Rech

Yesterday I was MIA for a very good reason. Dejeuner at Restaurant RECH requires all of ones attention. Nothing is to be missed.

Photo by Veronique Marot

Veronique joined me yesterday as guests to taste Alain Ducasse's famous 'lobster roll'. Lobster being my birthday dinner since childhood and favorite food, I was very intrigued of course.

62 Avenue des Ternes  75017

The bistro dates back to the 20s and many art deco details are in place to make for an altogether charming, warm experience.

Beautiful soft light upstairs...

Our amuse-bouche of avocado and espelette pepper

The perfect accompanying wines - a Meursault and a Santa Barbara Chardonnay plus a coupe de Champagne to start with. Oh la la

My starter was a delicate carpaccio de merlu cru

Veronique had the Springy soup of pea shoots, mango and mackerel. In fact everything was delicate and tres leger/very light.

And at last the Lobster Roll! Luscious Bretagne homard bleu with a stack of 'fries'/mango and a slice of Romaine drizzled with moutarde de Meux. Plus the perfect accompanying  coleslaw only the French could dream up to add a contrasting bite of crunch. Nothing like the Maine/Luke's lobster rolls we know so well but who cares. This is heaven on earth.

A moment of contemplation before dessert - a perfectly ripe Normandie Camembert (from fromagier Maria-Anne Cantin near the Eiffel tower) served 'entame' - with a slice cut out so you can see the inner ripeness. Words fail me.

But wait, dessert! By the way service could not have been more perfect. Everything was explained in detail and we were aided in our choices. For dessert they read our minds and chose roasted apricots, in season right now in the marches, with pistachio cake and coconut ice cream.

I had the house specialty, Mister Rech - a sort of layered affair of two meringues sandwiching hazelnut ice cream with Ducasses' famous 70% dark chocolate poured on top. The aromas...

A tea, chocolates and minardises

We floated out of there through the open cuisine...

And met the very talented chef Adrien Trouilloud

How funny, I sat next the maître chef Jacques Maximin of Rech ages ago at Paul Bocuse's MOF luncheon in Lyon. Little did I know...

Oh I mustn't forget the 'cerise sur la gateau'/'the cherry on top" as the French say. The final taste of this perfect lunch - a guimauve/marshmallow of green tea and Granny Smith apple.

Rech is a not-to-be missed experience especially if you love lobster. But do get there by 27 July while the season lasts. And I must run catch the train to London for a bloggers Conference.

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Maison Guinon Versailles

I've thrown down the gauntlet to the almighty peony and shall not give up till I've won the joust with watercolor as my weapon.

Back to Versailles. The purpose of my afternoon trip was to explore the patisseries and the Notre-Dame marché. Maison Guinon was first on the list simply because it was closest - 60, rue de Paroisse, the main shopping street in Versaillesthat leads right up to the gardens.

There's a grandiosity to the shops and products in Versailles, as if at any moment they might get a rush take-out order to send up to the palais. Look! Another pretty ciel bleu. These heavenly painted ceilings seem to be reserved for patisseries and salon de the. So far I haven't seen them elsewhere..? Have you?

Very grande gateaux wouldn't you say?

One of the house specialties - le Courchevel. Vanilla cream-filled with crushed rasbperries and a crepe drapped on top.

Next up the rue at #44, rue de la Paroisse, Maison JC Gaulipeau is almost too grand to enter...

I suppose if one were riding horseback it would be easier to see...

Again tartes and gateaux fit for a queen!

Have you noticed the profusion of raspberries? I did.

In the marche Notre-Dame, a big square of surrounding buildings is the answer. These are REAL raspberries like the kind you picked as a kid and they taste real. Sweet and not at all uniform in size.

A typical fruitier in the marche - somehow more fabulous that ones I've seen in Paris but it could be me getting into the spirit of things, thinking suppose I were queen...

The marche has 4 main entrances and square itself is filled with venders as well. Clothing on Saturday..

Displays from a nearby epicerie makes me think of banquets, mountains of rare delicacies...

A piece montee in a window...

Do look up. You may see a harp in a window...

And hear Baroque music wafting by as you browse the gateaux...

More information on visiting the town of Versailles at Marjorie Williams.

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Peony or Ranunculus ?

The gauntlet has been thrown down (a metal glove worn by knights in the Middle Ages. When challenged to joust someone would throw down their glove). Name this flower PBers!

I bought this bunch of _____ at the marché Bastille Sunday for a mere 4€. Name the fleur!

Someone is getting a nice surprise...

Well that's how I read this bouquet of pinks and deep, dark red ----?

Hmmm...3 guesses?

OK, Trick question. Even I know this one! :)

At Giverny...loverly non?

Also at Giverny. Name the tune flower?

A week ago walking down rue Saint-Honore passing Hotel Oriental,

I was floored by this wallflower arrangement!!

Yesterday I passed by again and the - - - - - - - were out full blown!

What to drink with your peonies? A pretty Rose of course.

What to munch with your Rose? Mini madeleines framboise non?

And these very special dragee, the best from Sicily, Avola made by Adams. More Peonies to come.

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Anne Maisonneuve Boutique

It's been maybe 6 months since I visited the Anne Maisonneuve boutique, but almost everything I wear comes from here. This is necklace is my newest. Don't they look a little like macarons?

I fell hard for this new T-shirt design with varied splashes of green. It would have been perfect if I haven't been eating too many perfect Paris desserts...

Peony season is in full swing in Paris.

It's always peony season at Anne Maisonneuve's.

You can buy silk flower peonies

Or wear them on this one-of-a-kind bag.

A rose petal...sweet

A perfect peony T for summer..

I'm crazy for Anne's jewelry - she makes many of them herself. They add that much needed splash of color

I can't figure out why I left this back in NYC :(

Very tempting new Summer Ts. You won't find these in any other shop in Paris. Just at Anne's.

I did get this red dotty scarf. One has only so much resistance...

Head-to-toe outfits all figured out for you on the walls.

What to eat with Anne Maisonneuve's fun clothes?Why framboise of course, just coming into season in Paris marches fresh from the Limousin. Just don't eat them whilst wearing a WHITE T-shirt svp!

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