Saturday, January 14, 2023

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 ๐Ÿ™
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-Elysรฉes.

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 ๐Ÿ‘‘ of dots๐Ÿฅ‚ 
She has given us a lot of fun. I wish there was one little affordable thing here but there isn’t ๐Ÿ˜ณ 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 ParisbreakfastYou can receive Parisbreakfast letters ๐Ÿ’Œ maps and watercolors in your mailbox ๐Ÿ“ฎ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ’‹❤️๐Ÿป


36 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:07 AM

    Grey, grey, grey, grey and grey! No kidding! Hope you are well. Charlotte Puckette

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:08 AM

      I’m fine after a dose of noodles & Kusma dots !

      Delete
  2. Anonymous3:11 AM

    I live in LA and wanted to cheer you up with color. Please take a look at my website leafeinstein.com. Full of color. I didn’t paint like this in San Francisco or on the East Coast. But LA is all about color and light. It is a mood lift especially in the dark days of winter. Altho we have been having heaps of rain lately.
    Be well. Eat noodles. Love Umami❤️ Lea

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  3. Anonymous3:47 AM

    mmmm yummmmm looks wonderful!
    Thank you for the eye candies!! SF

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  4. Rain, Rain go away! Here in Chicago the the winter has been mild with lots of grey skies. I love dots and liked the purses in the Kusama exhibit. You NEED those red dotted glasses!! ๐Ÿ—ผ❤️☔️๐Ÿ”ด



    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous8:33 AM

      I am sure the price tag would require the men in white coats. Insane :((

      Delete
  5. Anonymous7:00 AM

    Better grey Paris than grey anywhere else!

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    1. Anonymous8:32 AM

      Can we trade places?

      Delete
  6. Anonymous8:38 AM

    Grey - Since my hair turned silver or pewter all colors look so much better on me.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:09 AM

      That’s a good one! French women adore their grey hair and wear lots of bright colors now that you mention it.

      Delete
  7. When I read The Paris Wife by Paula McLain, I could FEEL the cold, rainy of a grey Paris winter in my bones, and have turned down all invitations to visit Paris in the winter. I'm reading this at 0552 on a particularly stormy N. California morning, wondering how I'm going to go about my day. I'm supposed to attend a 3-hour simulcast of the NY Metropolitan Opera, go to a lecture on Eugene O'Neill, go to dinner, then attend an E. O'Neill play. But how will I drive and walk on a grey rainy day? I'll take Carol's idea to wear grey with a colorful scarf under my umbrella. Do I have a polka dot one? And why are they called "polka?" Do they dance across that upon which they are printed? Merci. Dziฤ™kujฤ™ Ci. Thank you.

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    1. Anonymous10:32 AM

      I Love the description of your very busy day๐Ÿ˜Š
      First and foremost Please stay safe๐Ÿ™ If the roads are bad stay home ๐Ÿ 

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:32 AM

      I always meant to read the Paris wife…now I’m not sure it’s a good idea?

      Delete
  8. Anonymous9:24 AM

    I'm in the Pacific Northwest and I feel your gray!!!

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    1. Anonymous10:09 AM

      I would like to feel some of your wild salmon

      Delete
  9. Loving those polka dots! And gray tends to be the only color in our Michigan skies of late. I'm looking out the window now and for the first time in -- days? weeks? months? I am seeing blue. My solar lights may make it beyond 7 p.m. today!

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    1. Anonymous10:29 AM

      I had to look up Solar Lights! But they are for outdoors….
      Believe it or not the 16th will be ‘Blue Monday’ - saddest day of the year according to Sortir ร  Paris. I do remember something last year…so it’s universal

      Delete
  10. Anonymous10:10 AM

    Your post made me very hungry for a Japanese soup. Annie

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:15 AM

      I am desperately seeking to make it with Picard’s Thaรฏ poulet aux vermicelles + wok veggies + corn + scallions + mushrooms and plenty of sesame seeds. No idea how it will taste but praying a lot ๐Ÿ™

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:26 AM

      Oops…must run out and get Soy sauce and a lime for acid! Otherwise almost there ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ˜Š

      Delete
  11. Bonnie L11:54 AM

    What LV is doing in their stores with Kusama sculptures and polka dots is beyond fabulous! They must have brightened up your day.

    Weather is relative…I’d rather have grey weather in Paris than grey plus cold at home. I never hesitated visiting Paris in the winter. There’s so much to warm you, like your Japanese soup!

    Your umbrella watercolor is stunningly vibrant! ❤️

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  12. Love seeing the patron in the store who really dressed the part with her polka dot blazer. It's grey and rainy in So Ca so I could use some color right now.

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    1. Anonymous2:03 AM

      All the store staff had those boxy workman jackets (which I think were not for sale) and I would have loved to buy for under 3 figures…way under ๐Ÿ˜‚

      Delete
    2. Anonymous2:03 AM

      Tanks Bonnie

      Delete
  13. Anonymous2:00 AM

    Hi Carol, love the Kusama polka dot sunglasses and I found a bargain substitute for 12.99! Janice
    https://www.amazon.com/Polka-Dot-Retro-Fashion-Sunglasses/dp/B00NWJ4Q7E/ref=asc_df_B00NWJ4K7K/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241958231506&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5392169852475687633&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032055&hvtargid=pla-555818654397&th=1

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    1. Anonymous2:01 AM

      Big Merci Janice
      Ooo la la and shipping isn’t too bad either

      Delete
  14. Anonymous3:47 AM

    Love those Japanese noodles too ~ my "last meal" for the longest time was ramen ~ shoyu ramen for me, not tonkotsu ramen (too rich).
    This website is usually my "go to" to get some quick easy ideas and a refresher for tried and true old recipes.
    https://www.justonecookbook.com
    She also has a reference section for ramen
    https://www.justonecookbook.com/japanese-ramen-guide/
    And this is an email I got some time ago just on noodles!! Suz

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    1. Anonymous3:47 AM

      Thank you Suzanne
      I am saving THIS forever

      Delete
  15. Anonymous4:34 AM

    This was fun and you have a fun view. Lynne

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    1. Anonymous4:34 AM

      Here comes the sunnnnnn ๐ŸŒž
      Oh no it doesn’t ๐Ÿ˜‚

      Delete
  16. Anonymous3:37 AM

    Great posting on 'Ciel Gris'. I have visited Paris very often in all kinds of seasons and weather and lived in London for 10 years, now Sunshine Coast Australia. I fully understand your comments. I feel that the successful use of 'textures' in Paris' to be very powerful. The fabulous architecture, green spaces, materials used, general ambience, etc etc make up for the temporary 'many shades of grey'. I think it highlights and lets us experience/appreciate all existing colour more fully.
    Enjoy every second and kind regards from Down under Monika

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    1. Anonymous3:38 AM

      Many shades of grey..yes!
      Plus many shades of drizzle
      like now…๐Ÿ˜ต‍๐Ÿ’ซ

      Delete
  17. Anonymous3:44 AM

    You prob know these Japanese already? BL
    https://www.vogue.fr/lifestyle/article/les-meilleurs-restaurants-japonais-a-paris

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  18. The Kusama statue and polka dots are lots of fun, thanks for sharing. It would be funny to see a Japanese person’s reaction to putting the salad in your soup ๐Ÿ˜†. Hope you get some blue sky soon, hot and sunny here in my part of Australia.

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  19. Anonymous7:42 AM

    I like drizzly, grey winter weather instead of dry and freezing! Love your newsletters Carol. Tiina ๐Ÿ™‚

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