PEOPLE-ENG- Brigitte Macron, the next First Lady

Here they are now, on the threshold of the Presidential Elysees Palace, our local White House. A newcomer in politics, former banker and Ministre, Macron has almost won the top job last night. Emmanuel Macron had been the favourite in most surveys for weeks.  He managed to take the edge on the 10 other candidates, helped by  a « 12th candidate », his significant other, Brigitte. She has been « the one » since he was 15. Now, their romance is part of French History.

It was fated between these two soulmates

No matter what, Brigitte Macron has accompanied her husband everywhere, beaming like a star, always dolled up in luxury clothes on loan from the very exclusive brand LV (Louis Vuitton).  Brigitte has been so full of energy that she  really seemed to be the 12th candidate.

Will she be the most stylish French First Lady ever  ?  Errr, let’s have a look…

ENG-LIFESTYLE – Paris, my latest summer addresses

Here are a few places i have tested recently in Paris. The kind of places without tourists, only locals.

 

• Coulée Verte René Dumont, a greenery path in the city
• Glaces Glazed, a new ice cream maker 
• Rue Leopold Bellan, a street full of treasures

LIFESTYLE- A journey in Drome Lavender

Lavenders usually blossom from Mid June to August, it is about time to prepare your lavender trip in the South.

See some wonderful places to visit in the region of Drome Provencale ( Provence Drome), a rural region located in  Northern  Provence, full of hidden treasures.

France, Rhone Alpes region, Drome, Grignan village, well-knowed for its castle where Madam Sevigne lived and died in 1696 and its lavender fields

 

LIFESTYLE- Marvels galore at Aux Merveilleux

A very yammy pastry boutique nests near the Boulevard Saint Germain, at 300 meters from the St Michel Boulevard and its subway station.

The number of products looks scarce in comparison with other French pastry shops, but you cannot take your eyes off the  exciting colourful marvels, those mysterious domes full of promises.

 

You may find all this very basic,  but taste them and you will fall in love with their heavenly taste, designed by pastry master from Lille,  Frederic Vaucamps.

LIFESTYLE – Un Jour à Paris

Looking for a simple and quiet place to romance your significant other in a original Parisian atmosphere ? Or a cosy restaurant for a dinner in family ?

A very cute bar restaurant in the heart of Paris, here is Un Jour à Paris. Not to be confused with other places using the same name, this one is Rue de l’Echiquier, in the 10th district of Paris, the theaters district,  not far from the legendary movie theater, Le Grand Rex and the wax museum Musee Grevin.

Last night , I attended a gathering of coaches and freelance consultants and trainers.  As the initial place was full, we ended up quite unexpectedly at Un Jour à Paris. At first sight, especially in a rainy and icy evening, nothing special in what looked like a very basic bar…as per Parisian standards.

ENG- LIFESTYLE – Lagerfeld, a Visual Journey

 

What’s up in Paris  ?

One of the two big exhibitions starting this month is A Visual Journey, a selection of Lagerfeld’s best pictures.

From October 16th till March 20th 2016 at the Paris Pinacotheque Museum.

A glimpse at the mystery man , leading ambassador of French style across the world.

LIFESTYLE – July in Paris- part 3, along the Seine at Paris Plages

You heard of Copacabana, but never of Paris Plages ? You have to come to Paris to see that sandbeach on the bank of the Seine River. Every year, Paris City Council have several tons of sand spread on a Paris Quay for a month. Many quays are usually closed during the summer to enable pedestrians to relax and walk around freely.

Paris Plages in the morning ( source: my dad)

Here we go for another summer at Paris Plages.

JARDIN – Romance in flowers – part 1 , Carnations

What flowers to bring romance ? In France, chrysanthemums ( unfortunately) usually remain in cemeteries. Roses, carnations, lilies, tulips, daisies, it is another world at our local flower shops.

Unlike Asians, French people are used to having fresh cut flowers at home. Flower shops are regularly visited by French ladies and French gentlemen looking for some flowers to present or to bring back home.

Of course, like fruits and veggies, there are seasons more appropriate to certain flowers.

In the summer, no fragrant flower lasts longer than carnation.

Carnation are usually deliciously fragrant, elegant and very resistant to heat.  From poet carnations to China carnations, here are all the variations of carnations.

LIFESTYLE – Travelling in France – Restaurant etiquette

Some Asian friends of mine ask me sometimes about restaurant etiquette in France.

2 glasses. The big one is for water, the smaller one for wine.

Here is the main selection of do’s and dont’s in French restaurants.

• What happens when you arrive
• What you can ask for, or not
• How to hold your glass of wine , champagne or XO
• Pricing and menus

ENG- JARDIN- Lavenders , the real and the fake

Last June, as we were walking in Amsterdam, my Singaporian friend suddenly  stopped in front of a violet flowered plant.  » Lavender !  » she shouted to her husband, very excited.

Lavender, really ? Are you sure ?

Well, nope, this was not lavender but blue salvias ( or sages). 

Lavender can grow in Northern Europe, however there are plenty of plants with blue  fragrant flowers that fill in most public gardens in Europe.  And you will love them too !

JARDIN – Flowers in Paris

Where to see nice flowers in Paris. A few spots you will enjoy.

