tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40997515440126471642024-03-06T06:46:13.150+01:00Paris Paysanne: The BlogParis Paysanne is dedicated to finding local products, produce, wine, along with bonnes adresses that use all of the above.
Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-70054750235281903792012-10-08T12:19:00.001+02:002012-10-08T12:19:25.759+02:00Marché du Mois: Marché St. Eustache-Les Halles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItqTkV5FEUe-oKa_YL62BCvK4sgiL0dApYjZuxZUXFNdYdSiADN7GfiTRNOTktyz07urZgrBQqFARfCI82BCNpWK68VQakhIVhMr8Cnd0BqGgxjXNUoLK9vxIHZPXW8ETOiV9s2JtqyY/s1600/poissonerie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItqTkV5FEUe-oKa_YL62BCvK4sgiL0dApYjZuxZUXFNdYdSiADN7GfiTRNOTktyz07urZgrBQqFARfCI82BCNpWK68VQakhIVhMr8Cnd0BqGgxjXNUoLK9vxIHZPXW8ETOiV9s2JtqyY/s320/poissonerie.JPG" width="320" /></a>Marché St. Eustache-Les Halles is all that remains of what was once the site of the city's largest food market. Later replaced by Rungis, Les Halles was where chefs, store owners, and shoppers of all sorts came to stock up on fresh ingredients.<br />
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Whether you are attracted by the history of this marketplace, it's central location near the charming Montorgueil neighborhood, or the convenient hours it keeps, there are plenty of reasons to visit the vestiges of what once was Paris' primary food source.<br />
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It is worth noting that this market, along with a few others including <a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2012/07/marche-du-mois-marche-bourse.html" target="_blank">Marché Bourse</a> and <a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2011/07/marche-du-mois-marche-anvers.html" target="_blank">Marché Anvers</a>, is one of a small number of Parisian food markets that stays open late enough on a weekday for shoppers to stop by on their way home from work.<br />
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What remains of the market is hardly a fraction of its predecessor and, unfortunately, there is not a farmer in sight at any of the stands that line the rue Montmartre. However, the products on offer are mostly of French origin and predominately seasonal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zC1hWxrZflYVPoEMoi7VRnRZ6vfO3RFg-67IKmYhEQ9q1VX7yGhqhTMLw27-dclbdF56UzYfn8VWLQlRjiTxOJNfJs9fskqa7OwIx2epYtfNkNcrieRtsziFiUs9_85basELex1GRao/s1600/st+jacques.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zC1hWxrZflYVPoEMoi7VRnRZ6vfO3RFg-67IKmYhEQ9q1VX7yGhqhTMLw27-dclbdF56UzYfn8VWLQlRjiTxOJNfJs9fskqa7OwIx2epYtfNkNcrieRtsziFiUs9_85basELex1GRao/s320/st+jacques.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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French vegetables, chickens, and cheeses are for sale at various stands and the poissonerie was proudly displaying Coquilles St. Jacques (scallops), for which the fishing season opened on the 1st of October.<br />
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I was attracted by some heirloom veggies, including gorgeous purple "haricots verts" at a stand that was manned by a seller who knew his stuff. He instructed me how to prepare the "green" beans and then served me some lovely <i>cèpes </i>and told me what to do with those, too.<br />
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He bagged up my dinner ingredients as the smells of hot lunch wafted through the market stalls. Like most afternoon markets, Marché St. Eustache-Les Halles caters not only to forward-thinking shoppers who are getting the evening's groceries, but also those who seek instant gratification and some homemade ratatouille on their lunch break.<br />
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The majority of the produce at my chosen veggie stand seemed to come from France and the vendor's knowledge of each product implied an interest and investment in his profession. Doubting very much that he was actually the grower of the vegetables (the selection was too large and varied to come from one farmer), I decided to ask if he was a <i>producteur </i>anyway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJxnIvZ0uuCsIcj8L5vOzTAfZ12q5xBjsko6fdOljRVskowiTN7-Q-RVBr5cuxcdJZN97kI30jzhkHsn60guiqMhTwOgGZL8UDksdo3YUSbX25igCUAK-nwLtuv3FMaGCXM1qFLX_cJM/s1600/haricots+france.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJxnIvZ0uuCsIcj8L5vOzTAfZ12q5xBjsko6fdOljRVskowiTN7-Q-RVBr5cuxcdJZN97kI30jzhkHsn60guiqMhTwOgGZL8UDksdo3YUSbX25igCUAK-nwLtuv3FMaGCXM1qFLX_cJM/s320/haricots+france.jpg" width="239" /></a>"Mais non!" he responded, slightly offended. "How can you expect me to be the producer- I spend all my time at the markets!" Point taken. This is an unavoidable issue for the independent producers that we see at markets, who have to split their time and lengthen their days by being both grower & seller of their produce.<br />
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So while there are no local producers present at the Marché St. Eustache-Les Halles, it is still possibel to find French-grown food and quality products, all while enjoying a stroll around this truly charming neighborhood.<br />
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<b>Marché St. Eustache-Les Halles</b><br />
rue Montmartre, 75001<br />
m° Les Halles (line 4)<br />
Hours:<br />
Thursday: 12h30-20h30<br />
Sunday: 7h-15h<br />
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<br />Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-60089030295549279292012-10-04T20:32:00.000+02:002012-10-04T21:19:37.495+02:00Les jeudis de l'actualité: Terroir Parisien<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6fQ2KtH596AefWVcUTG1Dex_AxRqxosEU9Tax8yqbCNErIxDgH_J6yJhb6yZzrSZ9ReGm7QSZfKkv_1zAMqSQBEeXyPFolGPq6n7w71YbEjK-c06lmXPDLG1Gdal7VedcDk-cBZ3RNc/s1600/honey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6fQ2KtH596AefWVcUTG1Dex_AxRqxosEU9Tax8yqbCNErIxDgH_J6yJhb6yZzrSZ9ReGm7QSZfKkv_1zAMqSQBEeXyPFolGPq6n7w71YbEjK-c06lmXPDLG1Gdal7VedcDk-cBZ3RNc/s320/honey.JPG" width="320" /></a>As part of their series <a href="http://bibliotheques.activites.paris.fr/programme/index/pgrm/167" target="_blank">Les jeudis de l'actualité </a> the Paris library system brings together both experts and community members to debate and exchange ideas on a variety of provoking themes ("Does my brain have a gender?" and "Why should I vote?" are a few of the upcoming themes that can be found in the program).<br />
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Today it was the library of the 1st arrondissement's Town Hall's turn to host their own "actualité" event entitled. The theme was "Saveurs d'aujourd'hui: Le Terroir Parisien" and the afternoon promised presentations from two guest speakers with intimate knowledge of made-in-Paris products.<br />
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Myself and a small group of mostly retired Parisians gathered in the Town Hall's <i>salle des mariages </i> to listen to what guest speakers Nicolas Géant and Vincent Lisiak had to tell us about our cities own treasures: wine and honey.<br />
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Mr. Lisiak is the caretaker of Monmartre's small but infamous parcel of land that is home to some 2,000 vines. Planted between 1929 and 1933, the vines have survived the test of time and still yield a small but exploitable <i>récolte</i> which is pressed in the basement of the 18th Arrondisement's Town Hall.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglAcgXpJyDeTIbrju5tNLsHVPR0nKas_vDwqE73jlvjVbflc_5r9nSI2E-G_IeJqJQDuAeBFdIHJ0gKsDq9vdb1S4cOSAg5ds5MY7Kh3H5y9_l2JTsbvkv1IE_3YMxkqQ2JMkoX1slCI/s1600/lisiak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglAcgXpJyDeTIbrju5tNLsHVPR0nKas_vDwqE73jlvjVbflc_5r9nSI2E-G_IeJqJQDuAeBFdIHJ0gKsDq9vdb1S4cOSAg5ds5MY7Kh3H5y9_l2JTsbvkv1IE_3YMxkqQ2JMkoX1slCI/s320/lisiak.jpg" width="239" /></a>The vines are made up of 60 % pinot noir as well as a mixture of hybrids that have been gifted to the vineyard over the years. Oftentimes these <i>cépages </i>were offered by visiting wine makers on the occasion of the yearly <a href="http://fdvm.wsi-web-experts.fr/" target="_blank">Fête des Vendanges</a> which has been held every October for the past 78 years.<br />
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As the day of celebrating the yield of Paris' oldest vines is upon us, Mr. Lisiak seemed optimistic about the future, both near and far. "These vines have an old history," he explained to the audience, "with a long future ahead of them".<br />
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The wine, which Lisiak himself described as having a reputation of being "the worst and most expensive in the world" has no pretensions of critical acclaim or world domination. However, the modest and realistic Lisiak has two major goals in mind for the future of his vines: to obtain organic certification at the end of the 3 year required waiting period and to maintain the living history of the vines and assure that the terrain will never cede ground to urban expansion, remaining forever an <i>espace verte</i> for Parisiens to enjoy.<br />
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Nicolas Géant, the keeper of over 100 beehives in Paris, has been subtly expanding over the city himself. His beehives<i>,</i> which are spread all around the city, call such <i>chic </i>addresses as <i>Luis Vuitton </i>and <i>Opera Garnier</i> home. Situated on the rooftops of buildings across the capital, these <i>ruches</i> are filled with thousands of bees harvesting from flowers found in the gardens, parks, and balconies that populate the city.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8oSbQZYOKX7oGaBBnT97-bjnd1bHHUxttAErEWO2e91V2UPKkM3zFXVO6N0w-DCLnL1H8-8qxvB2Kv2jVLuPUkG95Jjg704xGShig4nKIykGI7ocftOKzhGxXe8ZAffxRnUntSu0VV4/s1600/geant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8oSbQZYOKX7oGaBBnT97-bjnd1bHHUxttAErEWO2e91V2UPKkM3zFXVO6N0w-DCLnL1H8-8qxvB2Kv2jVLuPUkG95Jjg704xGShig4nKIykGI7ocftOKzhGxXe8ZAffxRnUntSu0VV4/s320/geant.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
Mr. Géant gave us a lesson on why bees thrive so well in an urban environment, sometimes even more so than in the countryside. One reason is the biodiversity found in cities. Géant explained that he has found traces in his honey of not only the ubiquitous acacia trees that we see around the city, but also orange and lemon trees, which Parisiens will often plant on their balconies and terraces, unknowingly enriching not only their scenery, but the diet of city bees.<br />
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"Bees are pretty happy in cities" Géant affirmed, "it would be great if we could say the same for bees in the countryside."<br />
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The biggest threat to country bees is effectively the opposite of biodiversity- what Géant and his colleagues call "les déserts verts", or green deserts, where farmers grown monoculture crops of only wheat, corn, soy, etc. and thus an unstimulating environment for bees.<br />
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Paris proves to be an ideal location for <i>abeilles</i> to thrive, with hives producing anywhere between 30-80 kilos a year, depending on weather conditions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbAPDhCBeMHkBKYLyLY9VoryHwj8qt9lvrcQ4BDq3BLP8F7bj262QAdlgXoMDqddtj7Df2cNgQxITIhMudvJ2L3ZoEapweTmmEGIe5C0wG0PakfTZNaMl3_Gkl6uOq_y0AVmFYh6BcKI/s1600/monmartre+wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbAPDhCBeMHkBKYLyLY9VoryHwj8qt9lvrcQ4BDq3BLP8F7bj262QAdlgXoMDqddtj7Df2cNgQxITIhMudvJ2L3ZoEapweTmmEGIe5C0wG0PakfTZNaMl3_Gkl6uOq_y0AVmFYh6BcKI/s320/monmartre+wine.jpg" width="239" /></a>Both Géant and Lisiak suffered less than ideal weather for both their crops this year but as they would readily admit <i>c'est la vie</i>. Despite a small harvest in 2012 there were plenty of samples of their Parisian products to go around. After the presentation we shared spoonfuls of honey and slices of <i>pain d'épice.</i><br />
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Lisiak had generously brought some bottles of Montmartre's own <i>cru</i>, which our little group was lucky enough to taste and become part of a small minority who can say they have tasted the <i>vin de Montmartre. </i>The wine, as Lisiak had warned us earlier, can be a bit overwhelming at first- but so can Paris, so we were ready for it!<br />
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If you're interested in buying and tasting products from Paris and all around France, be sure not to miss the <a href="http://fetedesvendangesdemontmartre.com/" target="_blank">Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre</a> this unique festival is one of my favorite Paris events and I highly recommend checking it out, Oct. 10-14th. <br />
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<br />Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-75141026904557438492012-09-18T20:23:00.004+02:002012-09-25T19:58:43.649+02:00Marché du Mois: Marché Mouton-Duvernet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEdaIlZdvjRHt8MYuDkbC0_TBra0sITqBhYwyR3ikwlVxXf48_aVftmnxBpFZDZX0oKsbR5rwmBrTpILH_FYN3t2wXnIVpNu5hMqq1SBuTCOdv1HkygfiwLYCBMWU5Gg-d3OC0scTb4U/s1600/100+bio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEdaIlZdvjRHt8MYuDkbC0_TBra0sITqBhYwyR3ikwlVxXf48_aVftmnxBpFZDZX0oKsbR5rwmBrTpILH_FYN3t2wXnIVpNu5hMqq1SBuTCOdv1HkygfiwLYCBMWU5Gg-d3OC0scTb4U/s320/100+bio.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I love all things Autumnal and the Indian Summer that Paris has been enjoying as the days of vacationing come to a close has made the seasonal transition that much more enjoyable. In the markets, vestiges of Summer are present in basil, squash, and green beans while cabbage, carrots, and leeks sneak their way onto center stage.<br />
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Tucked away on a tree-lined square in the 14th arrondissement, the Marché Mouton-Duvernet is an ideal market to explore on an Autumn day. The market is small, but packs a lot in for the quaint space it occupies. Flower vendors are disproportionately present, but they cede space to other vendors (a jewelry maker and even a traveling book shop counts itself one of the Mouton-Duvernet market community).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavvqEYjeAhpnKpd3G9kiCmyynHJNV84iaXn1Ov1idvN2jhTe7FhHv-RTu4bCBFmlbCdxX5NmTrEoj4GkSv_apVQzGWPbBnk5M7xKJhZ2hzRjDbgWq962w_E8YiG3nfVOo2oAhUjuqT-w/s1600/citron+non+traites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavvqEYjeAhpnKpd3G9kiCmyynHJNV84iaXn1Ov1idvN2jhTe7FhHv-RTu4bCBFmlbCdxX5NmTrEoj4GkSv_apVQzGWPbBnk5M7xKJhZ2hzRjDbgWq962w_E8YiG3nfVOo2oAhUjuqT-w/s320/citron+non+traites.jpg" width="239" /></a>The majority of the veggie stands at Marché Mouton-Duvernet resemble each other in that they offer squeaky-clean and seasonally out-of-place products. The cheese and fish vendors are alike in that there is no clear attachment to local sources or sustainable practices, although one particular <i>fromagerie </i>did emanate that unmistakably fermented aroma that reminds you you are, indeed, in France and couldn't possibly be anywhere else.<br />
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"I'm going for a beer", I heard from a man sitting at a vegetable stand tucked away in the corner of the market. Deciding that a quarter to 12 was 5 o'clock somewhere, the man stood from his folding chair where he was a behind-the-scenes audience to the market's only independent producer, Eric Credard.<br />
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Credard's stand was a refreshing mix of all things seasonal including a selection of lemons that were proudly marked as "<i>non traité</i>", or untreated, "You can use the whole thing!" he told me as he bagged a handful of lemons for me and pointed out that being organic, I could feel free to enjoy the entire<i> citron </i>from zest to <i>jus. </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0q3QQ7tRQATWmVwKPSk-uw92NbdUleAxMNQwsdpL3965Hid93VmDjIxZUiUJcYuMAYrdx8mTEReP9g4EAb5ZsmTZ0XDGuDPcvLhjTfUci9fSqpWEuGkezwGJE8YDbEgsbILyJNjzcEc0/s1600/cave+des+papilles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0q3QQ7tRQATWmVwKPSk-uw92NbdUleAxMNQwsdpL3965Hid93VmDjIxZUiUJcYuMAYrdx8mTEReP9g4EAb5ZsmTZ0XDGuDPcvLhjTfUci9fSqpWEuGkezwGJE8YDbEgsbILyJNjzcEc0/s320/cave+des+papilles.jpg" width="239" /></a>Credard's neighbor is sells produce that is "100% Bio" and includes a selection that complements what you may not find at Mr. Credard's stand. Here the majority of the products keep with the season and the two vendors ensemble make for a cosy corner of veggie goodness.<br />
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Another advantage of the Marché Mouton-Duvernet- and an argument for making the trip there if you don't live in the neighborhood- is its proximity to <a href="http://www.lacavedespapilles.com/La_Cave_des_Papilles/La_Cave.html" target="_blank">La Cave des Papilles</a> , one of my favorite natural wine stores, where the entire selection is hand picked and chosen based on relationships with independent, authentic natural wine producers- who use little to no sulfites and take the concept of <i>vin naturel</i> very seriously.<br />
