Part IV: What Does One Eat in Paris? La Cuisine Ethnique...

A Moroccan Tagine of Chicken and Sulatanas--there are so many restaurants that serve Moroccan and other North African fare in Paris.  Of course.

Part IV:  What Does One Eat in Paris?

La Cuisine Ethnique

by Victoria Challancin

Sacrilege!  As much as I adore classic French food, at some point when I am in Paris for a long stay, I need a respite from such heady fare as Escargot, Frog Legs, Confit of Duck, Rabbit Stew, Beef Tongue, and all the other readily available French dishes I love (see Parts I, II, and III of this series of posts for more info and photos).  Where do I turn?  If not to the snacks I wrote about in Part II, the Take-Away options I will soon address, or perhaps to "Chinatown" in the 13th arrondissement for a food romp through a variety of Oriental cuisines, then I go straight to some of my other favorite ethnic food haunts which dot the City in abundance.  

Couscous with Almonds and Cinnamon...perfectly prepared

Pizza...is it really "ethnique"?  Can the Napolitanos rightly claim it still?  Yes, but, admit it, this is one dish that has traveled the world and found a home in every cuisine.

A curried chicken pita?  Why not?

Penne Pasta with Gorgonzola Cream and Shaved Truffles...yum

Paella with dancing shrimp?  Sí, sí, como no...

A plate of falafel and hummus...I return to this dish, this restaurant, these flavors, over and over and over...

A Greek pita--cheap, filling, and always a good choice

A mezze plate from one of my favorite restaurants?  Yes, yes, yes--absolutely!  I promise to devote an entire post just to this restaurant and its tantalizing food...soon.

Interested in joining me and one of my small groups for 8 days in Paris?  Contact me at:

flavorsofthesun@gmail.com

Bon Appétit!

Fall Comes to Paris

A rain-kissed sidewalk with one fallen leaf in Versailles...

Fall Comes to Paris

by Victoria Challancin

To be in Paris in any season is magic, but when the seasons begin to change...well...it is sheer enchantment.  The first two photos were taken in the first eleven days of September, when I was in Paris leading a small group of traveling friends.  The next two, when the leaves truly were changing, were taken when I returned at the end of the month.  Magic.

Interested in visiting Paris with a small group on a custom-designed trip?  Contact me for details about my next trip:  

flavorsofthesun@gmail.com

Chestnuts.  I can almost smell them roasting.  I can almost feel the hot paper cone filled with freshly roasted chestnuts in my hand.

The leaves begin to turn...

Literally or figuratively, it is hard to get a perspective on how much the French love their art, but this photo, taken while standing in line for two hours waiting to get into the new Monet exhibit at the Grand Palais, may help little.

Fall leaves in front of the Archeological Crypt, a favorite museum, often missed by tourists

The beginning of Fall at Le Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinnette's favorite "peasant" haunt,  at Versailles...

Another view...le Petit Trianon

And finally, what better place to view the Autumn leaves than from a bike path...Beautiful Paris.  In any season.  Always a season of my heart.