Off to the Races with Paris Perfect!
A Colt Named Paris Perfect
|
 |
We were honored to hear from welcome returning guests Peter and Gail Fabricius who live in Durban, South Africa and whose passion is racing horses. They loved staying at our Paris apartments so much that they decided to name their newest colt Paris Perfect. We hope to see Paris Perfect race at Longchamps one day!
Our Paris Apartments featured in
Business Week
If you want a beautiful apartment with a view…
|
|
Business Week reporter Steve Jacobs researched the market in Paris and reported " If you want a beautiful apartment with a view of the Eiffel Tower, Paris Perfect (www.parisperfect.com) is the agency for you. ..you get what you pay for: elegant, well- equipped, and centrally located apartments… and, of course, a view of the Eiffel Tower." We are delighted!
Read the article online
Our newest apartment in Paris:
Gobsmacked By The View!
Two Bedrooms, Large Balcony and Views
|
|
When we first viewed the newest apartment that we have completed, the Chateau Latour we were gobsmacked by the panoramic view of all of Paris. This fabulous new Paris apartment rental located on the 7th floor of a 1920’s building on the beautiful Rue de Grenelle near Champ de Mars Park features a large balcony, two bedrooms, two and a half baths, and a living room that can sleep an additional two guests. It will be completed at the end of May, 2006 and full pictures will be posted on our site then.
Of course, the piece de resistance is the unbelievable view from the oversized balcony that fronts both the living room and the master bedroom. This extremely rare amenity allows you to sit out and savor the glorious views not only of the Eiffel Tower, La Grande Dame de Paris, but also the Sacré Cœur and even the Arc de Triomphe across the river Seine. And these truly amazing views can be seen directly from the living room and the master bedroom as well.
All the features in our luxury Paris apartment rental are spectacular, but it’s hard to take yourself away from the balcony and view. You will find two comfortable bedrooms, a spacious living room/dining area off the open kitchen, and two and a half bathrooms. This spacious and inviting home is our newest and most beautiful premiere apartment rental, and one of our most popular Paris apartment rental ever!
Please click here to see more about this beautiful apartment.
Roquefort
Le Roi des Fromages
|
|
Our last newsletter featured Philippe’s favorite cheese, Camembert from Normandy. We are moving to Southwest France, to find out about one of my favorite cheeses, Roquefort. Legend has it that a young shepherd saw a beautiful girl on the hillside while tending his sheep and eating his lunch. He abandoned his lunch of bread and cheese curd in the nearby cave to find her. He returned to the cave several days later, unsuccessful, only to find the cheese had turned moldy…and it was delicious. Whether truth or legend, it’s the Limestone caves of Roquefort that are uniquely responsible for the complex factors which produce of this pungent, slightly salty cheese!
The magic of Roquefort cheese is due to its unique location in the hills of the Aubeyron, where geological shifts in the earth 200 million years ago created limestone caves and faults. The caves and faults offers excellent aeration, humidity, temperature control and a natural environment for the cheese to age. Penicillium Roqueforti was discovered here, the bacteria responsible for the blue veins in the cheese which was discovered in these caves centuries ago and remains the catalyst for turning ewe’s cheese curd into ‘Le Roi des Fromages’.
 |
The only town allowed to make Roquefort is the commune of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, near the larger town of Millau; the largest city in this region is Toulouse. This honor was awarded seven centuries ago by Charles VI who in 1411 conferred the exclusive right to this village for the production of Roquefort, the specific designation of their caves to age the cheese and the protection of the caves in which they are aged. A decree from the French Parliament of Toulouse in 1666 decreed the punishment of sellers of counterfeit Roquefort.
