Bon Appétit

The macaron might have had most of the sweet spotlight these past few years, but that other classic French treat, the madeleine, should not be underestimated for its powers of satisfaction. The madeleine is a little sponge in the shape of a scallop shell. Writer Marcel Proust transformed it into a cultural icon when he […]

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It’s April Fool’s Day — or, as the French say, Poisson d’Avril (April Fish), where the joke is in kids sticking as many paper fish onto the backs of unsuspecting adults as possible. The origin of this long-time tradition is unclear. It could have something to do with the New Year having once begun on […]

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Paris is full of paradoxes. Parisians who seem eternally slim despite all that wine and cheese. A city that is discreet and conservative — and that has been known to also erupt into revolutions and rebellions. Polite little Parisian children who always say oui… who grow up into Parisian adults who love to say non. […]

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Chai lovers, rejoice: Parisian baristas have come around to the seductiveness of creamy, spicy chai. You might not yet find it in every corner café, but the specialist spots that brew chai do it so well that a trek will be well rewarded. Five to try:  Café Loustic, 40 Rue Chapon 75003  The fabulously tall glass of day-fuelling chai comes in a choice of milks; the oat is magnifique.   Café Kitsune, […]

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