Chinese New Year In Paris
Do you know where host the biggest china town among the EU? The answer is Paris! I didn't know it until one night I randomly asked google searching for answer last month, then I talked my husbandits might be a very good idea we go celebrating the Chinese new year in Paris, first of all we can finally meet our be-loving little sister Summer, and we really haven't spent time exploring in big city for a long time. so without much hesitation, we immediately book us train tickets, and bnb, and we call this coming trip is our Christmas present for both us, just need to wait for a month to cash it.
Our bnb is located in 7 floors height building in Mares, which we already knew before we booked it, however I can only feel the pain when weclimbing those never end stairs in reality. Nevertheless we did living in a very hip and convenient neighborhood.Numbers of chic café, artisan bakery, high rated restaurants they are in walking distance.
We didn't make much plans but exploring the biggest China town in Europe, and having Chinese new year eve dinner with ourlittle sister Summer. Although, I think I am pretty good in improvising some other activities to fill up our daily schedules...
1. Chez Janou
Our first arrival french dinner is the local well known restaurant. We were lucky be able to book a table at 7pm by the bar table.but due to some French reason the restaurant couldn't find our reservation when we at the door, and suddenly we upgraded to nice two seats conner table instead. We both ordered starter this time, one fried tiny little fishes and something like frechfries butit made out of hummus. Unfortunately we not very enjoy the starters, but the main course is definitely wonderful. especially thecrispy but juicy pinky duck breast. If people ever asked which country cook the best duck of the world? I bet the answer will be two, one is Chinese's Beijing duck, and the other is French's duck breast.
2. Marché Dauphine
We had never come to this flea market, nevertheless both us visited Paris already several times. The reason we were here is looking for a baroque style painting frame to pair one of my painting to another. However we couldn't find one in the end. plus this fleamarket are way too expensive. I wouldn't call this place is for cheap vintage shits but more like collector antique market.
3. Le Centre Pompidou
Currently they hosting an exhibition about Suzanne Valadon. I didn't know much about her before we came, I was mostly attracted by somepaintings of her, which give me a feeling like Mattise. then thanks for the long queue of waiting times, I had managed wiki her online.Maybe I shouldn't had done it, after I read her biography, I just have one conclusion which is french artists they all seem to have somecomplicated love histories, doesn't mater they are male or female. and maybe just because of this complications which invoked their creativities?Anyway, I will keep the good part of her, and simply forget those things I dont need to know. In this exhibition I am very admire how she choose the colors for woman's portrait paintings. Pastel apricot, top with pink, and shadow with violet blue. She is really good in leaving some tiny smallcolor contrast details, which we won't be able to see it if we not personally stand in front the real artwork, using our own eyes get the closer look.I have an idea for my new painting, base on one of her poster sketch. I am thinking to apply the painting with her excellent colour schemes, and then telling a story base on myself instead. (hopefully I can make some times to make it in the coming future. )
4. Parvis Notre dame get a commemorative coin and swing by Samaritaine buy a shopping tote bag.
5. French Breakfast at Back In Black
Something I found it very special about my breakfast, and I must to write it down so I can make it myself at home. Brioche I had only once as pastry, and I was not a fan to be honestly. but using Brioche bun as burger? that I thinkonly french people allows to do so. Such airy milky bread, spreading with pesto, sprinkle with quite amount of parmasancheese, stuffed with valeriana locusta salad and sunny side up egg. Het is zalig!! I really need to make some time to learn how to home baking some tiny Brioche buns, so I can perfectly reduplicated this dish for our breakfast at home!
6. Boutiques in Marais
My conclusion is : Too many Japanese products, and too little made in France.
7.China Town In 13E ARR.
We came visited this area on the day of Chinese new year eve. In my imagination is should be very festive, like what we had experienced in London last year. however the reality is very disappointing, there were only new years flags decorated along the street, no big event and no street food vendors. I kinda knew it might be like, when I realized the entire celebrating program will only happend on the weekend (which is not chinese new year at all.) but I wasn't expecting there were literally nothing at all. Anyway, I have no one to blame but me, should had check it before we came. (but we had book everything beforeChristmas, I am serious doubting they had planed the program so early.)
8. La Grande Épicerie
I googled what is the most expensive supermarket in Paris, and it shows me this one. I am certainly not came to spent all my money for the expensive groceries, mostly been curious about what those rich french people shops if they going to cook at home. And this high end groceries store totally not disappointed me at all, everything are so fuking expensive for sure. A bag of chipsstarting price from 6 euros, no simple tonic water but only fancy packaged tonic water, the most expensive yuzu flavor costs 14euros per bottle. however I do have something I really want to buy here, which is the best french butter! I think I had been looking for the most wonderful french butter for years in the Netherlands or Belgium. I want that kind of butter I had in french dinning, andI want the butter stored at home, so I can taste it anytime I want without spent tone of money in french restaurant. Did I found one in the end ? yes, I finally found it! This brand called "Le Beurre Bordier" which is all time favorite for those Michelinstars chef, and there are lot of Asians people standing front the butter fridge shopping decks of butters! Thanks God! I finally found it. the holly mother butter! *(then I google more online, turn out I can save my trouble carry them home, there is a online gourmet storein Amsterveen which can delivery to our door, just need some extra shipping fee. )
9. Gros Boa_European Asian Restaurant
I booked this restaurant for our Chinese new year eve dinner with our little sister in the very beginning of January. I didn't know this is not authentic Chinese food until I had the barbecued pork in my mouth. What the hell why thisclassic dish doesn't taste slight sweet? and the beef stir fried rice noodle so chewed? Then Summer told me, shecategories this kind of restaurants to EUROPEAN ASIAN. Pretty food presentation, authentic and chic interior, butthe target customers are none asian people but caucasian. I found very amused by it, because what she said to me is truth. we looked around this busy and fulled seated restaurant, only me and my sister are asians. Anyway, the food is not that bad if I have to be fair, plus they did provided us a very Chinese new year atmosphere with those red lanterns. Me and my husband both agree this dinnerwith summer, its definitely the high tide through our visiting in Paris.
10. 7 Baguettes and 7 crossants
I almost visited every bakeries in Marais, and every store I ordere one baguette and one croissant.I think there are two type of croissants in Paris (I guess), one is almost like bread kind of texture, small honey combs inside;another one is very crispy and airy, big honey combs inside. I was trying to make a small testing competition myself to see which bakery made the best croissant, then I give up. They all very good!! It more like what people's preference tho.Oh! yes I also bought 7 baguettes as well, I ran like crazy asian at 9 am morning in Marais, doors by doors hunting for baguette. Because me and my husband really love french baguette, and we are going to stored them in our freezer. for the coming days, if we would like to have the most simple, delicious french food at home. No problem at all. we got plenty of baguettes and butter all from France :)