book review: "chic shopping paris"

I hope no one is tiring of my seemingly endless posts relating to Paris and France. I can't help it; I am smitten.

Today I'll review a wonderful book I picked up at the Prairie Lights bookstore in Iowa City. They had a table full of cookbooks and travel books on sale. You can imagine how long I toiled over this table. So many books to choose from! I picked up this great little book called Chic Shopping Paris.


The book features the author's bonnes addresses (a personal list of one's favorite shops) arranged by Parisian arrondissement. Paris is arranged into 20 neighborhoods, or arrondissements. Each has its own unique culture and shopping. For example, the 4th arrondissement is home to the Marais district, with a lively gay culture and the center of Paris's Jewish community. the 18th arrondissement, my favorite, is where Montmartre is located and known as the artists district.

This book contains lively descriptions and beautiful photographs, highlighting some of Paris's greatest shops. Each shop featured lists an address, nearest metro stop, phone number, hours, and website (if available). The book was published in 2008, so it may be somewhat outdated, but it makes a great coffee table book if nothing else. It's a handy size, easy to pack in a suitcase and carry in a purse. There is also an index in the back listing shops by type, making it convenient to find whatever you're looking for. Since it is a bit outdated, I would recommend looking the shops up online before visiting them.

While skimming Chic Shopping, I really noticed how specialized shopping can be in Paris. Astier de Villatte sells only rustic, white dinnerware. Causse sells only handmade gloves. Laguiole sells knives. La Petite Robe Noire focuses on "the little black dress". Alexandra Soifer is a store that sells only umbrellas. Cire Trudon is a candle shop that was once the royal purveyor of candles for Louis XVII. I could go on and on. Shop owners often pick one thing they do well and stick to it. It's an idea so far removed from the big box stores and concrete shopping malls that are part of the American culture. It feels distinctly European.

This book has reawakened my desire to go back to France. I recommend it to any lover of France, anyone traveling to Paris and anxious to shop, or those who are just addicted to shopping.

I just had to add some photos of the inside of the book to highlight the beautiful photography.

A two-page photo of the little black dress shop.

A children's shop.

And here's an example of the information provided for each shop.

a summer picnic in versailles

When I studied abroad to France a few years ago, I was surprised at some of the similarities between my culture and the French culture. One thing we have in common: picnics.


I was fortunate to be in Paris for Bastille Day, France's celebration of the storming of the Bastille prison, and a symbol of the beginning of modern France. Celebrations are much like our Independence Day festivities: parades, flags, firecrackers, and picnics. My French host lived in the town of Versailles, home of the famous Palace and an important site during the tumultuous years of the Revolution. I was invited to a barbecue picnic at his home on Bastille Day.

French picnics seem to be similar to the ones I am accustomed to in the United States. Our host grilled chicken, steaks, and lamb. His wife made vibrant chilled salads and vegetable sides. But what makes French picnics unique is the bread, cheese, and wine. An improvement, I'd say.

Everyone's favorite dish seemed to be a simple vegetable salad dressed with a tangy vinaigrette. I was too shy to ask for the recipe, but our host's wife did tell us that what made the salad so delicious was the addition of French mustard into the vinaigrette.

On the metro ride back to my dorm in Paris, I scribbled down the bare bones of the dish in my little notebook I always carry with me. When I arrived back in the States, I attempted to recreate the dish myself. It wasn't quite as delicious as I remember, but it turned out very similar.

It is a great summer salad--as all the vegetables are in season during the summer months--served alongside a good piece of grilled meat or fish. The key, I think, is to use a high quality French mustard, and to let the dressing marinate with the vegetables for a couple hours.

Bon Appetit!

Versailles Salad

INGREDIENTS:
2 cucumbers, roughly chopped
3 tomatoes, cut in small wedges
1 bag frozen corn, defrosted -- may substitute fresh grilled corn if desired
French mustard (Dijon works fine)
White wine or Champagne vinegar
Extra virgin olive oil
salt and fresh ground pepper

DIRECTIONS:
Whisk together the mustard, vinegar and oil to make a thin dressing. I never measure the amounts; I always just guess and adjust the ingredients as necessary. To make a rough guess, I would suggest starting with 1/3 cup oil, 3 tablespoons vinegar, and 1 teaspoon mustard, but work with it until you get the desired taste. Season with salt and pepper.

Arrange the chopped vegetables on a platter in rows: 1 row with tomatoes, 1 row with corn, 1 row with cucumbers. It should resemble the French flag, but in different colors. If this is too fussy for you, you can simply toss the veggies together in a bowl.

Pour the dressing over the vegetables and refrigerate for a couple hours. Serve cold. I recommend using a piece of crusty bread to soak up the leftover dressing.

did someone say vichyssoise?

It's no secret that I love all things French. But the problem with French food is that it can often be full of butter and cream and cheese. It is all so delicious, though--buttery croissants that flake apart in your mouth; warm, nutty chocolat au pain that dribbles chocolate down your chin when you take a bite; onion soup chock full of smoky sweet onions and crunchy toast with Swiss; and cool, creamy vichyssoise. No wonder Louis XVI was so portly in his later years.

Vichyssoise is a chilled soup made with potatoes, leeks, chicken stock, and of course, butter and cream. It's one of my favorites, but does no favors for the waistline. I found this great alternative online and it has become a family favorite. It's not a traditional vichyssoise by any means. I actually prefer this version served hot, but it's great cooled as well. This recipe serves 4 people and contains 7 grams of fat per serving and 265 calories.

Healthy-ish Potato and Leek Soup (Vichyssoise)

INGREDIENTS:
4 leeks, white parts only, well-cleaned and chopped
4 green onions, white parts chopped and green parts reserved
3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 lb. yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper (white pepper if you have it)

DIRECTIONS:
In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the leeks, green onion whites, and 1/2 cup of chicken stock. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until the vegetables are soft, about 8 minutes.

Add the diced potatoes and remaining chicken stock. Cover and cook until vegetables are very soft, about 20-25 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter until it melts. Leave standing without a cover for about 15 minutes, until slightly cooled.

Very carefully transfer the hot vegetable mixture to a blender and puree until very smooth. Do this in batches if needed. Season with salt and pepper.

If eating hot: Garnish with chopped green onion tops and serve in individual bowls.
If eating cold: Allow to cool to room temperature before refrigerating for 4+ hours. When ready to serve, taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Believe it or not, but when chilled, the seasoning can become less pronounced. Garnish with chopped green onion tops and serve in individual bowls.

Goes great with a slice of crusty French bread!