Jet Setter

Drinking Cocktails in Paris at Metropolitain Bar, Radisson Blu

Lovely little place to have cocktails in Paris. View of the Eiffel Tower guaranteed. It's a trendy little hotspot that offers cocktail classes and is in the elegant Radisson Blu hotel.

La vie en Paris.

Check out this blog about the best spots for cocktails in Paris.

Paris Cocktail Bars

Eco Hotel Spa - Yves Rocher, La Gree Des Landes

I'm in major need of a detox. Detox - from life, from work, from family and friends. Just to relax and kick back. Work has been insane and I'm planning a spa getaway asap.

Came across this gorgeous 29-room eco hotel spa in the Bretagne (Brittany) region of France (western France) in the village of La Gacilly. Britanny is where crepes originated and is well known for its organic farmland and food. From January 15 to April 15th, La Gree Des Landes has a detox program that allows you to detox by taking yoga classes, walking and just enjoying nature.

We all need to run away n'est ce pas?

Britanny Tourism

- Denise

http://www.lagreedeslandes.com/uk/index.php

Cocoa Island Resort, Maldives

So it seems like this year has started so fast and furious. Time flies. Can't believe it's already February. Not going on vacation until March. I'm ready for the beach - you with me. But it's trying times, it seems all over the place, everyone is stressed out about money and jobs and war! Can't forget about the bloody war in Iran. US presidential elections, quite the diversion as usual.

I'm taking myself to a beautiful place - at least in my mind for right now. Cocoa Island is in the beautiful Maldives.The Maldives are known to divers worldwide for amazing coral reefs. Who knows how long those coral reefs will be around at the rate we seem to want to fight and destroy everything.

Enough pontificating. Check out the beautiful resort. Now that's paradise. 

 - Denise

Cocoa Island Resort

Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman

With the Middle East about to erupt into a major war, what better time than to check out this cool resort in Oman. It's about 90 minutes from trendy Dubai. Sensual, lux and simply to die for.  One of the best trips of my life was to Dubai...a few years ago. Never got to hang out in Oman.

Check it out here!

The Art of the Stroll

Just finished a photo shoot for our upcoming Destination Paris Fashion Guide. The hectic morning reminded me of what I enjoyed about Paris. It's hard to place it. When living there, it can be incredibly annoying, expensive and narrow... but also there is something beautiful about the mystique the French have created about Paris. I think it has to do with the light - something about the grayness, the light filtering through the clouds and the art that greets you just walking around a corner.

I tend to think that the most beautiful destinations are natural destinations. Cities are cities no matter how you try to make it out and there's nothing like a beautiful blue sky, sun shining, crispy wind, gentle rain...we live in the most amazing setting I think...no matter where you are on Earth. This planet is so beautiful.

I love this article by Lindsey Tramuta on Her First Paris: Discovering the Art of the Stroll. It's just a nice reminder to slow down and enjoy life...and enjoying life doesn't mean you have to buy alot of things or do alot of things. Sometimes, it's just the simple luxury of time - savoring the moment, enjoying the sunrise or sunset or just walking down the street holding the hand of someone you love.

Life is beautiful - n'est ce pas?

 

Romantic Paris - Restaurant Laperouse and the Velvet Bar

Nothing is quite as romantic as walking through the streets of Paris on a winter day. Paris is a city of grey light. Everything looks grey. It's often cloudy and grey. Wintry and grey. But the architecture, the river Seine, the Eiffel Tower...all of iconic Paris make the city so moody, so romantic, so beautiful.

And on a cozy corner in on the banks of the Seine, you'll find Laperouse (51 quai des Grands Augustins), one of the top romantic restaurants in the city. It was founded in 1766 in a private mansion and is known for it's traditional French fare. This Valentine's Day, they have a menu which includes foie gras, scallops, quail, truffles and lots of chocolate.

It also has the swanky Velvet Bar decorated with antiques, velvet armchairs, a bookcase and a fireplace. They serve tapas and have a pianist on Friday and Saturday nights.

Here's a rose stand from Au Nom De La Rose taken in Paris by blogger Angela Murrills. If you're in Paris, it's a must. When you buy flowers from them, they line the shopping bags with rose petals. So "ravishingly" beautiful.

Happy Valentine's

-Denise

Websites

For more ideas on Paris' top romantic restaurants - Check out Context Travel's "Romantique Parisian Valentine's."

Restaurant Laperouse

A Stopover at Sublim Eiffel, Paris

So any time I read Garance Dore's fashion blog,it makes me immediately want to head back to Paris. I'm staying put though, as it's way too cold for me.  I'll take a Texas winter anyday. Here's a great boutique hotel getting rave reviews called Sublim Eiffel that I'm dying to check out. 

The concept behind the hotel is the City of Lights - Paris. It has 19 rooms, located in the 15th arrondissement, right by Metro station, Sevres Lecourbe. It's funky (carpet designs are maps of the 13th and 15th arrondissements), modern (fiber optic lighting in the shower) and has a spa area. What more could a girl ask for?