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Among the many choices of wine you will find at <i>La Cave des Papilles</i> (including magnums of natural wine starting at 40€- awesome), you will find <i>La Lunotte </i>one of my favorite discoveries from a recent <a href="http://ecosalon.com/discovering-the-vins-naturels-of-frances-loire-valley/" target="_blank">trip to the Loire Valley</a>.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Marché Mouton-Duvernet</span></b></span></div>
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Place Jacques Demy, 75014</div>
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m° Mouton Duvernet (line 4)</div>
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Tuesday & Friday: 7h-14h30</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">La Cave des Papilles</span></b></div>
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35 rue Daguerre, 75014</div>
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m° Denfert-Rochereau</div>
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Tuesday-Friday: 10h-13h30 & 15h30-20h30</div>
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Saturday: 10h-20h30</div>
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Sunday: 10h-13h30</div>
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Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-15564599572225202382012-09-18T19:06:00.001+02:002012-09-18T19:09:01.779+02:00This Thursday @ Verjus: The Great Kale Unveil<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhNUArqc7AFgw75CHPi1taxJaGQw0U4lcglL3TYk2p03yB1-DTNxf0iTedRqI1S9XDnlqRma136_ovxDYS1yZnAbYye0bOiB2HnUtvlmSNgPzy79t3pFZDYpFAufX0hgRI1WFmMULKSI/s1600/kaleproject_verjusinvite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhNUArqc7AFgw75CHPi1taxJaGQw0U4lcglL3TYk2p03yB1-DTNxf0iTedRqI1S9XDnlqRma136_ovxDYS1yZnAbYye0bOiB2HnUtvlmSNgPzy79t3pFZDYpFAufX0hgRI1WFmMULKSI/s640/kaleproject_verjusinvite.jpg" width="640" /></a>Save the date- this Thursday Parisians will have the opportunity to meet the newest veggie on the block. Adored by anglophones and peaking interest amongst natives, kale will make its official début appearance on the Paris dining scene, starring in a dish specially crafted for the occasion by chef Braden Perkins.<br />
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Perkin's and Laura Adrian's restaurant and wine bar, <a href="http://www.verjusparis.com/" target="_blank">Verjus</a> , will play host to the great kale unveil which was inspired by, and organized with, Kristen of <a href="http://thekaleproject.com/" target="_blank">The Kale Project</a>. </div>
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Lovers of kale, and the kale-curious, are welcome to join for a taste of this lovely leafy green accompanied with a glass of wine and good company! Hope to see you there!</div>
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Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-78682257234026101652012-09-13T15:03:00.002+02:002012-09-13T15:09:00.843+02:00Vegan Folie's: Organic! Vegan! Local! Cupcakes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO7HOr6L8TVL7cNb5boRQpNsK4x4QpIcEBUBYxviYW1HrBPpFy3ydvvlPn9SGUX0BxsEZycXnFxxHNcRZxJY7JDCyUdaB_uJyIZh2vCyT-6z59XC7v3MY0zLVsWZyQyiwTYF4_iGgdNA/s1600/outside.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO7HOr6L8TVL7cNb5boRQpNsK4x4QpIcEBUBYxviYW1HrBPpFy3ydvvlPn9SGUX0BxsEZycXnFxxHNcRZxJY7JDCyUdaB_uJyIZh2vCyT-6z59XC7v3MY0zLVsWZyQyiwTYF4_iGgdNA/s320/outside.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I can't think of a cheerier way to commemorate an otherwise rough rentrée than with adorably named (Choc Norris? Sid Delicious?) and organically baked vegan cupcakes!<br />
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<a href="http://veganfolies.fr/" target="_blank">Vegan Folie's</a> , which has been serving Paris' Mouffetard neighborhood since December, uses local flour and organic ingredients to create a variety of baked goods, including cheesecake, brownies, cookies, and of course cupcakes.<br />
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All ingredients are 100% vegan- even the cleaning products used in the kitchen are non-animal tested and vegan certified- which makes this place a must for vegans and animal activists of all sorts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQNASCJb3a8y77d9endnNWsHl_9UFqnlwllyVQORgsmjrf5PDERfuUu5Ujl2iK1iH9q6HDmEjH75uB2pL-u1W_zTHBYIFkujOfDaNXw16nJcjVOw1TFy1HazWffJWqJwtw5oB-5FShyphenhyphenY/s1600/cupcakes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQNASCJb3a8y77d9endnNWsHl_9UFqnlwllyVQORgsmjrf5PDERfuUu5Ujl2iK1iH9q6HDmEjH75uB2pL-u1W_zTHBYIFkujOfDaNXw16nJcjVOw1TFy1HazWffJWqJwtw5oB-5FShyphenhyphenY/s320/cupcakes.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
But Vegan Folie's isn't only for the veggie-minded- the bakery serves a wide range of clients from the lactose intolerant to the veggie curious, from neighborhood kids to dessert seeking tourists. Their creative cupcake varieties, include blends of apricot & lavender, ginger & lemon, vanilla & almonds and, obviously, chocolate & more chocolate (an organic version of Nutella, actually). Every day the bakery is host to a "Cupcake du Jour"- follow their <a href="http://veganfolies.fr/le-blog/" target="_blank">blog</a> for updates on the daily special.<br />
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The bakery also puts a new spin on cupcakes (as if being the only vegan cupcake shop in Paris didn't already distinguish them) introducing savory cakes such as "L'Italien" a basil cake with sun-dried tomato frosting and "Le Libanais" which is a falafel cake with hummus frosting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUujpOUOI5N2R0sASs9e3TfLOREHlMTPjLb03LB8AsKaoTcPMIJaYHYyHm0O_ZKx4Y_ep5fB86nJ0PfVgOlFGYYgIDHck8j5ZvXzNcHji0Sw4Jaf7j8vVQb9W3qtl26NZ5AwyAClR3hA/s1600/choc+norris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUujpOUOI5N2R0sASs9e3TfLOREHlMTPjLb03LB8AsKaoTcPMIJaYHYyHm0O_ZKx4Y_ep5fB86nJ0PfVgOlFGYYgIDHck8j5ZvXzNcHji0Sw4Jaf7j8vVQb9W3qtl26NZ5AwyAClR3hA/s320/choc+norris.jpg" width="238" /></a>Cupcakes are priced at 4€/each, with the 6th cupcake free if you're ready to buy bulk. The bakery can also do personalized cupcakes or larger orders if you contact them in advance- all the information is on their <a href="http://veganfolies.fr/" target="_blank">website</a>.<br />
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<b>Vegan Folie's </b><br />
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53 rue Mouffetard<br />
75005 Paris<br />
m° Monge<br />
Hours:<br />
Tuesday-Sunday 11h-20hParis Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-30209878422336394892012-07-14T12:59:00.003+02:002012-09-25T19:59:01.500+02:00Marché du Mois: Marché Bourse<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hRjZF3u7hyphenhyphensENQxLM9i6u16kYLRFCWM65K41sGDj4XavfnVO7ADKYyVjk97_VYYAv2NVCeYj7SF3EBNdw6VcYVXeN5rP7neMDEbAoh17DERhJpd0eaudAf9574kh_Kypgn9d1olmFmA/s1600/marche.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hRjZF3u7hyphenhyphensENQxLM9i6u16kYLRFCWM65K41sGDj4XavfnVO7ADKYyVjk97_VYYAv2NVCeYj7SF3EBNdw6VcYVXeN5rP7neMDEbAoh17DERhJpd0eaudAf9574kh_Kypgn9d1olmFmA/s320/marche.JPG" width="320" /></a>Located in front of the palace-turned-convention-center, Palais Brongniart, the small agglomeration of tents that makes up the Marché Bourse serves the surrounding community of bankers and business people who gather at Place Bourse for their <i>pause déjeuner</i>.<br />
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Marché Bourse is one of the few markets that is open in the afternoon (along with <a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2011/07/marche-du-mois-marche-anvers.html" target="_blank">Marché Anvers</a>, Marché Baudoyer, and Marché Bercy) allowing short lunch breaks and late nights at the office to be rewarded with a hot lunch and a selection of <i>bio</i> wines.<br />
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Open until 20h30, Marché Bourse is a good market to keep in mind if you, like me, have a hard time making it to the morning markets.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumrGoxJAVhaGAWxWHEbMVbAbDuXraBiSZRsMD58LGPg9HZyA4ff-pYxs6binmBcJfSqySUtpPOqDEfC1rc8ZEeFDCIes2JFLpBoXHBtxXX5QuCeg4-wPVyhYFQIP2JzUc9ztEQhlqwgE/s1600/bricks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumrGoxJAVhaGAWxWHEbMVbAbDuXraBiSZRsMD58LGPg9HZyA4ff-pYxs6binmBcJfSqySUtpPOqDEfC1rc8ZEeFDCIes2JFLpBoXHBtxXX5QuCeg4-wPVyhYFQIP2JzUc9ztEQhlqwgE/s320/bricks.JPG" width="320" /></a>The market stands mostly offer hot meal options served to go (no seating area is provided for market-goers). A variety of international options, such as Indian curries and Moroccan <i>bricks</i> and sandwiches are available to stoppers-by. Vegetarian options are limited as are organic ingredients (the veggie-friendly <a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2012/03/bio-burger-welcome-addition-to-paris.html" target="_blank">Bio Burger</a> is a short walk away for hungry herbivores).<br />
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While I was disappointed to see that at at <i>Marché Bourse </i>fresh fish and veggies were limited to one stand each, both offering industrial-looking products, I was thrilled to find that the market has a <i>caviste </i>who specializes in organic wines made by independent producers.<br />
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Since naturel wines are my current obsession, I went directly to this vendor (who advertises his English speaking skills and I'm sure is happy to chat with foreigners and the French alike) and chatted with him about the various vintages he had for sale.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqO9q3ShwPOw5PLskop989iahcooSBvQMu6jzmZL1nBYaBAFUpo4D-YlzgaTb1m1696OOyEEb9Kd0vdPrWKs_etBUiMvNbthfd1XydKKApHUpWPM8dfVFFu-Ws-7UJRyrh9sek1dosdJM/s1600/wines.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqO9q3ShwPOw5PLskop989iahcooSBvQMu6jzmZL1nBYaBAFUpo4D-YlzgaTb1m1696OOyEEb9Kd0vdPrWKs_etBUiMvNbthfd1XydKKApHUpWPM8dfVFFu-Ws-7UJRyrh9sek1dosdJM/s320/wines.JPG" width="320" /></a>Of all the bottles, he showed me three that were low-sulfite natural wine options (I ended up deciding on a Sauvignon from the Touraine region for €8,50).<br />
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Working closely with small vineyards, this vendor develops a relationship with the producers and hand picks a selection of quality wines to bring to market. This relationship is important to take into account when it comes to "natural wines" as the term is a wide umbrella for various methods of wine-making and only a knowledge of the producer and his or her winemaking process will guarantee that your wine is truly <i>au naturel</i>.<br />
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A concentrated yet quality selection of wines from many French regions is offered at this stand, with three different bottles open and available for tasting. These bottles rotate every week, and the friendly vendor suggested I visit him next week to do a more extensive tasting of his <i>vins naturels</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDB9mSIqu8o-E0eGbmmwJb1I0k3cnUDPNUL43R0_oqvLIjid3khzqQDgFjmFkbanKlE9W5itQDpTWAT_yzcANbMzTLw6gFUIeI5AIm9bawWaJK-3Ookcs-jUjnaCcISYQP3L0aa1mIVcQ/s1600/wine+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDB9mSIqu8o-E0eGbmmwJb1I0k3cnUDPNUL43R0_oqvLIjid3khzqQDgFjmFkbanKlE9W5itQDpTWAT_yzcANbMzTLw6gFUIeI5AIm9bawWaJK-3Ookcs-jUjnaCcISYQP3L0aa1mIVcQ/s320/wine+sign.jpg" width="239" /></a>This particular wine stand makes the Marché Bourse worth a visit. Weather on your way to an <i>apèro</i> and in need of a bottle to go, or after a nice lie-in and an afternoon stroll down to the market for a wine cellar restock, <i>Marché Bourse</i> is open for business.<br />
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<b>Marché Bourse</b><br />
Place de la Bourse<br />
75002<br />
m° Bourse (line 3)<br />
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Hours:<br />
Tuesday 12h30-20h30<br />
Friday 12h30-20h30<br />
<br />Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-59100760914661924572012-06-27T14:50:00.002+02:002012-06-27T14:54:47.228+02:00Yoga Concept: Bringing Ethical & Stylish Sportswear to Paris<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhu7b7oyMlY8HSg1If7GLfURSfPA19GijKYuW21q785tHESPGe8fXg7aApy5uIqbZxAuVYcz1KlU5JDO7MHyrIjqGHFvNl_IM2zut1QMYDxZ7z5s7aNdd5E5y0sqekVFSrukdXaiXqWg0/s1600/storefront.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhu7b7oyMlY8HSg1If7GLfURSfPA19GijKYuW21q785tHESPGe8fXg7aApy5uIqbZxAuVYcz1KlU5JDO7MHyrIjqGHFvNl_IM2zut1QMYDxZ7z5s7aNdd5E5y0sqekVFSrukdXaiXqWg0/s320/storefront.JPG" width="320" /></a>I'm a sucker for stories about people who leave their day jobs to take on an entirely new challenge, especially when their project coincides with their passions and adheres to ethical standards of business. This is why ex-lawyer turned shop owner Pamela Levy's story puts a big smile on my face.<br />
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Levy opened her store, <a href="http://www.yogaconcept.com/index.html-en" target="_blank">Yoga Concept</a>, online at first and has now set up shop in the charming 3rd arrondissement of Paris.<br />
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The store is stocked with the highest quality of yoga wear and accessories, with all but a few brands being made in the USA or Canada with recycled or organic cotton and bamboo.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkKyEPPNFxMV6bB0dgMMVHQ2xErpsC5P02evTmonJWbTcBdmtQ854JZEiPRrIA26BFMdNvDrgiEMHlbBrWqiXcqY9bHd8j_W3qnPXzHSG3DiCxWscQMJ6FDgCkKGlj3WCJJPO9MtPCrE/s1600/IMG_2720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkKyEPPNFxMV6bB0dgMMVHQ2xErpsC5P02evTmonJWbTcBdmtQ854JZEiPRrIA26BFMdNvDrgiEMHlbBrWqiXcqY9bHd8j_W3qnPXzHSG3DiCxWscQMJ6FDgCkKGlj3WCJJPO9MtPCrE/s320/IMG_2720.JPG" width="320" /></a>Pamela is dedicated to bringing quality, durable, and stylish sportswear to a city where sneakers and sweats are very much not <i>à la mode</i>. Offering an alternative to your boyfriend's old t-shirts and poor-quality sportswear from chain stores, Yoga Concept showcases clothing that is made to withstand yoga stretches and can also be worn on the street.<br />
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While an unwritten social code in Paris seems to prohibit sauntering around town in Spandex, the articles that Levy has hand-picked for her store provide the perfect loophole for anyone wanting to live on the edge and actually walk to the gym- or yoga studio- <i>in their gym clothes</i>.<br />
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The recycled cotton t-shirts & tanks are super soft and lush to the touch, and the leggings and pants & top combos are examples of some super serious engineering, cut to fit just right and sewn to last through a million down facing dogs.<br />
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If you're looking for a gift for the yogi in your life, Yoga Concept also stocks items that make thoughtful presents for the under-pressure urbanite. Lavender eye pillows, scented candles, and Ayurvedic oils are perfect enablers for a moment of respite in the middle of a busy day.<br />
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At Yoga Concept you can also find everything you need for a yoga class, including mats (made from recycled rubber & cotton), bolsters, blocks, and bags-but the biggest treasure you'll find at Yoga Concept is Pamela Levy, a rich resource of all things yoga. With her store she has created a hub & headquarters for yoga-files to learn more about the local yoga scene.<br />
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Both an engaged participant in the Parisian yoga culture as well as an impartial observer, Levy can advise both novices and veterans as to where they can find the best studios and teachers for their yoga needs. She is also tapped into the "underground yoga scene" which is probably as cool as it sounds- but you'll have to head to Yoga Concept to find out!<br />
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<b>Yoga Concept</b><br />
123 rue de Turenne<br />
75003 Paris<br />
m° Filles du Calvaire (line 8)<br />
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<b>Hours:</b><br />
Tues-Sat, 10h30-19hParis Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-8010404135446233002012-06-21T17:06:00.000+02:002012-06-21T17:08:57.883+02:00Artisanal America: Bags That Were Born in the USA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo531hB8AF87XbtJfCp24uBdkQbEHP2NUUKCGbiaC_r3uj9AliCtYAo9kklro4FpykQNNRdMDdfe9MmDd_EIWCF07pTnCwPh9DKXklpC7R3yUZAsIN5Ix_Z6SdoOjhoZHH3qP9WB6ObR8/s1600/LAngley+model.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo531hB8AF87XbtJfCp24uBdkQbEHP2NUUKCGbiaC_r3uj9AliCtYAo9kklro4FpykQNNRdMDdfe9MmDd_EIWCF07pTnCwPh9DKXklpC7R3yUZAsIN5Ix_Z6SdoOjhoZHH3qP9WB6ObR8/s320/LAngley+model.jpg" width="320" /></a>As a thunderstorm rumbles outside, announcing the arrival of another poor excuse for a Parisian Summer, I am compelled to pack a suitcase and take off for my homeland- where seasons seemed to synch up with my expectations in such a satisfactory way.<br />
