Marché couvert de Passy and Moule Marinières

 

It’s a classic French tradition to have platters of fresh oysters, shrimp, lobster, crab known as fruits de mer on New Years Eve.

I went looking for moules/mussels in the 16th arrondissement at Marché de Passy on New Years Eve day. The covered market is open every day but Monday, so if you need of some good seafood take the Metro to Muette.

I was surprised to see as many as 3-4 Poissonnière stands.

Teams were madly filling New Year’s Eve orders 

Of the most gorgeous platters of seafood. 

The place was buzzing with last minute customers buying luxe goodies for their soirées.

Beautiful displays of caviar.

And smoked salmon. Did they sell out?

Gillardeau is one of the top brand of oyster producers in France.

This is an upper crust marché and the veg are just as stunning.

I cleaned them out of the Bouchot mussels from the bay of Mont Saint Michel.

Moules Marinières is one of the easiest French dishes you can make.

2 pounds of mussels rinsed and de-bearded.

Throw the chopped veg (chopped celery, 4 chopped shallots, some chopped parsley and a couple of thinly sliced garlic cloves) into a pot with a lump of butter. Sauté a few minutes. 

*Include 1 bay leaf 

But NO ADDED SALT. 

The mussels will be salty on their own.

Add a cup of white wine🥂 or French cidre…nothing fancy

Add your mussels and cover the pot

In about 5+ minutes the mussels should be fully open and the broth steaming.

Et voila. À table.

Or you could have fruits de mer on Etsy…

❤️😊🐻🍾🥂Have a very Happy 2022 dear PBers🥂🍾🐻😊❤️

Le Dome, Montparnasse

If you're lucky enough to know some darling PBers who invite you to dinner on New Year’s Eve at LE DOME MONTPARNASSE go. Say yes vite. I admit I hesitated - too much homework, the metro isn't working, I'll be a 3rd wheel, bla bla bla. Fortunately I came to my senses. Besides December 26th in 2012 is the date I arrived in Paris and I'm still here.  It’s my Paris-Anniversary! 🥂

A good reason to celebrate, raise a glass 🥂and remember life is good and people are kind. 

What a lovely evening at one of Paris' swell, classic old brasseries (it opened in 1898). 

We had 'The works'. Champagne 🍾 first. 

We shared a plateau of oysters 🦪  The Dome’s seafood is reknown. They have their own fish store. 

Food writer Patricia Wells said, "I could dine at Le Dôme once a week, feasting on platters of briny oysters and their incomparable sole meunière." Bonnie had the incomparable sole, her favorite. 

Rob and I had the incomparable coquille St Jacques, on a bed of buttery leeks. 

We all shared Rob's dessert. One of the lightest, best 'Millefeuille Napoleon parfumé au rhum (barely evident) et la vanille' I've tasted. Our waiter suggested we get it instead of the chocolate buche de Noél. Listen 👂 to your waiter. 

By the way the service is 'old school'. Elegant yet friendly and attentive without being stuffy. And 🙏🏻 no one asked us 'how are you enjoying your meal?' in the midst of eating.  If you have a birthday or anniversary of any kind coming up, start saving and celebrate it at LE DOME in Paris. Bear was there, but he...umm stayed inside my bag. Have an Absolutely Fabulous NEW YEARS EVE 🥂🍾dear PBers. And Thank you so much for keeping us in Paris to share another year with you ❤️ XXX Carol and 🐻