deleted]

I never even knew where to find those squeeze bags for batter, icing, whipped cream, etc. but I have been watching a cooking show lately where they seem to use those things every day. So during my last visit to a kitchen supply store (where I bought a "zester"), I saw that they actually do exist. I hope I will never need one, though. Since I never make dessert items, I might survive.

[htmb]

In a pinch, when I've needed to pipe something, I've used a plastic Baggie with a hole cut in a corner. It worked okay.