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Forget about the little refrigerator magnet of Notre Dame, the snow dome of Arc de Triomphe, or the miniature Tour Eiffel. (What dust collectors!) I promise you there are many products that can serve both as reminders of Paris and as a sign of carefully chosen gifts.
- For chefs or foodies: Maille has many excellent varieties of mustard. They also sell their own brand of vinegar, gherkins, mayonnaise, oil, and blended spices. Place de la Madeleine (Métro: Madeleine).
- For meticulous groomers: Fragonard fragrance for men and women, toiletries, cosmetics, body care products, and candles. 196 Boulevard St Germain (Métro: St Germain or Rue du Bac), 39 Boulevard des Capucines (Métro: Opera), and 9 Rue Scribe (Métro: Opera).
- For the Catholic: Hand woven rosaries from the church of St Julien le Pauvres. What makes these rosaries unique is the material. Unlike rosaries from Notre Dame or Sacré Coeur, which are made with rosewood, glass, or plastic, St Julien's rosaries are hand woven from rope. St Julien is the patron saint for the poor; thus, the material reflects his lifestyle. (He gave away all his fortune to live amongst the poor and tend for them as his own.) RER: St Michel-Notre Dame.
- For book lovers: A book from Shakespeare and Company stamped with the inscription "Kilomètre Zéro, Paris". 37 Rue de la Bucherie (Métro: St Michel).
- For lovers of unique, pretty things: Remnants of beautiful fabric from Marché d'Aligre make lovely cushion covers or pillowcases. Métro: Ledru Rollin.
- For the young and young at heart: Marionettes and puppets at Arche de Noé or Les 2 Tisserins. 70 rue St-Louis-en-Île (Métro: Pont Marie) or Rue des Bernardins (Métro: Maubert-Mutualité).
- For tea drinkers: Mariage Frères has more than 500 different kinds of tea; most cannot be found anywhere else in the world. 30 Rue du Bourg-Tibourg.
- For Chanel tastes and Revlon budgets: Try Bourjois cosmetic at Monoprix. They have 30 different locations.
- For independent thinkers of the masculine persuasion: La Samaritane has socks. Yes, sock, but not your ordinary coloured and patterned socks. Just wait until you see them!
- Generally: wine, pâté de foie gras, gourmet sardines or mackerels, chocolate, and scarves are all better than the usual dust collectors. Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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| | | | To Buy Or Not To Buy A Scarf | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Each time we go somewhere, I buy a scarf. That's the only thing I can buy that doesn't cause me pain when I get back home and face the tiny wardrobe in our ancient house. There are only a few places on earth where a woman can find good scarves almost any day of the week, and one of them is Paris.
Buying scarves is not a simple matter, let me tell you. Charles has suffered through many scarf-buying excursions and he now knows the requirements a scarf must have to earn the privilege of taking up precious space in our wardrobe. He now can act as my scarf screener. That's pretty good for a jeans-and-T-shirt ex-surfer, I would say.
Don't buy just any scarf. You wouldn't want to live in just in any house, eat just any food, or read just any book, would you? A scarf is a woman's personality; it needs to reflect your quirkiness and your idea of fun, as well as your standards of value.
A multi-coloured scarf that is long enough to wrap around the neck several times emits a sense of bohemian.
A silk scarf with hand rolled edges and hand stitches hems says quality ranks high on your list.
A large square scarf in twill says you repect traditions.
A pashmina in soft-coloured cashmere and silk blend is a good combination of modern fashion and classic value.
A fake pashmina in viscose or polyester says you are a trend follower, this is your first scarf, and you will probably never use it again after you get home.
If you wear a scarf with a tag that says silk, but a touch and look at the material says otherwise, you are probably the same person who buys Louis Vuitton from a tarp on the sidewalk.
A Hermès scarf says you are loaded with money.
A scarf with Hermès pattern that costs less than a few hundreds Euro? See fake pashmina and fake silk above.
So where can you buy a good scarf? Anywhere -- except tourist shops where souvenir items are sold on the same premises. Au Printemps, La Samaritaine, Galeries Lafayette, and Carrousel du Louvre (I love that place) are good shopping malls or department stores. Les Puces de St-Ouen is a huge flea market where you may be lucky and find plenty of treasures. The best places, however, are the small and unassuming boutiques, the ones you pass by on your walk somewhere. That's where you are more likely to find scarves that are not on every other woman's neck.
After buying a scarf, make sure to ask the clerk to show you how to tie it. Don't worry whether the scarf will match your wardrobe; a new sense of style will emerge when you allow the adventurous spirit to step in now and then. Just buy the best scarf and let the rest follow. Leave a Comment Theme: Women's Clothes
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| | | | Laduree: French macaroons : the originals | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Forget about coconuts, authentic macaroons are made of almonds, eggs and sugar (the coconut ones are called "rochers" in France). They consist of 2 small round, crisp on the outside, smooth in the middle cakes hold togheter by a layer of soft and flavoured 'Ganache'.