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You can't change the weather, but you can always attempt to escape it- and my rose-colored vision of Summers in the US makes the motherland seem like a perfect asylum from this crumby continental weather. Which is why I'm counting down the days until I get back on my native land this August.<br />
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I know I won't be able to bring back any sunshine in my bags once the holiday is over, but I will be making some space for happy <i>souvenirs</i> and maybe even some extra carry-ons to contain them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOesIJ-MsRP2mRJn5tfeE9_iPUgPXQZrDS0mBsBh-11WLPq9LCaYoj8O5QL_B7rWvO_6evCMYq-B3vXAF2baWIG6kB0muCGrI1cDPpdxPfXF2Dp06UxkgmH1OFj4JkZsYlXczPwBzGqe4/s1600/Chester+Wallace+Bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOesIJ-MsRP2mRJn5tfeE9_iPUgPXQZrDS0mBsBh-11WLPq9LCaYoj8O5QL_B7rWvO_6evCMYq-B3vXAF2baWIG6kB0muCGrI1cDPpdxPfXF2Dp06UxkgmH1OFj4JkZsYlXczPwBzGqe4/s320/Chester+Wallace+Bag.jpg" width="224" /></a>The Made-in-America bag scene seems to be booming Stateside at the moment, with those privy to the new fad sporting handmade <i>sacs</i> from every corner of the country.<br />
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I first noticed the trend while reporting on the <a href="http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2012/04/25/paris-kicks-off-week-long-keep-portland-weird-festival" target="_blank">Keep Portland Weird</a> festival when Portland bands and fans convened at the Gaîté Lyrique in April.<br />
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At the concerts and various events, I noticed proud Portlanders rocking <a href="http://chesterwallace.com/" target="_blank">Chester Wallace</a> bags, which are made in Portland by Portlanders. The waterproof bags are made out of waxed cotton and a sturdy adjustable strap.<br />
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Chester Wallace bags are touted as being the perfect parcel for carrying six packs across town while biking to a house party, making the City of Roses' obsession with the brand pretty logical.<br />
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Chester Wallace bags come in various colors and start at about 150 USD. You can buy them <a href="http://chesterwallace.com/index.php?/bags/greyshop/" target="_blank">online</a> or at selected stores in <a href="http://www.projectno8.com/t/creators/chester-wallace/" target="_blank">New York</a> and <a href="http://www.shopstandingup.us/indexhibit/index.php?/objects/chester-wallace-bags/" target="_blank">Portland</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZpAsZyE8xw1xr1TDCk5ee5KjyQggvbQd41cKoTMzkwPkY1luVEKbEY5C8WgiTnJk10Q6ztkuqHguRCBU0EpdC5LfeOglKjD10Cvt20raF_72ljzDl_0bPU4t1bDc8243Kutz88TvhUY/s1600/Rabbitneck+Bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZpAsZyE8xw1xr1TDCk5ee5KjyQggvbQd41cKoTMzkwPkY1luVEKbEY5C8WgiTnJk10Q6ztkuqHguRCBU0EpdC5LfeOglKjD10Cvt20raF_72ljzDl_0bPU4t1bDc8243Kutz88TvhUY/s200/Rabbitneck+Bag.jpg" width="121" /></a>If you're looking for something a little classier than a canvas beer-toting bag, check out Brooklyn-based leather workers <a href="http://www.rabbitneckanddotty.com/index.php?task=aboutus" target="_blank">Rabbitneck + Dotty</a>. Graphic design and fashion fuse to create their line of original handbags whose designs include repurposed drawer pulls, lighting fixtures, and other unexpected bits of hardware.<br />
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Keeping it classy, the Rabbitneck & Dotty design team coat all hardware in 16k gold which accents the European-bought leather used to make their line of bags, belts, and wallets. Prices vary and orders can be placed online via their website or at their <a href="http://www.rabbitneckanddotty.com/index.php?task=retailers" target="_blank">store</a> in Brooklyn.<br />
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For the international traveler whose trek requires a bag of both stellar form and function, <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/evanlane/langly-camera-bags-fashion-function" target="_blank">Langly Camera Bags</a> are the perfect fit. Evan Lane, the bag's creator, sites a desire to make something that is "functional but also fashionable" as the inspiration behind this craftily conceived bag.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPh8fo_GJ9Q4nerhR1JFltEmMRPDWYvZovWhPLRxazhS63UiMgTeyvRbGbyyBgiHuhAlI-4K415qeh8fxJGSbCBofJvMbzoiB8S1Km_bW4hHgYmKoHEW4q0UtUaIdiYBRZ9N4lHcVt88/s1600/Langley+computer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPh8fo_GJ9Q4nerhR1JFltEmMRPDWYvZovWhPLRxazhS63UiMgTeyvRbGbyyBgiHuhAlI-4K415qeh8fxJGSbCBofJvMbzoiB8S1Km_bW4hHgYmKoHEW4q0UtUaIdiYBRZ9N4lHcVt88/s320/Langley+computer.jpg" width="213" /></a>Having a camera doesn't have to make you look/feel like a tourist and this pitfall of documenting your travel will be entirely avoided if you've got a Langly bag on your back. The California-made backpack has got you covered- with ample space for your camera, lenses, and even a special slot for your laptop.<br />
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Head to the brand's <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/evanlane/langly-camera-bags-fashion-function" target="_blank">Kickstarter page</a> and pledge to support the project. A pledge of 160 USD will get you you're very own Langly bag and pledges of various amounts will get you all kinds of other Langly-related goodies.<br />
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So whether you are in the US, or just wish you were, there are tons of ways to support the local, burgeoning bag-makers movement and score an awesome accessory to go with your Summer memories!<br />
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<br />Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-31910173720511114432012-06-13T16:36:00.002+02:002012-06-13T16:36:53.043+02:00Absolution: Organic cosmetics made in France<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLagrAe04SOetg9ttU1aXNrN1gP47oSmxkjfemcMSCjt_z4p3waqpAumHB2lnQNu9fYDksEgeTcL2Pik2SWr-8Lj61MRlylAGZte306-UDuuEJ6BTKLye5g1_DnRGxt39WjpWjmgOG1UQ/s1600/CREME_JOURFEMME.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLagrAe04SOetg9ttU1aXNrN1gP47oSmxkjfemcMSCjt_z4p3waqpAumHB2lnQNu9fYDksEgeTcL2Pik2SWr-8Lj61MRlylAGZte306-UDuuEJ6BTKLye5g1_DnRGxt39WjpWjmgOG1UQ/s200/CREME_JOURFEMME.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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My article on Paris Spas in the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/emily-dilling/paris-salon-beaute-soin-printemps_b_1509215.html" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"> introduced me to a ton of great spots to relax and recharge in the city. One of my favorite discoveries was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.lechappee.com/" target="_blank">l'Echappée Spa</a>, where weary urbanites can tuck away and enjoy a heated swimming pool and a full-service hammam along with the gamut of traditional spa services.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">L</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">'Echappée Spa provided a window into the world of respite that is available to over-worked Parisians, as well as a doorway to a new discovery: the French-made cosmetic brand <a href="http://www.absolution-cosmetics.com/" target="_blank">Absolution</a>. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Absolution is a range of unisex cosmetics that can be customized based on your mood or, more importantly, the whims of your skin. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Absolution products are used in all of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">L</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">'Echappée Spa's </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">facial treatments, which is fitting as one of the brand's goals is to strike "the right balance between an eco-conscious and urban lifestyle" and I can't think of a better place to strike that balance than at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">L</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">'Echappée.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmgOkfRKdoDYku1GEqejq0dq9ntVjOTq13XUXFDJKHP6liZVkHQedx4u99QPkCzKe3DmzTKxzOtyg-8WuNd2lZ1XpUPmbo0Zu1S3C6IZtRlKd9d5-xHlkyHFnqYJAMHkLquRC82c15L4/s1600/l'%C3%A9chapp%C3%A9e+jour.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmgOkfRKdoDYku1GEqejq0dq9ntVjOTq13XUXFDJKHP6liZVkHQedx4u99QPkCzKe3DmzTKxzOtyg-8WuNd2lZ1XpUPmbo0Zu1S3C6IZtRlKd9d5-xHlkyHFnqYJAMHkLquRC82c15L4/s320/l'%C3%A9chapp%C3%A9e+jour.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The concept behind the products is simple: you invest in a base cream- either for the day or night version- and then you choose from a variety of solutions ("Controle", "Eclat", "Energie") that you then mix in to a dab of the base cream, adapting that day's care to your particular caprice. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The containers are constructed so that one can easily dispense a dollop a day and whip up a creative cocktail for your skin care regime.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The coolest bit about Absolution is that the entire line of products is both made in France and made with organic ingredients (59% from organic farming and 99% from natural origin). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-a-uBR-34qMB2qqklorEr2k3OVsOUYHVEM1NaUdChfkF_lCj1QoFuyud_QT6LP6mMOEC4alNs2k0dhYKz4wRbCoLz7YoIb36cvDQCU50bJgCJZI0MnsmKh2sqWiBxsBfjXERv80Wu3to/s1600/SOLUTION_ECLAT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-a-uBR-34qMB2qqklorEr2k3OVsOUYHVEM1NaUdChfkF_lCj1QoFuyud_QT6LP6mMOEC4alNs2k0dhYKz4wRbCoLz7YoIb36cvDQCU50bJgCJZI0MnsmKh2sqWiBxsBfjXERv80Wu3to/s200/SOLUTION_ECLAT.jpg" width="121" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">While the products come with a price tag typically associated with high-end skin care (prices range from 30-69 euro), they also bare a seal of approval from <i><a href="http://www.ecocert.com/" target="_blank">Ecocert</a>, </i> a trustworthy organic certification authority. So if you're able to spend a little more on beauty supplies, why not support locally made and authentically organic products?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Absolution cosmetics can be bought in Paris at the main office in the 3rd arrondissement (19 rue B</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">é</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">ranger) and at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">L</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">'Echappée Spa (64 rue de la Folie M</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">éricourt, 75011) as well as </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> in a handful of stores scattered around Europe. Products can also be bought online and the company has just launched a new <a href="http://usa.absolution-skincare.com/" target="_blank">American Online Boutique</a> ! </span></div>Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-61440223352260653442012-06-04T15:00:00.003+02:002012-09-25T19:59:24.267+02:00Marché du Mois: Marché Cours de Vincennes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ28kLd0bENZCbz7tfugrWhMvMugzjStK7Yg0VVM7h_3rT0ae043bCZ94la5nBzsBKwFrfPlbPEB84HW62uriJ_mSSMjFZNMTVCMWorygDO0-TYcEVP3PaNK8KBx1PU7aeeJw0DGtEt-E/s1600/sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ28kLd0bENZCbz7tfugrWhMvMugzjStK7Yg0VVM7h_3rT0ae043bCZ94la5nBzsBKwFrfPlbPEB84HW62uriJ_mSSMjFZNMTVCMWorygDO0-TYcEVP3PaNK8KBx1PU7aeeJw0DGtEt-E/s320/sign.jpg" width="239" /></a>While researching an article for <a href="http://ecosalon.com/the-decline-of-the-french-farmers-market/" target="_blank">ecosalon</a>, my quest to find local producers brought me to the Marché Cours de Vincennes. This market is a favorite among my local foodie friends as it attracts more regional <i>maraîchers</i> than you will find in most Paris markets these days.<br />
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The market takes up a good bit of the Cours de Vincennes in the 12th arrondissement and local vendors are offset by a variety of Rungis-stocked food stands and vendors hawking cheap knives and other kitchen/household utensils.<br />
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However, the keen-eyed market goer will pick out a few local representatives, selling their seasonal, farm-grown produce in stands scattered about the market.<br />
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If you're looking to support Ile-de-France producers, Marché Cours de Vincennes provides the choice of a handfull of farmers that grow their produce within about a small radius of Paris.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ycumST7JEEBdayJMmtSMceKbatXrI9JhK6ZGr5YwY4eZ8JY_CdOK9kYGwjdn4qpd59PwCmVAKwCvGyZRvCsnIat9I-bTDwkfBzu_N3cWkdx_RO7F4V72u48TCVbfesaz2C7jQl4u_eo/s1600/spinach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ycumST7JEEBdayJMmtSMceKbatXrI9JhK6ZGr5YwY4eZ8JY_CdOK9kYGwjdn4qpd59PwCmVAKwCvGyZRvCsnIat9I-bTDwkfBzu_N3cWkdx_RO7F4V72u48TCVbfesaz2C7jQl4u_eo/s320/spinach.jpg" width="239" /></a>The first local producer I visited was Earl Martinet, who was selling lush spinach and lettuce, all grown at his farm only 30 km away from Paris. Also on sale were seasonal root vegetables including radishes, green onions, and turnips.<br />
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Another local vendor was Bernard Groult, who was selling some early-season apples, along with rhubarb and pears. Groult's farm is also just under 40 km from Paris and is easy to find if you look out for the sign their stand proudly displays, attesting to the fact that their goods are <i>Productions de l'Ile de France</i>. Not far from Groult's stand you'll find Gaec de Villedeau, whose stand also sells produce grown in the vicinity of Paris.<br />
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In addition to local vendors, Marché Cours de Vincennes has a few organic stands which include artisinal honey and other preserves. There is also an artisinal goat cheese maker, whose selection is small but includes a delicious <i>crottin de chêvre</i>.<br />
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With so many local and artisinal alternatives, this marché makes it easy to avoid industrial food and pre-packaged produce.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_z1hQ9uTz8LWvsJBsxaNFpvfniTWDQxPn1ySxCP8krEpyFwWWwSwYidvd1x5PvKkwo1Oe25VkaPmgAW8EZnWpFJEov1aXYFsNO0-Ngn3c9_Brqntw541IZ1qzIdCJQB-xFVC25VvvVI/s1600/radish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_z1hQ9uTz8LWvsJBsxaNFpvfniTWDQxPn1ySxCP8krEpyFwWWwSwYidvd1x5PvKkwo1Oe25VkaPmgAW8EZnWpFJEov1aXYFsNO0-Ngn3c9_Brqntw541IZ1qzIdCJQB-xFVC25VvvVI/s320/radish.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I would highly recommend the Marché Cours de Vincennes as a destination for a locavore's treasure hunt- you'll be sure to not end up empty handed.<br />
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<b>Marché Cours de Vincennes</b><br />
Cours de Vincennes 75012<br />
M° Picpus (line 6)<br />
Hours:<br />
Wednesday: 7h-14h30<br />
Saturday- 7h-15h<br />
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<br />Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-4169610045429017442012-05-22T15:44:00.000+02:002012-05-22T15:44:19.475+02:00Bio in Great Britain<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv2HbLdlbsgj1uzJXN0Z-hZQ8QMvW6pcSxZT4NYdOzzN9N-N158MedXQ8dfSVVFFBxfUt5Xh1jK7aPhy5mcocsIhpeXIhN1ko00n8l0oeSy1fZdI_Y3ob2PiCtS41ITxVqXQF-NurDIM/s1600/veg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv2HbLdlbsgj1uzJXN0Z-hZQ8QMvW6pcSxZT4NYdOzzN9N-N158MedXQ8dfSVVFFBxfUt5Xh1jK7aPhy5mcocsIhpeXIhN1ko00n8l0oeSy1fZdI_Y3ob2PiCtS41ITxVqXQF-NurDIM/s320/veg.JPG" width="320" /></a>As far as I'm concerned, the best way to orient oneself with an unfamiliar city is by immediately localising two things: open-air markets and independent record stores.<br />
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Both will usually lead you to pretty cool <i>quartiers</i> and, if you're lucky, you might find some great souvenirs while visiting.<br />
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So, instead of googling good bars or highly-reviewed restaurants when I plan a trip to a new city, I diligently look for local markets and am sure to consult <a href="http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/" target="_blank">The Vinyl District</a> before hitting the road.<br />
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Cardiff (home of the <a href="http://www.spillersrecords.co.uk/" target="_blank">"oldets record shop in the world"</a>) holds a lovely Farmers' Market each Sunday. A stone throw away from Wales' famous Millenium Stadium , the market welcomes local farmers, bakers, butchers, soapmakers, and other artisans.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNNWkgaPm6EUHWpaKJzXypdlfZiNqCdBS8QLxKsrFA4Pi51jZWOq5NSFXP1MvgnZ4bZMC6lWqYKWT0_ZKZaCZ8D9sqGsiSNCL99Jr4wym0wu9ckraTTXG4x0RytkhtjuE6DyY1yK82h8/s1600/organic+veg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNNWkgaPm6EUHWpaKJzXypdlfZiNqCdBS8QLxKsrFA4Pi51jZWOq5NSFXP1MvgnZ4bZMC6lWqYKWT0_ZKZaCZ8D9sqGsiSNCL99Jr4wym0wu9ckraTTXG4x0RytkhtjuE6DyY1yK82h8/s320/organic+veg.jpg" width="239" /></a>Seasonal vegetables such as broccoli rabe, cabbages, and carrots are on sale along with local specialities such as Welsh salted butter and scones.<br />
