La Grand Épicerie’s 10 year birthday 🎂 🥳

 

Saturday we celebrated La Grand Épicerie’s 10 year birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 of their Signature line of Products 👏

PHOTO BY SOLLI KANANI

In the insane heat 🔥 I went running 

Solli’s Cherry 🍒 Cheesecake

 

Cherry cheesecake inspired by Wayne Thiebaud

Yesterday Bonnie said, “Have you been to the new Ritz Le Comptoir on 45, rue de Sévres?”

I said, “It’s 97 degrees out, feels like 103! No way I’m going back out into that oven!”

Sial Paris 2024 - Part 2

We went back to SIAL yesterday after a day of deep-induced sleep 💤 therapy,  cold showers & ice 🧊 bucket immersions. I don’t think it was enough…

Many more people attended on Monday. The scene at the RER Metro exit 🙀

Culinary Retreat with Shannon & Wlady Grochowski

Meet Shannon Grochowski, our hostess at the culinary retreat. I will post mostly photos..the wi-fi at Abbaye de Reigny was a tad slow…

The aroma of molten Valrhona chocolat is in the air. We inhale 👃 only the best chocolate 🍫 

Meet: Solli Kanani Food Photographer

Meet Solli Kanani

We have been partners in crime for 10 years…

Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula Paris

I'm late, I'm late

For a very important date.When am I not late?

Solli and I start our grand tour of the newly renovated Peninsula Hotel at the top. Spectacular views.

The bar Le Kleber, was once the site of the signing a treaty - The Paris Peace Accords, negotiated by Henry Kissinger and bringing the Vietnam War to a close, was signed in 1973 in the salon. And in 1928, George Gershwin wrote "An American in Paris' while staying at the hotel. 

We did not get to dive into the pool pre-tea. Why not?

I once stayed at the luxurious Hong Kong Peninsula for an entire month when I worked on 7th Avenue in fashion. The white-suited bellhops haven't changed.

Back then they would send a Silver Arrow Rolls Royce to pick you up at the airport. What a dream…

We take tea outside on Le Kleber terrasse. Always Champers to start at a French tea. I don't think it's the same for English cream teas?

One English cream tea and one French please.

The triple decker trays arrive with precise instructions - what to eat 1st, 2nd, 3rd.

Why didn't I get Solli's jasmine iced tea?

English tea sandwiches - light and delicate for a hot Summer day..

Are these the French or English desserts? I need a cheat sheet with diagrams included.These are all miniatures by the way. Just 2 bites and they're gone. We had to share too.

Don't miss Solli's beautiful post on our afternoon tea together at The Peninsula!!

Mandarin Oriental Paris

Another afternoon tea, another tarte citron.

This time at the absolutely divine Mandarin Oriental Paris . 251, rue Saint Honoré 75001

The hotel opened 3 years ago in Paris, one of 10 Mandarin Oriental hotels throughout the world. Their symbol is always the Asian Fan. This one specially created by Chanel's embroidery maison Lesage.

The butterfly is the symbol for the Paris hotel and can be found delicately placed throughout the hotel. It's a treasure hunt to find them.

Butterflies decorating various and sundry. Their sumptuous bouquets are by Baptiste Fleurs.

Deep magenta purple is the signature color theme throughout. All the main areas were created by Sybille de Margerie of SM design - an homage to the eternal feminin

As you enter you're facing a serenely quiet courtyard - the heart of the hotel. Parisians love their terrasses and this a special one. Easy to pretend you are not in the center of a major city of the world when you sit here..serenity now.

B

Everywhere flowers tie areas together and lead you to the next space. Simply lush.

To the very modern Bar 8 designed by Patrick Jouin, designer of Christophe Michalak's Choux d'Enfer near the Eiffel Tower.

The 8, a magic Asian number and an infinity symbol.

Nearby one of France's top, top chefs,Thierry Marx has his own  innovative, exclusive restaurant, Sur Measure - seating only 40 guests each night.

The avant garde interior is designed by Patrick Jouin, the space sculpted with almost couture-like draperies. Many fashion houses are in the vicinity. What fashionistas wouldn't love the Mandarin Oriental with it's sleek, elegant design.

We go up to see a room - more 'Blade Runner' than 'Marie-Antoinette'. Fabulous!

An atmospheric Dita von Teese portrait by artist-photographer Ali Mahdavi graces the entrance of one suite.

French artists work adorns walls, elevators, everywhere - here a Man Ray negative blown up huge.

The bedroom is lush yet so comfortable.

The bathroom...what can one say? This hotel is fabulous. I'd stay here in an instant.

Time for our afternoon tea in the Camélia restaurant.

We decide to eat in the serene, green courtyard

Time for an iced mint fizzy spritzer bien sur.

The special tea menu is served only on weekends by the way.(45 euros)

My afternoon tea companion, Swedish blogger Solli Kanini joins me in wonder. The attention to the smallest details at the Mandarin Oriental. We're in awe. We were guests of the hotel.

Tea is served uniquely in 3 golden stacked bento boxes. Subtle Asian touches are everywhere.

Much like a Japanese kaiseki meal, each bite is petite, exquisite, elegant. To finish, a pastry from Pierre Mathieu's cake shop in the hotel. Solli has a fresh peach tarte and you know what I have. We left walking on air. Heaven. This is a don't miss experience PBers. I'd love to go back for a cocktail and I don't even drink.