Friday, November 30, 2012

A taste of Portugal in the Marais

Off course you want to over-indulge in fantastic French patisserie while you are in Paris.  Just in case you crave something a little different... Comme a Lisbonne is a wonderful small shop located on the rue de Roi de Sicile in the Marais with a fine collection of Portuguese specialties, including those irresistible eggy, creamy Pasteis de Nata tarts.  I love Portugal and often travel there for personal trips.  Pasteis de Nata are classic Portuguese sweets and they are mildly addictive when made well. If you can't get to the source at the Pasteis de Belem bakery in Lisbon, stop in at Comme A LIsbonne in Paris to try these. Perfect, perfect, perfect with a cup of Portuguese style espresso.

Comme A Lisbonne also sells a small but well curated selection of Portuguese foods and conserves. A great little shop. Check it out.

Comme a Lisbonne
37 rue de Roi de Sicile, 75004
Metro: Hotel de Ville
Open 11AM to 7PM, Tuesday to Sunday

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Angelina's Chocolat Chaud at Galleries Lafayette for the Holidays

Lovers of lethally rich chocolat chaud certainly know Angelina's famed Parisian salon where the 'Chocolat Africaine' is justly famed along with the chestnut puree and cream Mont Blanc pastry. Yum. Angelina's is going to be offering a holiday season pop-up cafe on the highest floor of the Galleries Lafayette 'Grand Magasin' where the hot chocolat, Mont Blanc, and a well curated selection of other sweet treats will be featured. November 12 through December 31 only.

If you are walking by the Grands Magasins... Galleries Lafayette, Printemps, et al to see their beautiful windows and holiday illuminations, maybe to do some shopping, stop in at the seasonal Angelina's for a treat.

And of course, you can always visit the classic Angelinas on the rue de Rivoli.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Love Fashion? Check out the Chloe Attitude Exhibition

This show is a tribute to Gaby Aghion, who started the Chloe label 60 years.  Aghion kicked off the   the brand by having a casual show of the first collection at the hip CafĂ© de Flore. In subsequent years she created and re-created Chloe as a brand that had the informality of everyday wearable clothes with the luxuriousness of couture. Chloe has had of succession of nine designers including Karl Lagerfeld, Martine Sitbon, Stella McCartney, and Phoebe Philo, each with their own signature but yet retaining the essence of the brand.
The exhibit begins with a display of photos from ad campaigns. You can see how the label evolved with each photographer uniquely interpreting the Chloe woman. Renowned photographers have shot for Chloe, including Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin, Jeanloup Sieff, David Bailey and Deborah Turbeville.
The design and curating of the exhibit is first rate. Judith Clark has designed an outstanding show.  The show is very successful at showing the arc of the various fashion over the 60 years. You leave, appreciating the arc of fashion over six decades and the excellence of the Chloe design.

Until November 18 at the Palais de Tokyo. 113 ave President Wilson  in the 16th.  Open from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.   This is near Trocadero on the right bank.