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My market guide and good friend Nick introduced me to Welsh Cakes. The small cakes were hot off the gridle and melt-in-your-mouth good, the raisin filled cakes are an ideal addition to any tea time ritual.<br />
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Vegetarians are welcome at the Cardiff market, with take-away menus that include polenta and bean burgers, and omnivores of all persuasions are invited to pull up a bench at a picnic table to enjoy their purchases <i>sur place</i>.<br />
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With a large selection of organic items, as well as products that are representative of the region, Cardiff's Farmers' Market is a worthy of inclusion in your Welsh itinerary.<br />
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When I think of London markets images of <a href="http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/" target="_blank">Borough Market</a> immediately spring to mind. On my last trip to the city I discovered a formidable and complementary market at the Southbank Centre, where the <a href="http://www.realfoodfestival.co.uk/markets/real-food-market-at-southbank-centre" target="_blank">Real Food Market</a> is held every weekend.<br />
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This market expands on the <i>esprit</i> (and hours) of Borough Market while adhering to the guidelines of "bringing you great tasting, sustainably and ethically produced food".<br />
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Here free-range chickens bear <a href="http://www.gordonramsay.com/index2.html" target="_blank">Gordon Ramsay's </a> seal of approval and everything from organic curries to whoopie pies are on offer. Veggie, cheese, and meat vendors along with hot food stands are set up from mid-day to dinner time on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday- making the perfect weekend trinity complete: Borough Market brunch, a stroll through Tate Modern, and a <i>goûté</i> of potted bread, cabbage and ricotta strudels, or organic cheesecake.<br />
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For dinner, you could head to <a href="http://www.vantra.co.uk/" target="_blank">Vantra</a> in the all-things-alternative embracing Soho neighborhood of London. A change from Fish & Chips, this organic food bar functions as a self-serve cantine for the ethical food set.<br />
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Vantra caters to different diets (vegan, raw, gluten-free, etc.) and does so reasonably well. As Parisien vegan <a href="http://aureliadandrea.com/" target="_blank">Aurelia D'Andrea</a> astutely pointed out to me over dinner one night, vegetarian restaurants aren't necessarily the best finds- even for dinners with vegetarian or other special diets. Vantra may be an example of this phenomenon, as there are surely better restaurants in the city where one could order a veggie meal. Iùm not entirely sure that Vantra caters to vegetarians, but moreso to the veggie-curious who want to try organic out for a night.<br />
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My (mislabeled) soup was not what I expected and disappointingly bland (much like the house white wine), but the veggie curries were wholesome and refreshingly spicy. The spread is ample and for 14.90 GBP, it's all-you-can-eat. I piled my one-visit-only plate (11.90 GBP) high with salads, stews, and slaws and had enough to eat, but for those having a one night stand with a 100 % veggie dinner, return trips may be in order.<br />
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Vantra's décor and the general ambience is warm and relaxed. The meal is a good deal for the price (and neighborhood). If you are spending an extended period of time in London and are looking to pass on the pub food for a night, I recommend you head to this reso for at least one trip to the buffet bar.<br />
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<b>Cardiff Farmers' Market</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwHik5Il6IAtBCtM2ErnYJX2G2BdhzIY0YxrMybY5xhsaXBXm19Fi9ZXmRMvmOxBpfQZ__vQ8Mg4EZ36_mSy5A-xUDNQaFduZzlhoMYv5XroUDAaC1EcfD_Y9WrcvNq7t49se4RVWQGw/s1600/bread+pudding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwHik5Il6IAtBCtM2ErnYJX2G2BdhzIY0YxrMybY5xhsaXBXm19Fi9ZXmRMvmOxBpfQZ__vQ8Mg4EZ36_mSy5A-xUDNQaFduZzlhoMYv5XroUDAaC1EcfD_Y9WrcvNq7t49se4RVWQGw/s400/bread+pudding.jpg" width="298" /></a>Fitzhamon Embankment<br />
Cardiff<br />
Open Sunday: 10h-14h<br />
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<b>The Real Food Market</b><br />
Southbank Centre<br />
London<br />
Open:<br />
Friday 12h-20h<br />
Saturday 11h-20h<br />
Sunday 12h-18h<br />
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<b>Vantra</b><br />
11-13 Soho Street<br />
London<br />
Open:<br />
Monday-Saturday 12h-23h<br />
Sunday 12h-20h<br />
<br />Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-54877531297012606602012-05-15T21:09:00.001+02:002012-05-15T21:09:30.539+02:00Yannick Alléno's Terroir Parisien<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuGqYjhb10FhBUkmFurI5tBZW-ASw6jVc3gFFsxNRwXzentUiZVXSZWTLaKTnjqGIi2-ks6pdJkDwLYuMfEX3Om_d-0ltJouadgPKlne2YDmyZSOyPDZ8SpUEwp8DlJ1QiaR3oJhSmHY/s1600/placemat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuGqYjhb10FhBUkmFurI5tBZW-ASw6jVc3gFFsxNRwXzentUiZVXSZWTLaKTnjqGIi2-ks6pdJkDwLYuMfEX3Om_d-0ltJouadgPKlne2YDmyZSOyPDZ8SpUEwp8DlJ1QiaR3oJhSmHY/s320/placemat.jpg" width="239" /></a>Yannick Alléno's new bistrot <a href="http://www.yannick-alleno.com/" target="_blank">Terroir Parisien</a> is pretty cutting-edge for the Paris scene. Its menu is solely sourced from the Ile-de-France region and its prices (contrary to Alléno's other address, <a href="http://www.lemeurice.com/yannick-alleno" target="_blank">Hotel Meurice</a>) remain reasonable- despite the fact that diners could likely be cajoled into paying higher prices for Alléno's reputation and ingredients.<br />
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When I went to lunch at <i>Terroir Parisien</i> on a recent Wednesday afternoon, I expected the restaurant's vibe and <i>décor</i> to match the exceptional aims and exuberant reviews surrounding this new addition to Paris' dining scene. I figured the revolutionary (to Paris) mission of locavore cuisine would be accompanied by an equally radical interior design.<br />
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Happily, the bistrot's style is about as unembellished as a dining establishment could be. Function and utility are key to the backdrop of Terroir Parisien, which provides a stage for the real stars: fresh and seasonal ingredients raised in the Ile-de-France.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWhQZNr0lB43s9B4I1m4sClZ7Kx7zK3VcaLr4rOOtP2lGobafe8TN1kgfPK9t4cYAtiXM6QW49FbDCGWtFxmHmQy9eIQhXFDCqfHchsX1g5LT7zZKQ_og7PWPJ9q3-BnomNvyZtLpFsQ/s1600/spinach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWhQZNr0lB43s9B4I1m4sClZ7Kx7zK3VcaLr4rOOtP2lGobafe8TN1kgfPK9t4cYAtiXM6QW49FbDCGWtFxmHmQy9eIQhXFDCqfHchsX1g5LT7zZKQ_og7PWPJ9q3-BnomNvyZtLpFsQ/s320/spinach.jpg" width="239" /></a>The walls are adorned with chalkboards and shelves, the chalkboards announce where each ingredient comes from and the shelves stock examples of the locally grown vegetables. Large windows allow for ample light- a scarce commodity in this dreary Paris Springtime- to enter into the dining space and further illuminate the natural beauty of the whole foods.<br />
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A reassuring mix of classical and modern- this restaurant is comfortable in its location cuddling up to the historic <i>Maison de la Mutualité</i> and would be equally at ease nesstled somewhere along the Northern California coastline.<br />
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My second worry about dining <i>chez Alléno</i> was that, as a vegetarien, I would be sipping on <i>soupe à l'oignon</i> for lunch, while lamenting an otherwise meat-based menu.<br />
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Once again I was happily surprised when I saw that the menu not only offered veggie options, but is also organised so that you can go wild with side dishes and "plats de résistance" <i>à la carte</i> to get your veggie fix and pair these sides with a large selection of main dishes.<br />
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I imagine that the selection for vegetarians will only get better- and more varied- as the Summer approaches and we see tomatoes and eggplant arriving on our plates.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVvHYxVTSVNBzHrznrw7hlsxzSxRcYVqJbWQ8HEAKIeolRGV60oHv0E9pv3ZQFNjfytVXGiW4jL-K4D2Do4HDyRe8ocn6UeTCwBrTt0LqGyiXW4EWwV1E9_-1ToN8Sm-7moh-5gsoSk8/s1600/escargots.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVvHYxVTSVNBzHrznrw7hlsxzSxRcYVqJbWQ8HEAKIeolRGV60oHv0E9pv3ZQFNjfytVXGiW4jL-K4D2Do4HDyRe8ocn6UeTCwBrTt0LqGyiXW4EWwV1E9_-1ToN8Sm-7moh-5gsoSk8/s320/escargots.JPG" width="320" /></a>The locavore movement is safe in Alléno's hands and<i> Terroir Parisien </i>is the proof. The chef adheres to the Ile-de-France rule (the wine being the only exception) with laudable dedication all while making eating local fun. Really fun.<br />
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As someone who scours markets for locally-grown produce and cherishes every treasure that I find along the hunt, it was a thrill to have the opportunity to order local gems- <i>champignons de Paris</i>, <i>asperge d'Argenteuil</i>, <i>épinards Montfermeil</i>- all off of one menu.<br />
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For lunch, I settled on the champignons de Paris stuffed with escargot, accompanied by a side of spinach that was grown a mere 17 km South of Paris.<br />
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Everything was delicious- but that was no surprise. I'm a convert to the locavore lifestyle and I think that anyone who has a meal at <i>Terroir Parisien</i> will quickly convert, as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4hRe_0kyxpV5x9TLFpxlBAeYr4BCzDP0-M43jVek-x23vH50NOOv3p3H3wFme_XQi9qEi_U7ZACSpngmhRAxa2Irt_tH47gCUlRQg73tsmkTQyjb7wnkUJbt6ZczaF4Pr3lxAzsUFEs/s1600/desert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4hRe_0kyxpV5x9TLFpxlBAeYr4BCzDP0-M43jVek-x23vH50NOOv3p3H3wFme_XQi9qEi_U7ZACSpngmhRAxa2Irt_tH47gCUlRQg73tsmkTQyjb7wnkUJbt6ZczaF4Pr3lxAzsUFEs/s320/desert.jpg" width="320" /></a>One more piece of advice- <b>stay for dessert!</b> My lunch date ordered the house specialty <i>"Niflette Feuilleté"</i> and it was to die for. Served with an artilery of cutlery, the pastry bursted with across-the-board flavors from sweet to citrus- a pleasure to tackle at the end of a thouroughly enjoyable meal. (Thanks Christy for taking a picture of the desert- and for sharing both with me!)<br />
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<b>Terroir Parisien </b><br />
20 rue Saint Victor, 75005<br />
m° Maubert-Mutualité (line 10)<br />
Open everyday 12h-15h & 19h-23h<br />
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<b><br /></b>Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-60156808755318825752012-05-07T16:10:00.003+02:002012-09-25T19:59:49.577+02:00Marché du Mois: Marché sur l'Eau<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm246zVx2O_59x7JMwB7kdE5vbfbmXuVb6D4AXRfcadveXZRoHKv7M2HF5xnhzLEW9AzZsJLQCohRm6rFa1Fsiv3O3KAE2PsxbQNPeHJi7WOS-XIutp00AzmaLMenrH0doFRUicxSlbYE/s1600/carrots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm246zVx2O_59x7JMwB7kdE5vbfbmXuVb6D4AXRfcadveXZRoHKv7M2HF5xnhzLEW9AzZsJLQCohRm6rFa1Fsiv3O3KAE2PsxbQNPeHJi7WOS-XIutp00AzmaLMenrH0doFRUicxSlbYE/s320/carrots.jpg" width="320" /></a>After successfully launching their innovative <i>projet de marché </i>in the Summer of 2011, the association <a href="http://www.marchesurleau.com/" target="_blank">Marché sur l'Eau</a> is back! The maiden voyage of 2012 took place on May 1st and this year the market is more ambitious, promising a year-round presence in front of the Rotonde at Stalingrad.<br />
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I love the idea behind this marché- which brings local produce from the Seine and Marne region to shoppers in Pantin and Paris. Boats are charged with seasonal produce grown by independent producers and then make their way towards the city using the canal de l'Ourq.<br />
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The boat is able to do the work equivalent to 10 trucks, making it an ecological and functional alternative to truck delivieries.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCr5TlXzaI4fSlRP3MRsj1UStBw2Krb8tqdnj6ibOLL_jULMFaZa5irFfO_wGFda94u0aXAYflgNnT9oG4ABHjFWlZUijk89kNiQb9Q6FZeP-z3T7xisbjYkxVo0CuilsTTO0oENehWY/s1600/composition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCr5TlXzaI4fSlRP3MRsj1UStBw2Krb8tqdnj6ibOLL_jULMFaZa5irFfO_wGFda94u0aXAYflgNnT9oG4ABHjFWlZUijk89kNiQb9Q6FZeP-z3T7xisbjYkxVo0CuilsTTO0oENehWY/s320/composition.jpg" width="239" /></a>The transport is what happens behind the scenes- but what the consommer sees once the stage is set is just as exciting and enough to get you engaged. The produce is gorgeous and very resonably priced. For €7,20 I picked up 2 heads of lettuce, a huge bunch of bright orange carrots, and a hearty helping of blettes.<br />
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You can visit the market and choose your produce on Saturdays and Tuesdays, or you can sign up for a <i>panier</i> which will be prepared and waiting for you on market days. <i>Panier</i> prices range from 9-15 euro in Winter and 10-17 euro in Summer. Your account can easily be managed through Marché sur l'Eau's website and you can modify your pick-up days or reschedule in case you're out of town or otherwise unable to pick up your veggies that week.<br />
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A typical winter <i>panier </i>includes potatoes, green onions, spinach, and parsley. Things promise to brighten up in the warmer months, when zucchini, bellpeppers, heirloom tomatoes, and eggplant get into the mix!<br />
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The Marché us staffed by members of the association that are eager to talk about the project- so if you have any questions I highly recommend checking out the Marché sur l'Eau and learning more about what they're about!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_6GakRTe9SYjNspbypFYDYMWkDEdZltnI60u_om945stLui6qZmUsg00EZQC4RaIOQ1Gxyk5BhdCZqWIqUW3BiUjlS_n28xCoMxSP5SWdH18Wp8EKk7UAJUZe-We2T3sT6rtOcFVNxQ/s1600/navets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_6GakRTe9SYjNspbypFYDYMWkDEdZltnI60u_om945stLui6qZmUsg00EZQC4RaIOQ1Gxyk5BhdCZqWIqUW3BiUjlS_n28xCoMxSP5SWdH18Wp8EKk7UAJUZe-We2T3sT6rtOcFVNxQ/s320/navets.jpg" width="239" /></a><b>Marché sur L'Eau</b><br />
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<i>Pantin: </i><br />
Grands-Moulins (m° Hoche - line 5)<br />
Tuesday: 11h30-14h<br />
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& Quai de L'Aisne (m° Eglise de Pantin- line 5)<br />
Saturday: 12h-14h30<br />
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<i>Paris:</i><br />
La Rotonde, pl. de la Bataille Stalingrad<br />
(m° Jaures- lines 2 & 5, m° Stalingrad- lines 2, 5, & 7)<br />
Tuesday: 18h-20h30 & Saturday: 11h30-14h<br />
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<br />Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-43272767340674307422012-04-21T21:13:00.003+02:002012-09-25T20:00:18.534+02:00Marché du Mois: Marché Popincourt<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLw8WIj0MPvG9NqiUe1DMqYv5U2onXVBXasaQKdWWhUWXeFBYXwoDErKarKqeMy6shCaj2tRjr9JmOnCcwHj4chS6lvHXGiOQDo4xJ73CMw5Guccix75PxgK616VWlo-i0jtw_ky9FLQ/s1600/veggies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLw8WIj0MPvG9NqiUe1DMqYv5U2onXVBXasaQKdWWhUWXeFBYXwoDErKarKqeMy6shCaj2tRjr9JmOnCcwHj4chS6lvHXGiOQDo4xJ73CMw5Guccix75PxgK616VWlo-i0jtw_ky9FLQ/s320/veggies.jpg" width="239" /></a>After visiting<a href="http://www.lechappee.com/" target="_blank"> L'échappée Spa </a>(which stocks the amazing<a href="http://www.absolution-cosmetics.com/fr/set.html" target="_blank"> Absolution</a> brand of organic, made-in-Paris skin car products) early one Friday morning I was happy to stumble upon the bustling Marché Popincourt.<br />
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The market takes up a series of blocks along Boulevard Richard Lenoir in the 11th arrondisement and, in keeping with the general atmosphere of this animated neighborhood, proved to be livliest marché I've visited in quite some time.<br />
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The friendly atmoshpere of the market on this particularly sunny morning pulled me in and inspired me to stroll the busy aisles several times. As is my habit, I was in search of local and organic vendors. A scarcity of such stands in part explains the time I spent scouring the market. I dedicated a good deal of time ooking closely at every vendor's wares, trying to find products that were grown in France or of the organic ilk.<br />