As with all cheeses, Roquefort has been awarded the highest honor of ‘Appellation d’Origine Controlle’ or AOC, that special designation by the French government awarded to the finest cheeses and wines, the guarantee that it has been made using only specified ingredients and an age old process in a specific region, all of which is carefully controlled. Roquefort was bestowed this highest French honor in 1925. Roquefort cheese must be with strictly prescribed ingredients in very specific and controlled ways as you will see. Look for a round red label with goat and the initials AOC to prove its honored origin and manufacture.
 |
The site of Roquefort was created by the landslide of a limestone plateau 200 million years ago. The shift created an enormous fissure two kilometers long, with caves and grottos which are called ‘fleurines’, or naturally ventilated faults. The word fleurine is from the Occitane region and dialect, meaning ‘to blow’; the wind that passes thru them creates a perfect ventilation of the caves. The caves and grottos are where the penicillium Roqueforti thrives; in early days, bread was left to become moldy with the penicillium spores, then ground up to add to the milk. Nowadays, the spores are made chemically in laboratories under sterile conditions and applied to the rennet as powder.
The milk must be whole and unpasteurized ewe milk and can only come from Laucanne sheep, collected over an 8 month season (December to the end of July). The Laucanne sheep are raised in the surrounding towns and have adapted to the rigorous climate, hilly region with sharp changes of temperatures, producing a rich and flavorful milk. The ewes must be fed only with hay, straw, grass and cereals and they must live outdoors every day that the weather permits
The milk is collected from the local farms each day and tested to confirm that it has the right properties for making the tastiest Roquefort. It is then heated to 32 degrees; rennet is added to transform the milk into curd cheese. At this point it is poured into molds, in the shape of large loafs, salted and drained. Every single Roquefort cheese is dated and stamped so it can be traced back to the place, date and even time of manufacture. After 10 days the Roquefort loaf is spiked about 40 times with the Penicilium Roqueforti and is ready to begin the maturation process.
Ripening
Ripening can only take places in the caves under the town and on the cliffs of Roquefort.
The caillé or loaf, is molded, salted and pricked with holes which facilitate the growth of the penicilim, then ‘nude’ in the caves. The loafs of cheese are placed on wooden shelves which have been salted to keep bacteria from forming and to help absorb humidity in order to keep the caves at a regular temperature and humidity level. In this cold atmosphere with more than 95% humidity, a mysterious chemistry goes to work between the Roquefort Penicilium, temperature, wind and humidity. Air blows thru the Fleurines or grottos, winter and summer, allowing the cheese to move the cheese in order to control the temperature and humidity.
A slow maturation process which favors the growth of the ‘Penicillium roqueforti’ begins. The cheeses will progressively become blue-veined from the center outwards and their ‘pate’ will acquire a rich smell and look. Maturation cannot occur too quickly; to slow it down, or putting the cheese ‘to sleep’. They are wrapped in a sheet of tin foil, slowing the growth and enrichening the taste and smell. They slowly mature from a period of 3 to 10 months.
The Master Cheese Maker is crucial to the whole process; knowledge and skill passed down for generations. It takes years of apprenticeship to become a Master Cheesemaker He must use all senses: sight to view the ripening veins of blue; his nose to capture the aromas, and his hearing to determine whether a cheese should sit in the ‘fleurine’ or in a cellar where the winds blow.
We notice the difference between the packaged Roquefort that we find in supermarkets and the more aged ones that we buy from our favorite cheese shops in our neighborhood. The shops buy large wheels of Roquefort that have been aged longer and the taste is richer, creamier with a slight gritty texture – delicious!
At the end of maturation, the cheese is packaged and marked with the special label showing the Red Sheep and the famous AOP, Appellation d’Origine.
Buying and Storing Roquefort
We have three favorite cheese stores in our neighborhood of the 7th and all of carry excellent Roquefort: Marie-Anne Cantin on rue du Champs du Mars, the cheese shop on rue Cler near the corner of rue de Grenelle next to the Franprix and the cheese shop on rue de Grenelle, on the left heading from Ave. de la Bourdonnais, just before Ave Bosquet. This third shop has a new owner who works hard to find excellent cheeses that are produced by smaller specialists and he is delighted to introduce you to new cheeses and special flavors of the week. We buy several slices of Roquefort from their wheels and ask them to pack them ‘sous vide’, or vacuum sealed. The cheese is always placed in wax paper or foil first and then under plastic so the flavor is not compromised. We freeze it and carry it home the next day, keeping the extra in the freezer for meals with special friends.
