LOV Organic Teas, Clean and Green!

LOV Organic teas is a welcome new player in the robust Paris tea scene. This charming shop on the busy rue Montorgueil Market Street has a clean Scandanavian feel in the design of the interior and of the colorful tea boxes, tins, pots and cups. The line is devoted to finding and selling organic teas that are top quality and have exceptional taste. There are pure loose leaf teas and intriguing flavored teas such as ginger-lemon green tea, orange-cinnamon black teas, in addition to Earl Grey teas and other classic flavored teas and blends. There are anti-stress and detoxifying blends. Check this shop and its line of teas out when you ar in Paris, great for drinking and great for gifts...

There is always a pot of tea ready for tasting and the friendly manager speaks excellent English.

www.lovorganic.com

Chocolate in Istanbul

Istanbul is a gourmet's dream. But, by and large, Istanbul is not a source of delicious chocolate. There is fabulous baklava (Gulluoglu in Karakoy has a delectable chocolate version) and endless Turkish Delight, traditional hard candies and lots of other yummy sweets and patisserie but not fine chocolate. Interesting to see that in Nisantasi and Teskivye, two upscale Istanbul quarters, there are pastry shops that do offer good quality chocolates.

For visitors, a great option in the more traveled quarters is Kahve Dunyasi. The flagship location of this local chain of coffee shops just off the Grand Bazaar near the Nurosimanye Mosque entrance has a broad array of good quality chocolates and also serves a killer chocolate mousse that takes 20 minutes to prepare. Other locations serve good French Press style coffee, hot chocolate, and have smaller chocolate selections.

Une Dimanche A Paris. What A Concept!

Une Dimanche A Paris is a stunning new chocolate concept-shop in the heart of St. Germain des Pres. The first of its nature in Paris and in the world this is a shrine to all things fine-chocolate.

Read my article from Bonjour Paris and go... immediately.

http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/une-dimanche-paris-tout-est-cluizel-chocolat/

Istanbul's Rich Mosaic of Culture, Cuisine, Art & History

Istanbul is not Paris. But Istanbul is my new area of fascination and focus, in addition to ever-wonderful Paris, for my travel advising, culinary and cultural tours and more.

You might enjoy my articles on Istanbul on Bonjour Paris: www.bonjourparis.com/story/istanbul-rich-mosaic-culture-art-cuisine/ or simply google Sally Peabody, Istanbul, Bonjour Paris. This article explores some of the commonalities and contrasts in these two amazing cities.

And, check out a slightly different Istanbul article I wrote for the Travellady website:
http://travellady.com/issues/Jan2011/Istanbul.htm or google Sally Peabody, Travellady,Istanbul

My April Istanbul.Ephesus.Cappodocia tour is full. I do have openings on the fall tour. October 21-November 5. Take a look at the description on www.yourgreatdaysinparis.com

Un Dimanche à Paris

It had to happen. Concept stores are all the rage in Paris... now, a first-ever Concept Store for Chocolate! Really more of a concept-complex. Un Dimanche à Paris is a stunning new installation in the historic Cour de Commerce, an ancient pedestrianized 'street' that runs between rue de St. Andre des Arts and Boulevard St. Germain.

This new oasis for fine chocolate is the brainchild of Pierre Cluizel and it includes a chocolate shop, a chocolate bar where you can grab an espresso or chocolat chaud to go, an open patisserie where one can watch gorgeous chocolate patisserie (and luscious macarons) being created, AND a gourmet restaurant which incorporates chocolate into its dishes in surprising and intriguing ways. There are also regular chocolate making or chocolate patisserie classes.

The complex is in a historic building that incorporates a section of the ancient Philippe Auguste walls around the then tiny city of Paris.

You have to check this place out... I plan to visit in March... it looks gorgeous!


4-6-8, Cour du Commerce Saint André - Paris 6ème Open seven days a week.

Les Soldes are ON! Go shopping.

January is the month for the winter version of the bi-annual French sales season (the other is in July). Starting on the second Wednesday of January or January 12th (whichever comes first) and running for five full weeks, Les Soldes are a golden opportunity for all those beautiful things you can buy in Paris and all over France.

Here is a link to a good article on Les Soldes by the owner of Bonjour Paris, the excellent e-newsletter on Paris.

http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/les-soldes-sales-glorious-french-sales/

TeaThéTcha

My article on TeaThéTcha is up on today's Bonjour Paris. TeaThéTcha is one of those special 'Paris' places. Patrick Barbe, the owner and patissier-en-chef is a warm and welcoming host. He is expert on fine teas and also is a superb patissier... a winning duo. Patrick was the proprietor of the beloved Artisan de Saveurs in the 6th for many years.

He closed that wonderful tea salon two years ago to write a book and spend a little more time with his young family. Now, he can be found in his luminous new salon du thé in the 13th where you can enjoy a wide range of top quality teas (and hot chocolates and two specially selected coffees) along with Patrick's inventive patisserie choices.

The tea counter sells a wide selection of pure teas, blends and herbals to take home with you.

Visit the next time you are in Paris! This is a little gem worth the short bus ride from central Paris.

And make it a point to check out Bonjour Paris online on a regular basis. The articles are varied and always interesting. There is a free section and an enhanced subscriber's section. Great resource with a serious track record of providing Paris info for savvy visitors!