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Having said that, I also extended my stay because of the warm and welcoming vibe of the market, which brought back to mind my earliest feelings of affection for shopping at Paris' open-air markets, with their intoxicated cries of vendors, mixed with the banter and small talk which is all but extinct at industrial food outlets.<br />
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There was not a stand that I stopped by where I didn't overhear shoppers and catching up or chatting with vendors while waiting in line and making purchases.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPy85WLhBKL3x6_jvzCo6JJHq359pae3cQ25YyXR-hLDB9sOxCxrGBJOQm5WILexDtWvrVZ2XxOzF7Tb1PrOpE9FtMKfcRLi2Ea778tmh3GZH059s3w7_EsZAWXscCn-sqByCXI3UeVik/s1600/fleursherbes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPy85WLhBKL3x6_jvzCo6JJHq359pae3cQ25YyXR-hLDB9sOxCxrGBJOQm5WILexDtWvrVZ2XxOzF7Tb1PrOpE9FtMKfcRLi2Ea778tmh3GZH059s3w7_EsZAWXscCn-sqByCXI3UeVik/s320/fleursherbes.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
Another thing I appreciated about Marché Popincourt was the wide selection of flowers and other plants, whose presence coincided with the onset of my Springtime planting fever. I (admittedly prematurely) picked up a basil plant that I eagerly added to my my herb garden, despite the looming threat of cold weather forecasted for Paris. <br />
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I stopped myself at the basil purchase, but promised that I'd be back to pick up a few floral additions to plant in my plot at the <a href="http://www.jardinons-ensemble.org/spip.php?article375" target="_blank">Jardins du Ruisseau</a>.<br />
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There is one organic veggie stand at Marché Popincourt, along with a scattered selection of French-origin goods such as honey and other conserved products as well as the seasonal vegetables we are so familiar with by now including beets, carrots, and an increasing selection of radishes and other undergroung <i>légumes</i>.<br />
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If you're headed to the market early, skip your morning dose of <i>café</i> and head straight to the whole bean coffee seller as soon as you arrive at the market. The scent alone of the rows of bags of coffee beans will wake you up, and a to-go cup of the freshly ground coffee will give you the kick you need to hit the market and get to know its jovial vendors!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9ZrCgQ-eE8tyckKM6XOwxfxw9URmVy6Pp7B_pN-R8FqT8cYrUnrZHs6P_RfsNlxy4Nm6VG1Sqw6p24OWiPiuNN8ik9XCjKNf_PJUPKAPxx9N8CTDw6L5hXhBVV6hLyaNB3qZ7ZBBwMw/s1600/cafe%CC%81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9ZrCgQ-eE8tyckKM6XOwxfxw9URmVy6Pp7B_pN-R8FqT8cYrUnrZHs6P_RfsNlxy4Nm6VG1Sqw6p24OWiPiuNN8ik9XCjKNf_PJUPKAPxx9N8CTDw6L5hXhBVV6hLyaNB3qZ7ZBBwMw/s320/cafe%CC%81.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<b>Marché Popincourt</b><br />
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Bd. Richard Lenoir<br />
(between rue Oberkampf & Jean Pierre Timbaud)<br />
Paris 75011<br />
m° Oberkampf (lines 5 & 9)<br />
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Hours:<br />
Tuesday & Friday<br />
7h-14h30Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-45838632455009532652012-03-30T19:08:00.006+02:002012-04-03T11:42:27.855+02:00Miss Green: Bio Cantine<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEe-FHfA-ycrnLI5MoDUhgYIG8-qxS_faTbXZCTJYKc869VhXOC0GSIPg13-6KQ3kYwYMewLAPsiUZQ0oLAsF8SlGPY_7kRnkFOdllgiFlNnTn5nEJ0RZQnvT8nI6Q2cAqS8-a8WKLf7g/s1600/juice.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYlIW7BVuJ2htKwPDCho-bFndVOYvfdZVsrBbrc7Jmw2Cyk1wZTyNosPEhxIIqm7x4iZ7kCSTlxnaCrj8RAzc0Hk1TroxApgHffh3g0FUbtdefjLizXv1oiMpMzXzITp_9sD109kijCs/s1600/miss+green.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYlIW7BVuJ2htKwPDCho-bFndVOYvfdZVsrBbrc7Jmw2Cyk1wZTyNosPEhxIIqm7x4iZ7kCSTlxnaCrj8RAzc0Hk1TroxApgHffh3g0FUbtdefjLizXv1oiMpMzXzITp_9sD109kijCs/s320/miss+green.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727106460192141506" /></a>What sets <a href="http://missgreen-bio.fr/"><i>Miss Green</i></a> apart from its counterparts in the world of workday lunch break choices is that all the ingredients are gauranteed to be 100% organic. This is not to say, however, that all the menu items are <i>bio</i>. One can still grab a "Coca" with their lunch menu, but other than that all <i>entrée</i>, <i>plat,</i> and <i>dessert</i> options are organic. <div><br /></div><div>While I would prefer to lunch at a more unique and entirely organic fast-food option, such as <a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2012/03/bio-burger-welcome-addition-to-paris.html"><i>Bio Burger</i></a> , <i>Miss Green </i>does offer an alternative to the run-of-the-mill lunch spots that serve the bustling and business-oriented Ternes neighborhood in the 17th arrondissement. Instead of paying a similar price at a chain bakery like <i>Paul</i>, here one can grab an organic alternative. The spot also offers a wide selection of salads and hot dishes, such as pasta and <i>gratins</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Vegetariens won't have to settle for a cheese sandwich at <i>Miss Green</i>, making it a worthwhile address for herbavores to keep in mind. Every offering on the menu, from sandwiches (3.90-5.40 euro) to salads (5.90 euro), tartes (6.40 euro), and <i>plats chauds</i> (6.90 euro) includes a filling vegetarian option. When I visited, one of the <i>plats du jour</i> was a vegetarian lasagna.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cChmK4UrxYZ12u9TVo47AZGOX8LZna37avTtErgzvpQERo2ffgfRbaQPxX3_zHlAT8z2YGVhtetYgXxJJE9CMJ6Vf4GFQqC4_EMlKsKJMOq84Yqn9o-m4tsb9dLLbhHfDYWjW-I1N2c/s320/inside.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727106562970490962" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span><div><i>Miss Green</i>, which has been open for just under a year, may not benefit from it's location on a side street off the busy avenue des Ternes- it was very quiet the day I visited early on a Monday afternoon. However, the location is well chosen in the sense that it is right across from the Marché des Ternes. On market days (Tuesdays-Sundays) I imagine the airy and welcoming dining area of Miss Green fills up with shoppers and the quartier gets livelier.</div><div><br /></div><div>The restaurant is also working on a system where locals can order their lunch on-line and have it delivered. The online ordering system will make it hard to find an excuse not to opt for organic even on the busiest of work days. </div><div><br /></div><div>While the menu is basic and doesn't stray from traditional lunch options in content, <i>Miss Green </i>offers an upgrade in quality to anyone looking to integrate more organic into their life. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEe-FHfA-ycrnLI5MoDUhgYIG8-qxS_faTbXZCTJYKc869VhXOC0GSIPg13-6KQ3kYwYMewLAPsiUZQ0oLAsF8SlGPY_7kRnkFOdllgiFlNnTn5nEJ0RZQnvT8nI6Q2cAqS8-a8WKLf7g/s320/juice.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727106699063893650" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span><div style="text-align: right;"><b>Miss Green</b></div><div style="text-align: right;">11 rue Lebon</div><div style="text-align: right;">75017 m ° Ternes</div><div style="text-align: right;">Open: 11h30- 16h</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>Marché des Ternes</b></div><div style="text-align: right;">8 bis rue Lebon</div><div style="text-align: right;">75017 m ° Ternes</div><div style="text-align: right;">Open: </div><div style="text-align: right;">Tues.-Sat. 8h-13h & 16h-19h30</div><div style="text-align: right;">Sunday: 8h-13h30</div>Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-80234894914059205072012-03-21T18:23:00.010+01:002012-09-25T20:00:59.075+02:00Marché du Mois: Marché Président Wilson<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRPWYHGBZVY9apRawPywxkRIBDK1ni7vPE8EmlvxA9_8iW-jFzhmy6U37kW4hsMM4_DAHnUxYpmMBd02akjZosRwCl1fcvVzM-mgyXxhygCdQEeoSkEzz6ggeUF0ilxo8KowMMW9gt5o/s1600/lettuce.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicgnA_sHTQta2ElH-lUCiC6YHvLG3qo6GEBJ5il1qKoSYhjXK70i_qk741cLE4HHRMEM9NohcJk6Vj1xbOfNe3l8W-uf2RIXlJPkfA6EEfIEj9Icjw5lmkRM5C0ttzEqkLncqyxxhgi0/s1600/radish+lettuce.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722413975434665890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicgnA_sHTQta2ElH-lUCiC6YHvLG3qo6GEBJ5il1qKoSYhjXK70i_qk741cLE4HHRMEM9NohcJk6Vj1xbOfNe3l8W-uf2RIXlJPkfA6EEfIEj9Icjw5lmkRM5C0ttzEqkLncqyxxhgi0/s320/radish+lettuce.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 239px;" /></a>Marché Président Wilson welcomes visitors with an abundance of flowers on display at the entrance. While it is lovely to exit the metro and find blossoming hydrangeas and <i>renoncules</i>, I was not in the market for anything floral, but rather inspired by the suggestion of <a href="http://myparisnotebook.com/">Phyllis</a> that I go see légume superstar Joel Thiébault's stand. <br />
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Before purusing Thiébaults renowned variety of vegetables, which his family has been selling at Marché Président Wilson since 1873, I took a leisurely tour of the entire market.<br />
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Besides a selection of local/organic producteurs, one thing I love to find at markets are stands representing different regions or neighboring countries. Marché Président Wilson has quite a choice of regional products and themed stands; from Italian goods to Moroccan products, as well as some specialties that hit a little closer to home, such as a traditional Brittany-style <i>Crêperie</i> and a "bar à patates" (potato bar) specializing in spuds from central France. </div>
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Artisinal bakers, <i>poissonneries</i>, butchers, and cheese vendors line the expansive alley of avenue du Président Wilson in the 16th arrondisement on the day of the market. </div>
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There are also a plethora of vegetable vendors, many of which stock French-grown and seasonal products. I fear that these <i>pauvres maraîchers</i> may be overshadowed by their celebrity neighbor, whose stand is the only one that constantly has a line.</div>
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And what a line it is, consisting of a gamut of shoppers; from scholarly followers of the art of heritage and hard-to-find veggies, to 16th arrondissement snobs who couldn't possibly buy their ruffage anywhere but <i>Chez Thiébault</i>, to anyone who falls in between. </div>
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It is quite a fun, and colorful, experience to shop at Thiébault's stand. When I was there the produce still ressembled a Winter's crop but, living up to his expectations, Thiébault had managed to find all kind of colors to include amongst his carrots and radish stock. </div>
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The late Winter/early Spring line included "red meat" and "green meat" radishes as well as peppery black radish. The carrots were brilliant shades of purple, yellow, and orange. I grabbed a mix of "Purple Haze", "Yellow Stone", and " La Chantenay" varieties to take home for a carrot salad for dinner.</div>
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Many of Thiébault's vegetables attribute their origins abroad, the Japanese Roquette "Mizuna" or the "Rose de Chine" radish, for example, but all the products are grown in France by Thiébault himself, only a few kilometers from Paris. </div>
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The thrill of picking up produce you've never seen in your life adds a boost to your shopping experience and the bursts of color emanating from this <i>producteur</i>'s stand are enhanced under the Springtime sun- making a visit to Marché Président Wilson worth a metro ride. </div>
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If you can't make it to the market, you can order <i>paniers</i> of Joel Thiébault's produce at <a href="http://www.lehautdupanier.fr/achat/index.php?catid=74">Le Haut du Panier</a>. Otherwise, you can find Thiébault at Marché Président Wilson on Wednesday and Saturday or at Marché Gros-la-Fontaine Tuesdays and Fridays.</div>
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<b>Marché Président Wilson</b></div>
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Avenue du Président Wilson, 75016</div>
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m° Iéna (line 9)</div>
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Wednesday & Saturday, 7:00-14h30</div>
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<b>Marché Gros-la-Fontaine </b></div>
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37 rue Gros, 75016</div>
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m° Mirabeau (line 10)</div>
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Tuesday & Friday, 7:00-14h30</div>
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Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-33710255762798693682012-03-11T16:43:00.008+01:002012-03-11T17:38:32.910+01:00Bio Burger: A Welcome Player in Paris' Growing Burger Buzz<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm4-VyI1I_MtPlnXFem7dvbnDk_2MQ9mwsmUYe45gO1MfCdBqGQtZfzut6KJiAK31wkxBJf0X-ldTMk8v4sAmcbQ9S_oxyYUASLrCqDXgysKiS2cAZp615jT7cZS_vRdtAXBE21eHLjU/s1600/Bio+Burger.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm4-VyI1I_MtPlnXFem7dvbnDk_2MQ9mwsmUYe45gO1MfCdBqGQtZfzut6KJiAK31wkxBJf0X-ldTMk8v4sAmcbQ9S_oxyYUASLrCqDXgysKiS2cAZp615jT7cZS_vRdtAXBE21eHLjU/s320/Bio+Burger.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718678714484308530" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 304px; " /></span><div>Burger joints abound in the capital at the moment, with the mobile <a href="http://www.lecamionquifume.com/">Camion Qui Fume</a> and the "Gourmet" burger restaurant, <a href="http://www.blendhamburger.com/index">Blend</a>, popularizing the <i>plat</i> among French diners. Each address attempts to distinguish itself by putting its own particular spin on this American classic. DEspite all these choices, many of which offer (or plan to offer) a vegetarian option, it should come as no surprise that I am particulary partial to <a href="http://bioburger.info/">Bio Burger's </a> all-organic menu. <div><br /></div><div>Bio Burger is incredibly well organized and the servers represent the concept of the store with aplomb, all the way down to their "Bio Burger" brand shoes. The organization of the staff helps keep the growing line moving as locals flock to the covered Passage Choiseul for their lunch break. </div><div><br /></div><div>The restaurant succesfully serves its clientele, providing swift service at a reasonable price. The only disadvantage of this lunch spot is that there is not enough room to seat all the people its serves. I would suggest stopping by when the weather is nice, so you can take your burger to go and find a spot outside in the sun to enjoy it. Palais Royale, for example, is not too far away.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you are lucky enough to find a spot to sit- which should be easy enough if you are able to stop by during off hours- the dining areas are comfortable and the restaraunt offers free wifi to clients, with the network name and the password printed out on every receipt- another nice little touch of orgnization.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4muBsxGiKASKucahXVC8i7Rf4jiSjkkPV2H8dLYgO_TUk8zdQG3B5ApZetEW33dUt0KHk3PiiHjjn8TPnTdJGQUGduYy0aMqU-3kDsB8aG1ltLtW3rC-Wxes52KvGNJjsA3f07I0Zr4/s320/bio+drinks.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718678442844175698" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span><div>Lunch menus range from 10- 12 euro and are comprised of a burger + salad/fries + desert/drink (12 euro gets you both a desert and drink). A hamburger alone costs 6-8 euro, with the tofu-based veggie burger being the least expensive choice on the menu and the ever changing "Edition Limitée" burger being the 8 euro option.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was happily surprised by my veggie burger which was not, as I feared it might be, a dry patty of processed soy products and a few dehydrated corn kernals, but rather a fresh mix of silken tofu with onions and spices served on a fresh baked bun with lettuce and ketchup. I wasn't overly impressed with the fries, probably because the reastaurant was too packed for me to get to and add a few shakes of much-needed salt, but home-made fries from quality <i>pommes de terres</i> trump the McDo version any day.</div><div><br /></div><div>As advertised, everything is organic at Bio Burger. Even the beverages are bio, which means instead of washing down your organic lunch with a corn-syrup stuffed industrial soda, you can enjoy a bottle of organic fruit soda or lemonade. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wish the team of Bio Burger much succes in their endeavor, they are well suited to expanding this first location into a larger chain of organic diners that could give their contemporaries a run for their money. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqwVZSGYOOpBvpevVVa3DqWkMogN7gSLzqkk6Y3Qpm8bQ3StIrqWiQ-1pFiwPIlhUeKxF_vPS3SiUIzqmcQEvu-uCbUxFEj8EJgBAh4SnvMgb24uveh7VqZPFufbYJczCuqbRhnonY_Q/s320/burger.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718678111291505218" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span><div>Following in the footsteps of America's Northwest burger chain, <a href="http://www.burgerville.com/">Burgerville</a>, Bio Burger provides an ethcial, sustainable fast food alternative to the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/pink-slime-removed-from-mcdonalds-burgers--but-other-weird-food-additives-remain/2012/02/01/gIQAdfvAiQ_blog.html">pink slime</a> slingers of our day.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Bio Burger</b></div><div>46 Passage Choiseul</div><div>75002 Paris</div><div>M° Quatre Septembre (line 3), </div><div>Pyramides (line 7)</div><div>Hours:</div><div>Mon.-Sat: 11h30-16h</div></div>Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-44191343425336846412012-02-28T20:50:00.009+01:002012-09-25T20:01:50.025+02:00Marché du Mois: La Maison POS<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoQRpBeP0rOPSTS6ff3JZevcwgVnlbHttcol-S6PHLseUcxFrq6I5Rj0HMamtbtSnfz69jpC7Ga2Saz752qreakAWXw4HVl3Wai-U3DtXHNNFnTLfnuMRC3RzRtCEp_45vxVcYPpcSxU/s1600/carrots.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SIlXO8ju5GVv3IgEjJMUoT70-RVKaQ6Ay8fS_1LyTbki1p7tbBooyheBH5LH866ioRO_Mm5D8eoBJRaYhKpBJlNA-moWPwu3Imby-22ucggq2Dg2qMNXbSAjZHVaiQTcCkkz7Obqnig/s1600/soup.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714298700103538098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SIlXO8ju5GVv3IgEjJMUoT70-RVKaQ6Ay8fS_1LyTbki1p7tbBooyheBH5LH866ioRO_Mm5D8eoBJRaYhKpBJlNA-moWPwu3Imby-22ucggq2Dg2qMNXbSAjZHVaiQTcCkkz7Obqnig/s320/soup.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 239px;" /></a>La Maison POS is more than a shop, it's a metanarrative- both a particpant in the worldwide locavore movement as well as a humble neighborhood corner store that brings locally grown food even closer to home.<br />
