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Archive for December, 2011

Pavlova – A Popular Australian Dessert

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert that is very popular in Australian and always served at our family celebrations.  The dessert was named in honor of the great Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova, and both New Zealand and Australia claim to have created the dish.  My recipe is for a meringue type pavlova – crunchy all the way around and the perfect base for cream and berries.  There’s also marshmallow pavlovas that are crispy on the outside and soft and chewy in the middle.  Both are equally delicious!

Natasha, Web Master

Ingredients

Makes 1 large pavlova or 15 smaller shells

2 egg whites
½ tsp vanilla
1 ½ cups caster sugar
1 tsp vinegar
1 tsp cornflour
4 tbsp boiling water

 

Steps

  1. Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and beat until mixture is very stiff.
  2. Spread on a tray lined with baking paper.
  3. For a large pavlova: bake in a moderate oven (180⁰C) for 10 minutes.  Reduce heat to slow (160⁰C) and bake for a further 45 minutes.
  4. For a small pavlova: bake in a moderate oven (180⁰C) for 10 minutes.  Reduce heat to slow (160⁰C) and bake for a further 35 minutes.
  5. Cool in oven.

 

 

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Christmas Shopping at Galeries Lafayette & Printemps in Paris

Monday, December 12th, 2011

 

Galeries Lafayette

Galeries Lafayette is the place to go if you’re looking for a last-minute gift for a loved one or a typical French souvenir.  Visit the information desk upon arrival and speak to one of the many multilingual greeters who will explain the layout of the store and the Christmas services offered.  They even have porters to help you carry your purchases!

Even if you’ve finished your Christmas shopping, it’s worth a trip to Galeries Lafayette just to see the beautiful decorations and window displays.  The exterior is illuminated by 2123m2 of lace lighting and the interior features a giant Christmas tree and more festive lighting.

Address: 40, blvd Haussmann, 75009, Paris
-  Gift store is located on the 6th floor of Lafayette Coupole (the main Galeries Lafayette store)
-  Christmas shop is located on the 2nd floor of Lafayette Maison

Christmas Opening Hours  3rd – 24th December:
Monday – Saturday, 9:30am to 9pm and Thursday until 10pm
Sunday 10:30am – 8pm
Closed Christmas Day

Specific opening and closing hours:

Friday, December 23rd:  9:30am to 7pm
Saturday, December 24th and 31st:  9:30am to 6pm

Printemps

It seems everyone in Paris is talking about the incredible displays in the storefront windows of the Printemps store.  Paying homage to designer Karl Lagerfeld, the eleven windows feature miniature sculptures and elegantly dressed animated puppets.  The amount of work that has gone into creating these displays and the attention to detail is simply amazing; I definitely think they’re among the best department store windows I have ever seen!

If you’re not lucky enough to be in Paris at this wonderful time of year, the pictures and  video of the Printemps windows will hopefully let you feel part of the magic!

Address: 64, blvd Haussmann, 75009, Paris

Christmas Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday:  9:35am to 8pm and Thursday until 10pm
Sunday 4th, 11th & 18th December:  10am – 8pm
Closed Christmas Day

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50% Off Eiffel Tower Tour – Skip the Queue & Skip the Price!

Friday, December 9th, 2011

The most visited monument in Paris has never been easier to visit. The ‘Skip-the-Line Eiffel Tower Tour’ allows you to bypass the notoriously long lines — and the lines at the Eiffel Tower can literally take hours. The guide will take you through a special entrance and straight up the Tower. Group size is limited to 20 people per tour so book early for this very popular tour. As an added bonus at the end of the tour, you’ll visit the summit and spend as much time as you like before descending on your own. Regularly € 50 each, they are offering them for € 25 from now to Feb 29, 2012.

Please email: info@easypasstours.com for questions and availability.

Reserve direct at: www.easypasstours.com Important: You must use the code PARISPERFECT50 to get your discount!

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Restaurants Open in Paris for Christmas and New Year Dining

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

Hotel de Crillon

10 Pl de la Concorde, 01 44 71 17 00

On New Year’s Eve, l’Obé restaurant at the Hotel de Crillon has chosen boldness  and will turn into a dinner show venue. The programme will be set to a mood featuring no less than five shows in tribute to iconic singers.

