École Ferrandi de La Gastronomie Francaise puts out some of the most gifted and famous chefs here in France and throughout the world. Known as the Harvard of culinary schools, the name Ferrandi is well known and respected within the inner circle of restaurateurs worldwide. I have a special connection to Ferrandi, for it …
The Making of Professional Chefs At École Ferrandi Read More »
Cirque d’ Hiver or Winter Circus has thrilled thousands of Parisians , young and old, for over 170 years! I had always marvelled at the building in passing, but had never penetrated inside until a recent cold winter’s night. It has been years since I even entertained the thought of going to see a circus, …
Yesterday I headed out to see the Christmas lights and decorations before they are put away for another year. Little did I know that thousands of others, be it tourists or locals had the very same idea! First stop was to the Tour Eiffel seen from the bridge, which I find is the most romantic …
Frankly, its been a long time since I took courses at the Sorbonne. I was a just a mere naive little 20-year-old, overwhelmed with excitement and joy to be in Paris for the first time in my life. Back then I took Cours de la Civilisation Francaise de la Sorbonne, which still exists today. I …
You gotta love the French when it comes to pleasures of all kind, be it wine, art, food and love! Not your everyday experience to find a working vineyard in a Parisian hospital, but Paris is known for her little surprising secrets! Hopital Bretonneau, up in Montmartre, has been growing grapes since 2001, with …
There has been a street expo electronically plastered throughout Paris , extended to September the 3rd, offering images capturing the everyday lives of those living in Paris. All were exquisitely illustrated by the very gifted Japanese artist Kanako Kuno, who came here in 2005, became love struck like me, and started sketching Parisians for My …
Paris Plage is the largest sand box in the center of Paris, that just happens to have the choicest site of all, running along of the Seine from the quai du Louvre to past Pont Marie overlooking Ile de La Cité and Ile Saint Louis. For the last 12 years, it has been a …
Hôtel Dieu has been in existence since 651, making it the oldest hospital in the city and one of the oldest in Europe. Recently there has been threats to close down the emergency room and hospital wards and turn it into a day surgical center, which has provoked a tremendous opposition from the medical community …
Hôtel Dieu ; Oldest Hospital in Paris Threatened With Scandalous Changes Read More »
Every once in a while I head out on a Sunday to one of the oldest markets in Paris, Le Marché aux Oiseaux, that come rain or shine, takes place on Sundays on Ile de La Cité, next to the oldest hospital of Paris called Hopital Dieu, which by the way is a monumental historical building …
I have written before about the seriousness Parisians maintain about their beloved baguette. The city of Paris puts on a contest each year to find the best baguette each year. Contests such as these may uncover some of the city’s talented bakers, who in the past were not known. It can not be described as …
Even if you have totally forgotten what day it is, you are quickly reminded by pretty little bouquets of lily of the valley flowers. They are for sale on every corner and every few feet all over Paris. It is the first of May! Tradition has it that King Charles IX in 1561 initiated the …
This Louisiana girl has never lived in any other large city, except Paris, so perhaps this phenomena is universal. We have had a delayed spring, with many cool gray days, and mostly rainy, except a few days last week. All it takes is one warm day, and the population of Paris seems to literally explode …