Maison Laduree, where now figure more than 20 different macaroons sorts, was created in 1862 by Louis Ernest Ladurée, a miller from the Southwest. His original bakery was transformed in a tea room by his wife and decorated by the painter and poster Jules Cheret during the 2nd Empire. While savouring Laduree's pastries, you can still admire his frescos inspired by the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
MACAROONS (small and large), also chocolates, fruit preserves, teas, champagne and dessert wines
From 5 Euros on (a nice macaroons filled parcel with chocolates from 20 Euros on) Leave a Comment Theme: Food and DrinkAddress: 16, rue Royale 75008 ParisPhone: 01.42.60.21.79Directions: Rue Royale, between Eglise de la Madeleine and Place de la ConcordeWebsite: http://www.laduree.fr/ Other Contact: contact@laduree.fr
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| | | | Maison Maille: La moutarde me monte au nez | Tip Rating: | | | | |
What would french cooking be whitout mustard, vinegars and spices ?
The slightly irritating mustard's taste is used to enhance so many french recipes and is so familiar that the expression 'la moutarde me monte au nez' has become a common way to say 'i'm gradually growing irritated'.
Thus, it's not a surprise to find a shop entirely dedicated to ... mustards.
Created in 1720 by Antoine Maille, the "Maison Maille" was officially registered in 1747 and still exists under the same name an location.
There, you can find, not only mustards (about 20 different sorts), but also vinegars, gherkins, mayonnaises, mixed spices and hand made ceramic replicas of ancients mustard, oil or vinegar containers
Baskets and wooden boxes filled with mustards and vinegars
Condiments in ancient presentations
Depends on what you buy, prices from about 10 Euros on. Leave a Comment Theme: Food and DrinkAddress: 6, place de la Madeleine - 75008 ParisPhone: 01 40 15 06 00Directions: In front of the Eglise de la Madeleine Metro MadeleineWebsite: http://www.maille.com/
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| | | | Maison de Paris: Best (& Cheapest) Souvenirs in Paris! | Tip Rating: | | | | |
MAISON DE PARIS
"la boutique de vos souvenirs pour vous offrir le meilleur de Paris"
The shop of your memories to offer the best of Paris to you!
I found this pretty little souvenir shop on the Left Bank, around the corner from my fave hotel. The shop is cute and the proprietor, Pierrick Brunel, is VERY charming and exceptionally nice who speaks excellent English, and was ever-so-willing to help me with my rudimentary French. He even was kind enough to steer me away from the cheesy stuff and gave me good deals on items I bought in bulk, such as small Eiffel Towers (10ff in 2001), then he threw in some Eiffel Tower key rings for free. He also gave me advice on how to spot quality souvenir items should I decide to buy them elsewhere.
Monsieur Brunel sells high-quality yet relatively inexpensive souvenirs. For instance, those Eiffel Tower key chains that you buy from the sellers near the Eiffel Tower for 2€ each can be bought at Maison Paris at 10 for 2€ total here.
Needless to say, I try to get here every year!
They have everything so it's a one-stop shop: a wide range of postcards, t-shirts, sweatshirts, Christmas ornaments, Eiffel Towers in varying sizes, keychains (ET & otherwise), miniature monuments, snowglobes, Paris bells, colored bath salts, Provençal lavender-filled sachets, Limoges ware, cool Parisian aprons, just a grand assortment of things.
Really, really pretty postcards here. Items ran from the very inexpensive typical cards to some arty, art noveau die-cut "postcards" by l'Ombre Bleue that you mail in an envelope. My Mom & Nanny (grandmother) enjoyed receiving the latter.
I don't know about you but I always feel compelled to get little inexpensive souvenirs (they DO have lovely real Limoges ware) but only want to shop for it once. And it's all here! :D
Photos: Feb 2006 & April 2003
This is the cheapest place I've found them and of good quality, too; all cheaper than anyplace I've come across near Notre-Dame, the Bir Hakeim near Eiffel Tower, or in Montmartre.
You should be able to haggle/bargain with the owner. Leave a Comment Theme: GiftsAddress: 5 Quai de Montebello, Paris, France 75005Phone: 01 46 33 20 53Directions: It is situated at 5, Quai de Montebello between rue Frederic-Sauton & rue Maitre Albert on the left bank side facing Notre Dame running along the Seine, roughly about 5-10 minutes walk east from Shakespeare & Co. & almost at Pont de l'Archeveche.Website: http://www.parissouvenirs.com/page/maisondeparis.htm Other Contact: maisondeparis@parissouvenirs.com
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