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Pierre Olivier Savreux, who opened the shop a year and a half ago, was kind enough to show me around the small, economically used space. </div>
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He had been busy arranging the crates that were delivered from Normandy that evening and would be sold the next day, "Tomorrow we will have carrots, cabbage, and bunches of laurel. That's it." </div>
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Despite his downplaying of the stock- I did spot some crates of kiwi and apples later- the store has a lot to offer. </div>
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Maison POS also stocks many other organic non-perishables, such as honey, wine, sausages and olive oils. The goal of this marché remains simple: to sell a few carefully selected, super fresh, products from not too far away and to stock only what can be sold in a day in order to make room for the next day's delivery.</div>
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The selective stock is meant for a select clientele. Savreux told me that he aims to serve the locals, people living in the neighborhood who can pop in and pick up a few things on their way home. </div>
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The store's hours reflect this mentality- they are open in the morning for a few hours and then close to reopen the doors for the on-the-way-home-from-work crowd, staying open late for those keeping <i>metro,boulot,dodo</i> hours. </div>
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Savreux stocks products he likes and is faithful to the items on his shelves. "We have six wines," he explained to me, "if people want to drink another kind of wine, they can buy it somewhere else." This kind of faith in the product inspires a trust in the decisions POS makes when it comes to bringing the farm to your table.</div>
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Most of the products available at POS are from the Normandy or Brittany region of France, including some amazing artisinal butters and cheeses that are currently in stock. </div>
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Savreux was clearly proud of his dedicqtion to keeping prices low for his neighbors- the wine is sold at cost and he refuses to inflate prices on speciality items like honey and olive oils, which are often quite costly in organic markets. The store also sells their daily soup, homemade and served up for the modest price of 1 euro a bowl. </div>
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Maison POS brings a much welcome militantism when it comes to finding quality products at a reasonable price- so much so that it makes one consider moving to the 11th just to have this <i>bonne adresse</i> in their neighborhood! But for inhabitants of <i>quartiers </i>all over France and the world , this corner store serves as an inspiration, proving that local food vendors can be selective and successful at the same time.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714300349648989362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoQRpBeP0rOPSTS6ff3JZevcwgVnlbHttcol-S6PHLseUcxFrq6I5Rj0HMamtbtSnfz69jpC7Ga2Saz752qreakAWXw4HVl3Wai-U3DtXHNNFnTLfnuMRC3RzRtCEp_45vxVcYPpcSxU/s320/carrots.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 239px;" /></span><br />
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<b>Maison POS</b></div>
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90 rue de Charonne</div>
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75011</div>
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m° Charonne</div>
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Hours:</div>
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Mon: 17h-21h30</div>
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Tues-Fri: 11h-14h30/17h-21h30</div>
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Sat: 10h-10h</div>
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Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-28706297528755418922012-01-31T19:40:00.000+01:002012-01-31T20:45:58.594+01:00A Salsa for every Season: Winter<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisMzFJhLkL8RrCug508coCBUXMehk945ariEqnpyy9pcAOWRojS5JbKgmphmTxHdILMOvlKP-2sBPK7_slvCMTVycbzHL7L1mex-9aKQTg4HuDCR0Ogr8lSDGtrsfPEwYPkjxCocWT04/s1600/done.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUNznstpLt7RzdijQh4B3oMk3z7lFTpAi2hMz-1xhNGmQAcbIIq2-_TgfPPNukaDnn05TEyHi3GPdZjA3RBwR2Lei6r6CFABOBuNaT2k9EpFsSl63ao91PRjpDTq8GQi8PZCiLyVhVHE/s1600/with+cucumber.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUNznstpLt7RzdijQh4B3oMk3z7lFTpAi2hMz-1xhNGmQAcbIIq2-_TgfPPNukaDnn05TEyHi3GPdZjA3RBwR2Lei6r6CFABOBuNaT2k9EpFsSl63ao91PRjpDTq8GQi8PZCiLyVhVHE/s320/with+cucumber.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703883251944103202" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbVpFvrgG5Es3K7IrFJSHsbXMDLlKZsG_NBAWI98IqECEJtCHUSwUedo2P9RafBNvqRmNecC_t215tmVr9RzlX5IFy1sMme0QH90TSy7FuN8Cl0rhEUi1Eetkfz_wEhZ_NR2v7kFpNqg/s1600/ingredients.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Staying seasonal can be limiting when it comes to some of our favorite foods. For example, in the Summer I love to make batches of fresh salsa using sun soaked tomatoes and balcony-grown peppers, but these mason jars of Summer salsa seem to be devoured in a matter of seconds. They never last longer than the tomato season itself and I always end up facing the colder months destined to remain salsa-less. <div><br /></div><div>But necessity, or gluttony in my case, does in fact give birth to invention and I decided that, instead of buying airport-food quality tomatoes from God knows where during the off season, I would attmpt to make seasonal salsas using what I could find at local markets. </div><div><br /></div><div>My first attempt in this venture resulted in <a href="ttp://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2010/11/day-86-fallsa.html">Fallsa</a>, a blend of end-of-the-season green tomatoes and hearty helpings of cilantro. Fallsa was a fairly simple compromise between the end of Summer and the beginning of the Fall- that lovely autumnal area when the sun still lingers and therefore so do the courgettes, bell peppers, and tomatoes. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoC2U5CwQT3zRyK4pJkp3NVkhO1F5xPiZbyyZ7lyylQyBBKkUuxbZKYzE1rdR-pOrjiMIsc4bY6lC5Dz5oUVHplQ-SNXzyWdJVU8Klyd5pGC2WzX6cavAkEaomSZQYsUMdKBhJzn8bIw/s320/citrouille.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703882075328177426" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span><div>The Winter months make seasonal salsa a daunting task, with no hope of local tomatoes and the last of my cayenne withering on its weather-beaten plant, I figured I'd just have to forgo homemade salsa until the spring. But then inspiration found me in the form of a <a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2012/01/bio-cest-in-bag.html">panier bio from bio c'bon</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our first bio bag included a lovely little pumpkin that I would've just roasted and made into soup if it hadn't been for those poor cayenne peppers, which would perish if I didn't find an immediate use for them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thus the idea for Winter Salsa was born, with pumpkin standing in for my tomatoes I set to put a cold weather spin on a Summer classic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Below is the recipe, note that I did include canned corn, but otherwise all ingredients can be found fresh and locally (except for the the cayenne if you didn't grow that in advance!)<br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Winter Salsa</b></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Ingredients:</div><div><br /></div><div>1 small pumpkin or other squash</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- cut the squash in half, remove seeds, and place it, flesh side up, in a oven-safe dish that is <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>1/3 full of water. Place the squash in an oven preheated to 400° F / 205° C for 35-45 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>mins (35 if you want a chunk salsa, 45 if you want a creamy one) </div><div>1 small can of corn kernels </div><div>1 bunch of parsley</div><div>1 red onion</div><div>1 dried pepper, like cayenne</div><div>2-3 cloves of garlic</div><div>hot sauce and salt, to taste</div><div>1/2 diced cucumber (optional- it adds crunch to a creamy salsa)</div><div><b><br /></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbVpFvrgG5Es3K7IrFJSHsbXMDLlKZsG_NBAWI98IqECEJtCHUSwUedo2P9RafBNvqRmNecC_t215tmVr9RzlX5IFy1sMme0QH90TSy7FuN8Cl0rhEUi1Eetkfz_wEhZ_NR2v7kFpNqg/s320/ingredients.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703882415371730322" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span><div><b>Step 1: </b>After letting your squash cool, remove the rough skin and cut the flesh into cubes. If you've let the squash roast for the full 45 minutes, the cubes will become creamy when mixed in with the other ingredients. Under-cooked squash should hold up for a chunky salsa even after the other ingredients are added.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Step 2: </b>Slice and dice up all your other ingredients, throw in the corn kernels and slowly add in the peppers, garlic, hot sauce, and salt. Mix together with a large spoon and adjust to taste. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Step 3:</b> Enjoy! </div><div><br /></div><div>You can serve this right away with tortilla chips or as an addition to your burritos. Get it while the getting is good- because no matter what the season, salsa never stays around for long!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisMzFJhLkL8RrCug508coCBUXMehk945ariEqnpyy9pcAOWRojS5JbKgmphmTxHdILMOvlKP-2sBPK7_slvCMTVycbzHL7L1mex-9aKQTg4HuDCR0Ogr8lSDGtrsfPEwYPkjxCocWT04/s320/done.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703884654418111618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-73122117990422897632012-01-27T11:55:00.000+01:002012-01-27T13:24:32.495+01:00Bio c'est in the bag!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOhGjUE6iPzPvE1AK8-3Lmoqnd25YBI6Q4cKBf4o6fncFmONQs8uCSxRICD-mkvu0c3n8o8NW_TLRUzmDjY0YPScI8Gnv7vfHXlYxLj7zwr7q9QsE6Ed75Uiv8oajhueVMHeMhIw18l8/s1600/sign.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkl2GDwKTfTZC39GhJN0ZmGJyxEPf4df8WvIc3VRJSjMNhUhBM6zUJvB5gtxnKpyqAVmH7BFtEYDkwq99GYCuSx8z4wpia6fuSJVlFq5d-mzj6WpUYHQF4Ki7A-Sr7UTw-JQeqHhyphenhyphenz4o0/s1600/outside+sign.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkl2GDwKTfTZC39GhJN0ZmGJyxEPf4df8WvIc3VRJSjMNhUhBM6zUJvB5gtxnKpyqAVmH7BFtEYDkwq99GYCuSx8z4wpia6fuSJVlFq5d-mzj6WpUYHQF4Ki7A-Sr7UTw-JQeqHhyphenhyphenz4o0/s320/outside+sign.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702281087875395618" /></a>There is a wide variety of options for getting farm-to-front door veggie delivery in Paris. Between <a href="http://www.reseau-amap.org/amap.php">AMAP </a>associations, <a href="http://www.mon-panier-bio.com/">paniers bio</a>, websites like <a href="http://paysans.fr/">Paysans.fr</a>, and the burgeoning <a href="http://www.laruchequiditoui.fr/">La ruche qui dit oui</a> movement, city dwellers have their choice of ways to get local, organic, farm grown foods on their dinner table.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Those interested in participating in a weekly food delivery service may be overwhelmed by the available options. I know people who have tried, and been very satisifed with, the options listed above, but I myself have never signed up for any of these services. </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe this is due to trepidation about my family of two being able to use all the produce that is typically included in these weekly deliveries, or maybe it is due to my fear of commiting to any subscription other than the New Yorker, but for whatever reason I prefer to do my shopping at open markets or my local <a href="http://www.biocoop.fr/">biocoop</a>.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYWmOeMFCoN_YBfuBTKNFpmeNCuc2zL4EaPm8a4EOma2RTa3HkixHUX5x-fm_hbFibYiGXB4z0UFjfVzSvIwLXN-fmZZ6w4x3I_GkGjYcHcSvJGalqsESC5SIIfUs5uCt6U4SDxa6lVY/s320/bags.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702279490991688098" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span><div>However, the recent opening of a <a href="http://www.bio-c-bon.eu/">Bio c'bon </a>store in my neighborhood has brought me one step closer to being a panier bio buyer. </div><div><br /></div><div>Perfect for the non-commital types out there, Bio c'bon offers shopping bags full of fruits and vegetables that you can grab on your way home from work for only 10 euro.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another added bonus: on those days when you weren't planning on going shopping and didn't B.Y.O.B (bring your own bag) you don't have to worry- the bi bag is easy to grab and go, without having to stuff your shopping into your purse or pockets due to lack of foresight!</div><div><br /></div><div>This has become a Monday tradition in our house and I am starting to understand the thrill of getting a mixed bag full of seasonal organic produce. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOhGjUE6iPzPvE1AK8-3Lmoqnd25YBI6Q4cKBf4o6fncFmONQs8uCSxRICD-mkvu0c3n8o8NW_TLRUzmDjY0YPScI8Gnv7vfHXlYxLj7zwr7q9QsE6Ed75Uiv8oajhueVMHeMhIw18l8/s320/sign.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702282552429388178" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span><div>There are some staples to the Bio c'bon bag- for example you are gauranteed a head of lettuce, a hearty handful of carrots, and a replenishing stock of onions and shallots- but there is also the element of surprise which in the past few weeks has included sweet potatoes and napa cabbage (did someone say <a href="http://www.parispaysanne.com/kimchi">kimchi</a>?)</div><div><br /></div><div>Bio c'bon has stores <a href="http://www.bio-c-bon.eu/magasins.html">all over the city</a> and every one of them offers the Bio Bag. The majority of the stores are also open on Sundays, so if you can't make it to the organic <a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2010/10/day-55-marche-of-month-raspail.html">Marché Raspail </a>, I highly recommend giving Bio c'bon and their bountiful paniers bio a try!</div>Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-27244549253718858392012-01-20T18:36:00.000+01:002012-09-25T20:02:21.891+02:00Marché du Mois: Marché Bastille<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJi7RL8BTkbxMHa-HJpkNT1lszovYlC701ziVyzKkkUgtSzhs0uviAN5e5KI5zWozFpX0BANk4f3nXkQesjMQ-05UKcH1IwotqmU3JVNhJD_UgE5ETG08UpGCsDUiREQzhEMaaKgQ9CYs/s1600/IMG_2121.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIjkbDxu4Nw5PF2uRb3UykcxUETaTLE-sKky-0fP_qdVVZe8v3p62SsC2Cv0wDsCSoLRFQvzJFZNgmZ5YyzKK1J_dZnbxLvGbV4mbE1HON-UhdYU-UAzFl_MGKYFH8A0aM8ux0s6NfMg/s1600/bastille.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699784735910736146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIjkbDxu4Nw5PF2uRb3UykcxUETaTLE-sKky-0fP_qdVVZe8v3p62SsC2Cv0wDsCSoLRFQvzJFZNgmZ5YyzKK1J_dZnbxLvGbV4mbE1HON-UhdYU-UAzFl_MGKYFH8A0aM8ux0s6NfMg/s320/bastille.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 239px;" /></a>The Marché Bastille is so huge that, once I got there, I couldn't believe I had never stumbled upon it in all my time in Paris. The silver lining of the cloud that was an insanely early rendez-vous with French bureaucrats on the nearby rue de la Roquette, was that it got me up in time to check out this gigantic market that takes up a good bit of Bd. Richard Lenoir.<br />