- Denise

  

Websites

Hotel Sublim Eiffel

Trip Advisor 

A Taste of the Riviera

Take a listen to our podcast! We interview food writer and Cordon-bleu trained cook Rosa Jackson. Rosa lives in Nice, France and runs Edible Paris and Les Petis Farcis. Edible Paris provides custom itineraries to foodies who want to get the best of Paris' amazing cuisine.  Petis Farcis focuses on cooking classes and market tours in Nice.  

Rosa worked in Paris for ten years writing about restaurants for a number of guidebooks and magazines.  She teaches Provencal cooking in her home. But spends a few days in Paris every month, keeping up with restaurants, conducting food tours and sampling the finest patisseries and chocolates. 

Listen here!

Websites

Petits Farcis - Cooking Classes and Market Tours in Nice

Edible Paris - Custom Food Itineraries

French Tourists Seen as World's Worst

 

I thought this story currently making headlines was quite enlightening.  I'd heard from a Canadian friend married to a Frenchman that this might be true. No, her husband was the saint, it was the French relatives that were nightmares. 

It's no secret the French are quite demanding. And even when you go to Paris, their demand that everyone speak to them in French (usually) is quite hypocritical if they can't bother to learn a local language or try English. I spent 3 months in Paris this year and enjoyed it thoroughly. 

 

My French isn't bad and I didn't run into any problems..but the bad reputation of the French seems to be quite thoroughly entrenched in the minds of many world travelers. I'm sure this doesn't apply to all tourists or travelers...but sounds like the French need to work on getting some good PR.

I'm not shocked by tourists behaving badly though. People do travel thousands of miles to just show off that they are jerks. Quite sad. So, please don't be a bad tourist - enjoy local life and be open to meeting people and I know it's not the thing in some cultures to smile...but a smile goes a long way most of the time, and it transcends language. Be Happy.

 

Check out the story at Reuters.

 

- Denise

 

Photo Credit: Cartoon by Driftnik.com

Winetasting 101: French Wines

There is an art to wine tasting. This art consists of staying sober and trying to learn something from the sommeliers teaching you about wine. Sometimes, I think it's a hopeless case. I've been to many wine tastings and can never remember anything afterward. But this time, I did it! I actually learned something and only got slightly sloshed after 10 glasses of wine.

Any country or region that produces wine always has a bevy of wine tasting experiences to offer - California, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon in North America. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Italy. The list is endless. But there's only one France. France accounts for about 20% of world wine production and about 25% of wine exports come from this country. They have incredibly strict rules about their wine production, which makes their wines oh so delectable and desirable.

 

So I found this great wine company that offers wine tastings and dinners called O'Chateau. Got a few friends to join in for a fun Friday night of umm....drinking. O'Chateau's wine cellars are located in beautiful Paris, in wine caves originally owned by French kings who used to live at the Louvre (museum) when it was a palace. I took the "Taste of France," because when I came home I wanted to be able to find some great French wines on my own and show off my new expertise.

Our first lesson was understanding about those wine tasting techniques. The look, smell and taste. In French it's called - "La Robe," "Le Bouquet," and "La Bouche." These are the things you do when you swirl the wine in the glass, look very serious and take a sniff and then gulp. I've always thought this was a bit over the top. But our wonderful instructor, Stefan was not only beautiful to look at, but as a wine producer himself actually explained the process of making wine really well. He had to handle a group of 20 that as the night went on got increasingly talkative and well drunk. However, as a lay person, I think I actually got it. I know how wine is made.

On the look - learned that the darker the red or the white, usually means the wine is from a southern, warmer climate versus a colder, northern climate. The smell. Our group was on something. People were smelling things like chocolate fudge, fish (yeah right) and aromatic notes of sandalwood and pepper (someone was a show off).  The taste. Well, I've always preferred wines with a smooth finish especially with reds where you can run into "that aftertaste."

Our second lesson was about the French Wine regions. There are about 10 more or less: Alsace, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Languedoc Roussillon, Loire Valley, Provence, Rhone Valley and the South West. Each region specializes in reds, or whites or both.

 

My favorites: Provence, Loire Valley and the South West. Why? Well, Provence produces the best rose wines in the world. To me, it's like a less serious red, but just wonderful with citrus fruits and fish and wonderful Mediterranean cuisine. And I love the rose color. Loire Valley, well it's the Sancerre. If you like sauvignon blanc, this is a must. And the South West, well Stefan introduced us to some "undiscovered gems" particularly from the region of Fronton. 

The last lesson. Well, at least the one Stefan drilled into us well. Learn how to read the French label so you know you have a good wine. The AOC label indicates the standards and quality that have been verified. Know where it was bottled, it'll say something like "Mis en Bouteille au Chateau." And make sure the vintner's name is on the bottle as well. Good French wines are available at a wonderful range of prices.

Drink Up!

- Denise

Websites:

O-Chateau.com

O'Chateau - Video Blog, Daily Blog

Photo Credit: Nice, France harbour by © Timehacker | Dreamstime.com