NEW YEAR’S EVE MENU

Amuse bouche du réveillon
New Year’s Eve appetizer

Le foie gras de Canard mi-cuit, parfumé d’un bouillon à l’hibiscus
Lightly cooked foie gras of duck, scented with hibiscus broth

La saint-Jacques normande saisi à la plancha, topinambour à la crème truffée
Seared Normandy scallops with Jerusalem artichoke in truffled cream

La Poularde fermière rôtie, macaronis farcis d’une duxelle de champignons
Roasted farmhouse chicken and macaroni stuffed with chopped mushrooms

Le vacherin Mont-d’or servi à la cuillère
Vacherin Mont-d’Or cheese, served with a spoon

La «bonne étoile» Chocolait-passion
Chocomilk/passion fruit “Lucky Star”

Mignardises et chocolats
Assorted petits fours and chocolates

réveillon autour du Champagne Laurent-Perrier Millésimé 2002
New Year’s Eve Dinner will be served with Laurent-Perrier Champagne, 2002 vintage

COST
Menu for 450 € vAt included per person (beverages included). Dinner from 08:00 pm, evening dress requested.

 

Jules Vernes Restaurant (Eiffel Tower)

Alain Ducasse will be serving up gourmet meals for both a Christmas Eve tasting menu and Christmas lunch tasting menu at Jules Verne on the Eiffel Tower.

COST
Christmas Eve tasting menu € 290/person excluding beverages and € 390/person with wine pairings or €500 per couple. Christmas lunch tasting menu € 250/person excluding beverages, € 320/person with wine pairings or €500 per couple.

Please note: The restaurant did ask all reservations to be in by November 18th but you may still be lucky to get a spot if you call them now!

Shangri La Hotel

10 ave d’Iena, 01 53 67 19 98

The Shangri La has several festive meals planned including a Christmas Eve Dinner, Christmas Day Lunch and New Year’s Eve Dinner.  Prices start at €150 per person and go as high as €1000 per person for dinner and drinks in the Abeille Restaurant on New Year’s.

View all of the Christmas and New Year’s menus for the Shangri La Hotel

Le Violin d’Ingres

135 rue Saint Dominique, 01 45 55 15 05

Enjoy the festive season at one of our favorite restaurants in Paris, Le Violin d’Ingres.  Book fast to enjoy their Christmas Eve Menu, Christmas Day Menu, New Year’s Eve Menu or New Year’s Day Menu.

Café Constant

149 rue Saint Dominique, 01 45 55 15 05

Closed on December 24th and 25th but open regular hours throughout the rest of the festive period.

Les Cocottes

135 rue Saint Dominique, 01 45 55 15 05

Open regular hours with seasonal menus.

Fontaine de Mars

This famous restaurant where Barack Obama recently dined is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

Thoumieux

79 rue Saint Dominique, 01 47 05 49 75

Brasserie only on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Special menu being offered for New Year’s Eve but details still to be published on their website.

Fables de la Fontaine

131 rue Saint Dominique, 01 44 18 37 55

Closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; special New Year’s Eve menu.

Reed

11 bir rue Amelie, 01 45 55 88 40

Contact them for further information on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s opening hours.

Plaza Athénée

25 avenue Montaigne, 01 53 67 65 00

Alain Ducasse – of Eiffel Tower fame – also creates the menu for the fabulous Plaza Athénée.  Both restaurants are offering Christmas Eve Menus, Christmas Day Menus and New Year’s Eve Menus.  This is one of the most expensive places to enjoy New Year’s eve dinner with the tasting menu costing €1250 per person including beverages.

George V

31 avenue George V, 01 49 52 71 54

The George V hotel is located in the heart of the fabulous Golden Triangle, one of Paris’ most luxurious shopping districts.  Its dining room, Le Cinq, overlooks the hotel’s beautiful courtyard and garden and is elegantly dressed in grey and gold.  Expect to pay around €550 for their Christmas menu and €950 for their New Year’s Eve menu.  Please contact the hotel for more details.

Paris Perfect Apartment with Eiffel Tower Views!

Whilst all of the above restaurants will prepare your meals and do the dishes, they won’t give you the opportunity to dine in front of the Eiffel Tower!  You can choose to prepare your feast in your fully-equipped kitchen or buy take-away items and assemble on your beautifully laid table.  Don’t miss your chance to dine in a romantic Paris apartment for a fraction of the cost of a restaurant meal.  Call or email our reservations team now to check availability.

 

 

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