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As I began to wander around the market in what early morning sunlight managed to break through foreboding January clouds, the revellers on their way home from the area's many bars reminded me of former <i>nuits blanches</i> and the fact that I don't spend too much time on this side of the sunrise.* </div>
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<i>*Editor's note: I'm totally exagerrating, it was like 9h30 when I got to the market- but to justify my crankiness I had been up since 7 a.m, making the whole day feel like it was way too early for anything to be happening. I am not a morning person.</i></div>
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My uncharacteristic Early-Birdishness was rewarded when I finally got through the stands of tacky clothing and bulk deoderant and shampoo vendors (which are way too-often a part of the market and have no business being in Paris where you can buy clothes and toiletries in a great many locations) and reached the seemingly endless booths overflowing with produce and other foodstuffs.</div>
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I did my habitual tour, happy to be back in a <i>marché</i> after the holidays had taken over so much time that I hadn't set foot in an outdoor market almost since my last Marché du Mois adventure.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699785891529704050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJi7RL8BTkbxMHa-HJpkNT1lszovYlC701ziVyzKkkUgtSzhs0uviAN5e5KI5zWozFpX0BANk4f3nXkQesjMQ-05UKcH1IwotqmU3JVNhJD_UgE5ETG08UpGCsDUiREQzhEMaaKgQ9CYs/s320/IMG_2121.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 239px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></span><br />
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The Marché Bastille is not lacking in choices, yet it isn't immediately impressive as far as local and ethically produced items go. </div>
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Having said that, I would hazard a guess that you can find at least one local and/or organic vendor for any item you may be looking for. It seems to me that a succesful shopping trip at the Bastille market would involve finding, and patronizing, these diamonds in the ruffage.</div>
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I was laden down by a bursting <i>dossier</i> of originals + 3 copies of every bit of paperwork relating to my lie that I could find in order to calm <i>les bureaucrates</i>, so wasn't really in the market for marketing, but I managed to take some photos of vendors that I will visit on my next early morning adventure to Marché Bastille.</div>
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I hope they will help readers find spot these vendors if they have the chance to go to this market. Frequent visitors of Marché Bastille are also encouraged to share their <i>bonnes adresses! </i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699784944143795682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSk5ggzH4QfzvjmVmGmCkmFIwGRrZ5V4voZx45FtvcBBeI1B_6e-lh9e0NjVDHMT2q3aAFC5QhwLHOKE7qA50G1S4A8ZYt7tGcIo1Ixix5O5lxk-fqqsAboSdaOZGEXHDkeXBEZx0clo/s320/veggies.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 239px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></span><br />
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As far as veggies go, I saw some stands that were very loud and proud of their organic status, waving their <i>Agriculture Biologique</i> flags in the Winter wind, but honestly I'm kind of sick of seeing these organic vendors selling totally inappropriate tomatoes, bell peppers, and zucchinis in the middle of January. If you're dying to break from the season, then I would encourage doing it organically, but I'm not really interested in the possibility of eating an imported tomato when the bounty of the colder months is really quite rich.</div>
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That's why this little, unassuming (they didn't even have a sign up of where their farm was located as far as I could see) <i>maraîcher </i>stole my heart. Amid the foreign fruits and flashy vegetables, this vendor clung to agricultural tradition like the dirt on their own vegetables. So reassuring to see on so many levels. </div>
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How can anyone ignore the awesomeness of Winter produce? Carrots, brussel sprouts, black radish, spinach, turnips, leeks, the list goes on... I guess you've got to eat it to believe it, and this little vendor would be a good gateway drug to get you going...</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699785228854745810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiio4PYxW4-BbmoNLbkK3qahI3wZtxLEZjWJtM1Xeix5zyf-GuFClTNKYkxkWnEMvFDyzvqfo_77z0ZBSz0WuFWXkLN5CzV-0_THekqihC1A8RBrd8EmD2UaOtjRYvpdiz-nHWHBVIjd60/s320/oysters.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 239px;" /></span><br />
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Ever since moving to France, my holiday traditions have increasingly included oysters- it's gotten to be kind of an obsession, a pleasure that almost eclipses all the other joys of the season. My fervor for <i>fruits de mer </i>was dampened when my <i>belle mère </i>called me in a panic one day to tell me that she had seen a documentary on <i>Arte</i> which explained that the large majority of oysters are in fact genetically modified. The damage had been done as I had already eaten my fill of oysters from what now seemed to be surely questionable sources, but I vowed that in the future I'd try my best to find sustainable sources of organic oysters.</div>
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Enter my new favorite Poissonière at Marché Bastille. Forget pech à la ligne, these guys go after their oysters using the "Pêche à Pied" method, which means they roll up their fisherman pants and wade into the muck looking for wild oysters to bring to the market. I've read up a little on <i>la pêche à pied </i>and it's pretty great (if you don't mind getting dirty). Regulations on the size of the shellfish, as well as the times you can fish and the amount you can take home protect wild shellfish from being over-fished or put in any danger of extinction.</div>
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I didn't grab the name of this fishmonger (bad blogger!!) but you will recognize the family's stand because it's the only one that proudly states that they are botht the direct <i>producteur</i> and <i>distributeur</i> of their seafood.</div>
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Marché Bastille also has a large selection of bakeries selling specialty breads and butchers that probably count in their company at leqst one local producer (you're on your own for finding that diamond in the rough), but one thing that stood out to me- probably because I haven't seen it in a lot of <i>marchés- </i>was the fresh eggs vendor. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699785556603831618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfXsITZ4DpRuUmnOw7wbK_3IGNen3D2VXcFvGpxft7zzP4ax_FUMenbJyW-7VCiqiyoEV83yEscnkVH6qAwpTMixjpTncJXEowPPB5-_k3e31chz4-NiYdTbXbRdJHxtHAtrW3Po7r-A/s320/eggs.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 239px;" /></span><br />
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Gathered from free-range animals, this vendor doesn't stop at your run-of-the-mill chicken eggs, but also offers lovely, enormous goose eggs. These eggs looked so perfect in this French market that I wondered why they haven't been incorporated into a national dish of some kind. Also, why have I never tried a goose egg? Also, is there some pun in here about goose eggs that I'm missing?</div>
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All in all, the Marché Bastille is a great stop for a shop or a stroll, and I found myself taking just as many pictures of my surroundings as the Japanese tourists who were working the same circuit. The market is, more than anything- and like most things- a treasure hunt, and I hope that you will enjoy exploring it if you have the chance. </div>
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<b>Marché Bastille</b></div>
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Bd. Richard Lenoir 75011</div>
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m° Bastille (line 1, 5, and 8)</div>
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Hours:</div>
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Thursday: 7h30-14h30</div>
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Sunday: 7h-15h</div>
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Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-26146921778502094962011-12-16T17:39:00.000+01:002012-09-25T20:03:11.454+02:00Marché du Mois: Marché Couvert de Passy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmJVv5UshVWqj8s9WFZ5Hv8EwMx_dg6IMsWIGjpOJBsRKuh4WLiC3nIF2wr-10CtVpd8rRHBtlxc1zQEGgJVhIQqw3c3mxTwbY9DdbnSqSt6MNlSI9LlNffIYKxR8tAAIOcwa1hS6jSQ/s1600/far.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaIknLrit3SF8aPDmG1hte17TcdddN_jhDwy6t4wjLx4VhGX3BXmKcWIRks-DY82tKxY0gutvQoHY9wSm346ocA2gEsejgS6hrJ1aZRSVcIFhzCEav92dgC7z807AqvLAh-ubKiEa6do/s1600/near.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686790177952160258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaIknLrit3SF8aPDmG1hte17TcdddN_jhDwy6t4wjLx4VhGX3BXmKcWIRks-DY82tKxY0gutvQoHY9wSm346ocA2gEsejgS6hrJ1aZRSVcIFhzCEav92dgC7z807AqvLAh-ubKiEa6do/s320/near.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 239px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a>I'm as creeped out by the 16th arrondissement as the next 99%, but every once in a while I find myself called to visit this particular part of Paris, wandering the rues of the 16th's <i>quartiers chics.</i> <br />
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My most recent visit was motivated by the <a href="http://marche.equipement.paris.fr/March%C3%A9_couvert_de_Passy">compelling description </a>I read about the Marché Couvert de Passy, which promised fresh fish and foreign fromage. </div>
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By foreign fromage I mean cheddar, which is a rarity in Paris and is pretty much the reason why I elected the Marché Couvert de Passy as December's Marché du Mois. </div>
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Under a crisp blue winter sky, the market seemed bustling for a Wednesday afternoon- with eager shoppers squeezing into its entryways bookended with Christmas trees. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686790405822903538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEhNQYQv59Gu7gSPnv9roh4TT3XXN1Ur7sHzixZ_iM2HBSf3L_Pe0m3eupWa8LQwJJoTYuPQj859AJJLpCQEdngg_SxcKfdJzd6O6madfLEbCyDqnpHLLvyVd6fKzu-aeIBF87d0vcys/s320/thon.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 239px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></span><br />
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Once inside the market, I scanned my surroundings for the venders mentioned in the description, including the <i>Poissonnerie de Passy</i> and the fromagerie <i>Androuet</i>.</div>
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Despite its tiled walls and floor- the Marché Couvert de Passy is cosy and one can quickly take a tour around the economically organized space, which seems to be a former <i>Poissonerie.</i> </div>
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The scattered wall tiles dedicated to different types of fish are a nice tribute to the building's current incarnation as well, due to the fact that this market boasts several fishmongers. </div>
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I made my way to the reputed <i>Poissonnerie de Passy,</i> which is located at the back of the market and is made up of two stands- one for cuts of fish and another for shellfish, which includes a counter space for <i>dégustations </i>of wine and <i>fruits de mer</i>. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686790895298818018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-379mqlnFyeGCW4rIaDBBODLsIBBruilv6ttSfI8nLJNyAJDLqYWGOiw-DMhR69gtSsNto5jd9STwiMXTpGZILa7_ivXYa0tCn3M4JpZdPMNUsERk0h_H5BJCzGrw-5YJa763yO81Hyk/s320/bonite.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 239px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></span><br />
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The Poissonerie had a special on <i>Bonite</i> that day, which I tasted for the first time a few weeks ago at <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2005/06/le-verre-vol/">Le Verre Volé</a>. </div>
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Bonite (casually known as "the tuna you can buy") is of the Tuna family and is deemed to be in no danger of overfishing or extinction and therefore makes for a guilt-free, sustainable meal. It is delicious when seared and even better when served with brussels sprouts!</div>
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As far as vegetables are concerned, the vendors at Marché Passy demonstrate a preference for local and fresh produce. However, non-seasonal veggies were also in abundance, so shoppers who want to buy local should read labels to make sure they are purchasing hexagon-grown goodies. </div>
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And on to the <i>fromagerie, </i>where a warm welcome awaited me! </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686791155272869266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5c-0oJRhAE38AZUxu8SapS5EWKJFRU79lI5F4jbbPwm8se5oe4sERbW7kpB1dVQQ8NsTs-AHruGf4LEmWeQkiS9_AWkwZmoDPspe3uQNbQM5J0qZ3JjRFB6-KBA5c5_9xvuZjzm5gfv8/s320/cheese.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 239px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></span><br />
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As soon as I asked for my slice of cheddar at <i>Androuet</i> the vendor addressed me exclusively in English- but not in that <i>I'll-speak-English-to-this-tourist-so-that-the-transaction-is-completed-as-quickly-as-possible</i> English, just simply in a <i>I-like-speaking-English-to-English-speakers</i> English, which I don't mind responding to in, well, just normal English. We chatted about how great cheddar cheese is and he recommended I try the Stilton next time around, very impressive open mindedness for a French cheese vendor! </div>
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For a modest 4 euro, I had a hearty <i>tranche</i> of artisinal cheddar- which is worth its weight in gold this side of the pond!</div>
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While the eerily calm streets of the 16th may not beckon to me very often, I am happy to know that within this calm arrondissement there is the animated ambience that only a great neighborhood market can provide. </div>
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<b>Marché Couvert de Passy</b></div>
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Place de Passy</div>
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m° La Muette (line 9)</div>
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Hours:</div>
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Tues. - Fri. : 8h-13h and 16h-19h</div>
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Saturday: 8h30-13h and 15h30-19h</div>
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Sunday: 8h-13h</div>