• the Flower Market on the Isle of  La Cité
• Luxembourg Palace Garden
• Saint-Cloud  Park
• Albert Kahn Japanese Garden

LIFESTYLE – Travel advice , the safety issue

Going to France is not as dangerous as going to other countries, but there a few things to pay attention to, especially if you are coming from a safer place.

The French police patrol in uniforms or dressed as civilians to catch the delinquents

The big cities and all the tourist crowded places  ( like the French Riviera ) attract a fauna of dishonest people.  Like mosquitoes, they converge to all the crowded places where jet lagged tourists hang around with money.  Here is a sample of the specimens you may run into.

LIFESTYLE – July in Paris, part 2 , Le Tour de France

July in France ? Well, here are a few of our favourite summer traditions.

After the National Day celebrations, let us explore another July institution, le Tour de France. It has started on 4th July  afternoon in the Dutch city of Utrecht, in the country of cycling !

ENG- PEOPLE – Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, a French romance

Lors du dernier dîner de gala donné par Hollande en l’honneur de Felipe et Letizia d’Espagne, une femme a volé la vedette à toutes les élégantes de la soirée , Letizia, Nadjat et autres Ségo et Fleur : Brigitte Trogneux, alias Madame Emmanuel Macron. C’était la première fois que l’épouse de notre fringant Ministre de l’Economie foulait un tapis rouge officiel.  Comme nous connaissons par coeur cette histoire déjà narrée  précédemment, je poursuis en anglais, pour les lecteurs étrangers qui ne connaissent pas encore l’histoire  du benjamin de nos ministres.

She looks a bit like Jane Fonda.  Brigitte Macron nee Trogneux, 56, had remained the mysterious spouse of our Ministre of Economy, Emmanuel Macron, 36. An unusual romance that fascinates the French public.  Discreet, Brigitte finally stepped on the red carpet, as her husband attended the gala dinner given by President Hollande in honour of the Spanish Royals.

• He was 16 ,  she was …36.
• She left the father of her 3 kids to follow her heart
  
• Happily married for 20 years
  
• « Grandfather » of 6 kids

LIFESTYLE – July in France – part 1, French National Day

What to do in July in Paris ? Here are our main French summer traditions.

Let us start with the 14th of July,  our National Day, Fete Nationale in French.

So,  what to expect on  » le 14 Juillet » ?

ENG- LIFESTYLE – Where the Stars dine in Paris – part 2 , Le Jules Verne

From Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly to Princess Diana and Beyoncé, international stars have always loved coming to Paris for stylish shopping and gourmet discovery. Here are several elegant places in Paris  where stars find refuge for a cosy dinner,  far from the intrusive paparazzi.

After Gwyneth Paltrow at Le Taillevent, let us explore Le Jules Verne, the legendary restaurant run by Chef Alain Ducasse on the 2d floor of the Eiffel Tower. From 007 agent James Bond  to  celeb lovers such as Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes , everybody has to experience Le Jules Verne once in a lifetime.

November 2011 .  Eva Mendes discovers the beauty of Eiffel Tower by night.

Dining at Le Jules Verne on the Eiffel Tower with Ryan Gosling,

a dream that came true for…  Eva Mendes only ! 

ENG- LIFESTYLE- Travel in France – part 2 , Prices and Taxes

Tipping or not tipping, mosquitoes, pickpockets, where to find toilets, here a few questions tourists wonder when they go to France for the first time.  Here are a few advice from your local  humble servant.

Pricing,  taxes, how does it work in France ?

 Govoyages Travel Agency edited this advert to advertise their fares are all tax inclusive.

LIFESTYLE- Travel in France – part 1 , Tipping or not Tipping

Tipping or not tipping, mosquitoes, pickpockets, where to find free toilets, here a few questions tourists wonder, especially when they go to France for the first time.  Here are a few advice from your local  humble servant.

Tipping or not tipping

Recently I learnt that a Chinese tourist was required to tip at a Nice restaurant ( not a nice restaurant though) . I and my friends were just shocked and sorry for the lady who felt compelled to tip that very rude waiter who had not been nice to her during her lunch.

I decided it was about time to address this very basic topic on this blog…

ENG- LIFESTYLE – Where the Stars dine in Paris – part 1 , Le Taillevent

From Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly to Princess Diana and Beyoncé, international stars have always loved coming to Paris for stylish shopping and gourmet discovery. There are several elegant places in Paris  where stars find refuge for a cosy dinner,  far from the intrusive paparazzi.

Here are a few delicious addresses I have some insights about.

Today, let us see the Restaurant Le Taillevent, a favourite of chic movie star and GOOP lifestyle entrepreneur Gwyneth Paltrow.

Lifestyle and movie icon Gwyneth Paltrow is a huge fan of Paris

EN-LIFESTYLE- Best ice creams in Paris

Summer is coming and the weather gets warmer and warmer… especially on the stuffy Paris subway trains. Fortunately, ice creams, gelati, sherbets are here to help us to cool down. Here are a few addresses  of ice cream parlours you’ll love to visit.

source- Huffington post

I will not pretend that I have visited all the famous ice cream parlours mentioned in this Paris Time Out article, but I can share with you my experience with three of them.

• Berthillon, tradition and legend
• Pozzetto, the best from Italy
• Amorino, modern and genuine

and more !