I made it! As of two-and-a-bit weeks ago, I have now been resident in France for a full year. I would have written about it on the day, but I actually celebrated my ‘anniversary’ by being in another continent – where I was a) making the most of every precious minute with friends and family... Continue Reading →
Pique-Nique Parisien
I have a new favourite activity in Paris: picnicking along the riverbank. It's no particular secret that Paris is great for picnics in general; there are beautiful parks left, right and centre, not to mention the myriad of the other attractive and/or secluded spots scattered across the city. But whilst cruising down the Seine... Continue Reading →
Paris ‘Sans Gluten’
My mother came to visit recently (yes, we had a fabulous time, thank you), and as she is one of those numerous gluten-intolerant people who seem to be taking over the world of late* (in a household of six, I was the only one to escape), the prospect of this visit posed an interesting challenge.... Continue Reading →
Baffled By Brunch
Happy May 1st! And a happy day it is indeed, for me anyway, because in France, it’s a national holiday! On a Tuesday, too, which is a huge novelty for someone who has grown up in England, where mid-week bank holidays are simply not a thing - unless it’s Christmas, Boxing Day, or New Year’s... Continue Reading →
A Taste Of Summer
We had a little taste of summer in Paris this weekend - and let me tell you, it was delicious. Clear blue skies, glorious sunshine, 22 degree heat… what more could you ask of April? As someone of mixed English and Irish blood, it’s pretty much written into my genetic code that in the event... Continue Reading →
Hostess With The Mostest – Or Trying Anyway (Part 2/2)
So, to pick up where I left off (Part 1 here) with regards to the previous weekend, Sunday last dawned bright and sunny, another beautifully-blue-skied-but-bitterly-cold sort of day. Our little party headed out with the intention of picking up breakfast as we went, but alas, the queue for ‘my’ boulangerie was the longest I’d seen... Continue Reading →
Hostess With The Mostest – Or Trying, Anyway (Part 1/2)
This weekend, I had friends come to stay for the first time since moving to my new place and it was wonderful. The couple in question are fellow foodies (the best kind of friends) and accordingly, much of the weekend was spent savouring Paris/France’s many culinary delights. This meant kicking the weekend off with a... Continue Reading →
“Saturday Night Roast” Doesn’t Have The Same Ring To It (or My First Soirée)
Following my previous post about the Saturday just gone, I’m now going to jump back to the previous Saturday. You’ll have to forgive the appalling lack of chronology. So, on Saturday evening a week and a half ago, I hosted my first soirée. Admittedly, with a party of three (including myself and my “co-host”) it... Continue Reading →
What Woman Hath The Power To Resist Warm Bread?
Well, the weekend did not disappoint weather-wise, continuing on exactly as Friday had given Paris reason to hope it might. Saturday dawned optimistically bright and developed into the most gloriously sunny afternoon. It was cold, but fresh, with the tangible promise of spring in the scent of the air and the quality of the light,... Continue Reading →
Mardi Gras!
Happy Mardi Gras! And it’s certainly gotten off to a happy start – in honour of the date, my colleagues and I gathered this morning to enjoy a communal breakfast of light, sweet chouquettes and fresh brioche, one dotted with raisins, the other with chocolate chips, and both still deliciously warm from the boulangerie. Mardi... Continue Reading →