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Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-85474971201359632112011-12-14T13:23:00.001+01:002011-12-14T15:55:44.603+01:00Buy Local Bandwagon: A Best of Buying Parisian<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROFjZOJ-k4GKoMilBpjrTNlr6nRvXs76nkYRg6ejA5ecymPj2V92fgzHFSRNwkwomDgCvsT1pwE6pL3z6SABgXcIce1D9_Do-hnybMbjPZZKsHlGP8yRa4Tw56U9In1FMOzwPeFdhPu0/s1600/ParisPaysannelogo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 236px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROFjZOJ-k4GKoMilBpjrTNlr6nRvXs76nkYRg6ejA5ecymPj2V92fgzHFSRNwkwomDgCvsT1pwE6pL3z6SABgXcIce1D9_Do-hnybMbjPZZKsHlGP8yRa4Tw56U9In1FMOzwPeFdhPu0/s320/ParisPaysannelogo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685967547503157378" /></a><br />French candidates for the presidency <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-06/-buy-french-becomes-crisis-battle-cry-in-france.html">have recently become proponents of the "Made in France" movement</a> and are integrating this mantra into their campaign platforms in a major way. <div><br /></div><div>While Bayrou and Sarkozy do a <i>Tour de France</i>, visiting factories and manufacturers producing goods within the hexagon, journalists on the other side of the pond are picking up on the trend, talking about <a href="http://m.npr.org/story/143538472?url=/2011/12/13/143538472/home-sweet-home-the-new-american-localism&sc=fb&cc=fp">"The New American Localism"</a>. <div><br /><div>While "localism" and "Made in France" may be the buzz words <i>du jour</i>, I am excited that they are entering common vernacular and that even the most corrupt of politicians is getting behind the basic idea that buying local is an important political and economic choice that benefits the community. </div><div><br /></div><div>Over the past year, I've had a lot of fun finding spots to support the super-local, places where you can find products produced in the Ile-de-France region that Paris calls home. For those of you getting on the localist bandwagon, here is a compilation of posts describing some great addresses where you will find local foods and products. Enjoy!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2010/11/day-80-marche-of-month-batignolles.html">Marché of the Month: Marché Batignolles</a></div><div>This 100% organic market in the 17th offers a wide variety of seasonal produce, with local producers in attendance. My favorite Ile-de-France vendors are the Maraichers from Meaux. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2010/12/day-110-get-out-of-way-gifts-guide.html">Out-of-the-Way Gifts Guide</a></div><div>This post gives addresses on where to find Parisian-made honey and some lovely French beers. Note that the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><b> </b>Cave à Bulles now stocks the Montreuil microbrew Zymotik! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2011/01/day-140-marche-of-month-marche-monge.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Marché of the Month: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Marché Monge</span></span></a></div><div>This market is home to one of my favorite local producers, located only 34 km from Paris Marc Mascett<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">i brings his local produce to the market, often offering heirloom and rarely seen varieties of local vegetables.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2011/02/valentines-day-local-ways-to-say-je.html">Valentine's Day: Local Ways to say "Je t'aime"</a></span></div><div>This Valentine's Day post offers ideas for lovely local gifts that are sure to make loved ones smile no matter what time of the year. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2011/02/day-159-little-market.html">A Little Market </a></div><div>This French version of Etsy includes several producers from the Ile-de-France region. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2011/03/saveurs-paris-ile-de-france-la-marque.html">Saveurs Paris Ile-de-France: La Marque Régionale</a></div><div>All about the one brand to rule them all! </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2011/05/beer-me-in-gay-paris.html">Beer Me in Gay Paris!</a> </div><div>Find out more about Parisian microbrews!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.blog.parispaysanne.com/2011/05/marche-du-mois-lechoppee-locale.html">Marché of the Month: L'Echoppée Locale</a></div><div>This boutique in the 3rd arrondissement exclusively stocks products from Ile-de-France.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I hope you have a chance to check some of these places out. If you have any of your own Ile-de-France addresses I'd love to hear about them!</div>Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-2660160953887719502011-11-28T18:42:00.000+01:002011-11-29T09:42:34.335+01:00Eating Abroad: Bio in Boston<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzf7TLtjtSwhDtZDrW23eJiWocF-hnas0t8M2sB029lWtlwWyXBIoTxDQrXU3wy2w784x0gBHcQOLZvHDQHLIyUH7Ba7X7323P7dr927ekb-GYQSSNarOZYs7sHoa_eZpuih_7GaqEyW0/s1600/Ten+Tables.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87QFBqmE4ABdEAqgoCJPuQny9Wb-F11mGUUdmt6hHJ4IbyRdL9m2P2Pga0x-AgpADCeJrEYE89lcYIZJ2kyeYDMImOqD7oJVL62GS7I1-v5_zpiqR-DFomj0xRxhnY15Kca2_bU1qgko/s1600/Bed+Frame.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87QFBqmE4ABdEAqgoCJPuQny9Wb-F11mGUUdmt6hHJ4IbyRdL9m2P2Pga0x-AgpADCeJrEYE89lcYIZJ2kyeYDMImOqD7oJVL62GS7I1-v5_zpiqR-DFomj0xRxhnY15Kca2_bU1qgko/s320/Bed+Frame.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680108729583012290" /></a><div>Given its rough seasons and unpredictable weather, one may not think of Boston as being capable of locally sourcing itself all year round. However, a visit to this fair city proves the contrary. On my last trip to the great Northeast, I found that Beantown serves up plenty of home-grown fare.</div><div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Boston’s proximity to the water allows access to amazing fish and seafood- most notably awesome meaty oysters- the best I’ve ever had. An acquired taste, Paris primed my appetite for this slimy delicacy, but Boston solidified my love of this magnificent mollusk. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><a href="http://easternstandardboston.com/">Eastern Standard</a> (528 Commonwealth Avenue), which should not be missed for its cocktails and all around exceptional meals featuringlocal ingredients, serves up standardly priced (2.50 /ea) oysters sourced from nearby Barnstable. Paired with a white wine chosen from the extensive wine list, you’ve got a great start to what promises to be an excellent dinner out.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidq6tdvRcJDUxYlE402b12ocK07QQ0vbXEgCgBO093Kp2rLL1Fjson4wiCd1x94iCKWwPFKVaJotAX6X_gvMuu12MHzjWFnS4u6ExQHna-moGOYFKheyRWZbN69JESqJ4kXhvRfmWQgM4/s320/Wine+Bottegq.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680108847104178834" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">If<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">drinking at home is more your thing, you can stock up your personal <i>cave à vin</i> at the <a href="http://thewinebottega.com/">Wine Bottega</a> (341 Hanover Street), a wine shop specializing in biodynamic and natural wines. I was excited to speak with the Frenchman manning the cash register when I visited the store, but my mood was further buoyed by the bottles stocked by the Bottega which included selections of European alcohols not often drunk this side of the pond- like artisinal <i>Poiré </i>from Normandy and Italian <i>Lambrusco</i>.</span></span></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">If you’re interested in finding out more and planning on being in Boston, I recommend you check out the Wine Bottega’s <a href="http://thewinebottega.com/events/">website</a>, where you’ll find their schedule of events and can choose a tasting you’d like to attend. Locals can even sign up with the store to participate in their “Farm to Glass” program and receive 6 or 12 bottles of organic, biodynamic, and natural wines delivered to your door.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">My trip to Boston was both for business and pleasure, with the wedding planning involved straddling the divide between these two distinctions. One order of planning business that quickly became classified as pleasurable was my tasting with the caters <a href="http://seasontotastecatering.com/">Season to Taste</a>. Full-on food activists, the staff of Season to Taste takes local to the extreme- proposing ever-changing seasonal menus that are entirely sourced by local farms and fisheries.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnUCk9abDM2EmI2YjjmpT5B4l5da4GaaIu9YcAFlP-l9iL9xOfuwkhY2NYuvBcMmmlZAc2x-hz8IUIa1CuwCGwc4JzVHYtAZMoAQSCRNTSkXtS4QKsIRCXjxB_sbvOp_AiPgq-1vGgEk/s320/STS+Beqn+Cqke.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680108992876738722" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Every product on their menu is locally grown, pasture fed or line caught, and native to the region. Our private tasting with Chef Sam was an absolute delight and brought us on a tour of the treasures of the Northwest, with seafood including fresh striped sea bass, crab cakes, and oysters. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Autumnal vegetables held their own against the proteins, with the fennel, snow peas, mushrooms, and fresh herbs making an argument for visiting the farmer’s market the next day (I spotted two great Farmer’s Markets during my visit- both on Saturdays, in Jamaica Plain and the other right on Copley Square).</span></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Chef Sam ended the meal with chocolate truffles he had whipped up that afternoon and then sent us each home with a jar of homemade strawberry jam, a souvenir to keep until we meet again in August for the nuptial meal.</p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0jtPucwfWR7KbLOOMHr-Kt_75s-ADlzaG0dECbzWdrlelIYXXdjExfApKx6aAZzauRhxMErp-drgEc2p0eJ-u3wNUcCrvPxFAwW7lMmRuc0JRzx-9hN-n3uvaiAGZ5iXKyNWcz4-Pag/s320/brussles.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680109166699822226" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">My last night in Boston was commemorated by one last opportunity to enjoy a Massachusetts-sourced meal. <a href="http://www.tentables.net/">Ten Tables </a>(locations in Jamaica Plain, Cambridge, and Provincetown) describe their food shopping habits as “European” meaning that they stick close to home when picking out proteins and produce. The restaurant's philosophy, however, seems quintessentially American- with a focus on being part of the community through being “good neighbors, by supporting the efforts of our local partners and by welcoming you to feel as comfortable as you are in your own home.”</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Me and my sister certainly felt at home in the cosy and just-the-right-amount crowded restaurant. We started with some delicious cocktails- as one does on a last night in town- and I discovered the pleasures of White Linnet which was the base of <i>The Gaston 76</i> (White Linnet, cucumber, and tarragon). I then delved into a roasted beet salad accented with greens a walnut and black pepper <i>purée</i>. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">For our main dishes I enjoyed a Portuguese fish stew which owed its excellence to the inclusion of delicious clams thqt I couldnùt get enough of. My sister took advantage of an opportunity to eat ethical meat and ordered the Hangar Steak with bread pudding.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The high note of our meal came at the end when the cherry on top was not a cherry at all, but an unparalleled salt brittle atop a pumpkin crisp with molasses ice cream. Hats off to you, pastry chef! After stuffing my face with cupcakes all week (more wedding business/pleasure tasting), this light yet filling fall dessert hit the spot!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzf7TLtjtSwhDtZDrW23eJiWocF-hnas0t8M2sB029lWtlwWyXBIoTxDQrXU3wy2w784x0gBHcQOLZvHDQHLIyUH7Ba7X7323P7dr927ekb-GYQSSNarOZYs7sHoa_eZpuih_7GaqEyW0/s320/Ten+Tables.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680109362659316050" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Ten Tables also has an enticing bar menu and the vibe on that side of the resto is just as cosy- I would highly recommend pulling up a bar stool for a wine pairing and enjoying the ambience that this neighborhood restaurant has created- it’s enough to make you want to become a local!</span></span> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And so my Northeast adventure ended, with plenty of new addresses, memories, and the promise of oysters left unturned and more of the unexpectedly rich bounty of the Boston area.</p></div>Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4099751544012647164.post-83704682127134174342011-11-23T04:13:00.004+01:002012-03-19T17:41:42.701+01:00Local in the Lone Star State: East Side Show Room<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJA_7Xz9y0d1qb8wIGXXE_YofJziipl7_YXC-oKqj_3dXQC4jpHqcttU87FhwZch8-Sj23KHgA6yC_DOc6rmtM25uNiyOgwppsttAelDk-bD7fnuBLzFHwwqRTQWKgDnug6-yPQcnwr18/s1600/Crawfish.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJA_7Xz9y0d1qb8wIGXXE_YofJziipl7_YXC-oKqj_3dXQC4jpHqcttU87FhwZch8-Sj23KHgA6yC_DOc6rmtM25uNiyOgwppsttAelDk-bD7fnuBLzFHwwqRTQWKgDnug6-yPQcnwr18/s320/Crawfish.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678034680051453666" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">Austin is weird- or at least the Austin you are most likely to see on your first night in Austin is weird. Walking down the booze soaked strip of 6<sup>th</sup> Street is, unexpectedly and kind of unfortunately, a common and baffling first visit stop for the Austin tourist.</span></a><p class="MsoNormal">I spent my first night in Austin wandering this rue of revelers, wondering how all these bachelors and undergrads could be so drunk before 10 pm, what bartender meant when they offered “triples for 5 dollars”, and if the two were connected. </p><p class="MsoNormal">On my stroll down the block, a bikini-clad cowboy donning a confederate flag as a cape crossed my path and my first impressions were confirmed, <i>Austin</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> is really weird</i>.</p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Austin is also amazing. This is what I discovered on my second night, when my path led off the beaten path and eastward to the East 6th Street neighborhood. This newly cool-ified neighborhood houses a DIY Drive-In, a parking lot turned food truck court, and some dive bars that brought me back to my days in the Northwest.</p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnNvZpogwrYU8y94VRSxciFoNm-osYDhskwoTMhT27N1WNeqBcIpmsl565N9USokF172gZ7asluqEo_VzouDYk_2XQB9ksWp0p5dif7ENTjc3dALNd24xIp57QmyKMcC7RGnf8arSy3I/s320/ES+Showroom.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678035208170914178" />My final destination was 1100 East 6<sup>th</sup> Street, which will from now on be known as my favorite Austin address. This is where you will find <a href="http://eastsideshowroom.com/">East Side Show Room </a>a cocktail bar and restaurant that emits an upscale ambience while embracing local Texan flavor.</div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">The blackboard menu boasts daily specials along with the promise that all ingredients are 100% made in Texas, and you can't mess with that. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Upon arrival, I settled into the mood-lit bar with my book and a <a href="http://tequilaocho.com/unique.aspx">Tequila Ocho </a>Margarita and looked over the dinner menu. Grilled Gulf Shrimp were a given for the starter. I can't get enough of the local seafood and am I little disappointed that I didn't get to cash in on crawfish season while in town. But the main course was a little more difficult to settle on.</p><p class="MsoNormal">While carnivores had a wide (free) range of choices on the menu- grassfed veal burger, pork loin, and goat chop, to name a few- I had narrowed the vegetarian options down to a delicious sounding acorn squash with a sweet and savory stuffing and the (maybe vegetarian?) Black Drum served with olives, fennel, and seasonal veggies.</p><p class="MsoNormal">This is how seduced I was by this place- I didn't even care what the Black Drum was- animal, mineral,vegetable whatever- I ordered it and was going to eat it no matter what.</p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLUGAbnDqMk4V5monpjU4eZeFExOLUmeWCpdhJxrgrPXSXByqcv6pbwErbIYvbPryaYSzBm6h7oCgzO5wUWadOo_GVfC3xYsh25RizhW6nb2vhe2mRYa5mW_XyoeO2Cq3ObyOooffAqY/s320/Bartender.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678035712205963714" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal">It turns out Drum is fish (Southern friends can laugh at me at this point- but Californians, have you ever heard of this?) and it is also delicious. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Everything was delicious, actually. I'm not a food writer and I don't have the vocabulary to convey how great this food was, but here are some of my favorites flavors as I ate, while sipping on a glass of chilled Picpoul (what?! This is my favorite little white wine-you had me at hello, East Side Show Room!):</p><p class="MsoNormal">-Crispy polenta with wilted spinach crowned with GIANT (Texas, right?) shrimp that was grilled like they should be.</p><p class="MsoNormal">-A thick filet of Drum with snow peas and just enough salt from the kalamata olives and sweetness from the end-of-the-season tomatoes to make the dish perfection on a plate.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUKdQZ4MFCv3NOy1-kUZiA19J0Chu1K-xx_PHz4_X0-UfzWq9dYdtnX1vqG_P7qaGPTBH2qO4WsiollZOCOF5meeXH8nEQqaznBATEjYRl13KrS8iYmK1hNO318SA0kqLCIO91axlrss/s320/Shrimp.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678036114306232146" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">-The sweet taste of success one relishes upon having one of those meals you will never forget. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Thank you chef Sonya Cote, keep doing what you're doing and also thank you awesome bartender, who took care of this goofy traveler as she geeked out on great food and occupied and candle-lit corner with her book and the best night out she's had in a long time!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div></div>Paris Paysannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12143962099639398698noreply@blogger.com0