Ciel Gris, Umami, Kusama

 

I used to think before I moved here that Paris blanket grey skies were romantic.

Paris is a grey city - overcast skies, grey cobbled streets, grey Baron Haussmann buildings.

Everyone is dressed in grey neutrals with a dash of color at the neck. Why is this a good thing? 

The color grey acts as the perfect foil for brilliant colors. Grey makes colors sing. Strong colors radiate against a serene grey backdrop. It’s basic color theory.

This drizzly, grey January…not so much. Maybe January is the cruelest month, not April? What about you? How is your January going?

I’ve been looking around like mad for January antidotes. Japanese noodle soup definitely fills the bill. 

It has UMAMI savory flavoring, called the 5th taste.The other 4 are sweet, sour, bitter, salty. The umami taste/experience is imparted by high levels of the amino acid glutamate. Certain vegetables have umami like tomatoes, ketchup, mushrooms, balsamic vinegar, seaweed. It’s especially abundant in protein-rich animal foods like aged cheeses—especially Parmesan cheese, which has a very high content of free glutamate—soy sauce, Miso paste, anchovies. Who knew there is glutamate in mother’s milk? No wonder noodle soup makes you feel good!

Especially when I make it into Sal-Soup by dumping in Sapporo’s petite salade. 

I briefly thought about making it myself with help from Taiji’s Kitchen. In the process I learned the correct way to use chopsticks/baguettes 🙏

I looked into K-Mart on rue Saint-Anne and browsed ingredients.

Then I browsed Higuma…Metrogirl said she lived upstairs for a few years. A constant line outside maybe because prices are almost half. Then I headed uptown to Champs-Elysées.

Solli said I should go see the giant Kusama sculpture hanging over the Louis Vuitton store. 

Inside the whole LV store is like a Kusama polka-dot theme park.

Much, much better than their LV Dream thing. 

If you’re not into dots maybe stay away…

But I found it a much-needed instant mood-elevator

Fun wrap-around videos of Kusama painting dots. 

She may be 90, living in an institution 

But hail to the queen 👑 of dots🥂 

She has given us a lot of fun. I wish there was one little affordable thing here but there isn’t 😳 They would def sell out.

Head to the back and take the escalator to the top floor. Then work your way down. 

There is a short line outside (this is Paris) but no reservations required to visit Kusama’s fun house. 

Next door is what at first I thought was the Dior Galerie. 

I never thought I’d be pro-bucket hat. Dots make a difference.

At the end of the Avenue, L'Etoile.

There is a new reflecting, glassy structure across from the Louvre. I know zero about it. Do you? So what if it's grey skies in Paris most of the time in January. It’s my grey blanket and I’ll take it. Thanks for reading Parisbreakfast. You can receive Parisbreakfast letters 💌 maps and watercolors in your mailbox 📮😊💋❤️🐻