Always wrap Roquefort in its original packaging or in aluminum foil. Leave it out one hour before eating for the flavor to reach its peak.
Savoring Roquefort
A simple baguette and Roquefort are a feast, but try it with pears as well. For the wine, we like to accompany it with: Sauternes, Barsac, Montbazillac, red Bordeaux’s or the red wines from the Cotes du Rhone.
Favorite recipes
Endive salad with Roquefort
½ Cup Roquefort
1 to 2 Tablespoons horseradish
¼ C of cream, or 1 triangle Vache qui Rit cheese
1 ½ Tbsp chopped parsley
Endives
Chopped tomato (optional)
Evenly mix all of above.
Put the paste on each endive leaf and garnish with some chopped tomato.
Roquefort Soufflé
Recipe from Jean-Charles Baron
Restaurant La Toile à Beurre
-150 g of Roquefort - Société
-20 small potatoes
-6 slices of bacon
-300 ml of milk
-30 g of flour
-1 egg and an additional -egg white
-60 g of butter
-salt and pepper
Serves 6
Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 6/180°C. Boil the potatoes in salted water. Melt 40g of butter in a saucepan, add the milk and stir continuously until it comes to the boil.
Next add the Roquefort. Add the egg yolk off the heat and keep the egg whites.
Butter six individual oven-proof dishes. Peel the potatoes, slice them and put them into the dishes with the slices of fried bacon. Whip the egg whites until they are stiff and incorporate them into the Roquefort sauce. Pour the sauce into the dishes and leave them to brown in the oven for 15 minutes.
Fall and Winter in Paris
|
|
|
|
Nuit Blanche
October in Paris features Nuit Blanche when all the musuems are open till dawn.
Paris Fashion Week
Mid-October: The Carrousel de Louvre hosts an exhibition of women’s ready to wear designers from all over the world in. Call (33) 14316 4747 for more information.
La Semaine du Goût -- The Week of Tastings
Mid October: Every region in France celebrates its particular gastronomic specialties in this festival of food, wine and cultural celebrations.
Marché aux Chocolats
Mid-October: The Commerce Bureau of Paris hosts an annual exposition of French chocolatiers and confectioners, with lots of free samples.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Horse Race
The most important horse race in France at Longchamps in the first week in October.
Paris-Deauville
Antique Car Race
First week of October: Pre-1940 vintage car owners race from the Jardin d’Acclimatation in Paris to Deauville’s Place de la Mairie in Normandy.
The World of Games
First week of October: The Espace Auteuil hosts Monde de Jeu, where state of the art computer games, multi-media and board games, as well as toys are exhibited in this hands-on annual festival.
The International Contemporary Art Fair
Mid October: Galleries and collectors of contemporary art come together at thePort de Versailles Convention Center in the annual Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporain.
JVC Jazz Festival
October 14 to 22: Jazz musicians from around the world come to play in a variety of locations throughout Paris.
Montmartre Wine Festival
Montmartre still has a vineyard which produces wine and every October celebrates with the Montmartre wine festival.
Fountains at Versailles
Through October, beautiful displays of the fountains as in the time of the Sun King.
November
|
|
Le Salon du Chocolat
The Porte de Versaille hosts tastings and demonstrations from dozens of chocolatiers from all over France. There will be demonstrations, tastings, lessons from the Cordon Bleu cooking school. There is even a Chocoland for children who can experiment with chocolate makeup. There is a fashion show with chocolage theme at 4pm daily. An exclusive: 5 dancers of The Bluebells from The Lido will model their costumes with chocolate coverings!
Tennis Masters Series
The Paris Bercy Palais Omnisports hosts the final round of the Masters Series, from the end of November to the beginning of December.
Paris International Photo Fair
At the Carousel du Louvres: La Maison Europeenne de la Photographie and other venues throughout Paris dedicate the month of November to exhibiting works which inspire amateur photographers and encourage an interest in photography as an art form.
Festival des Inrockuptibles
Les Inrockuptibles, a popular French music magazine, sponsors live performances by selected popular groups at a number of venues throughout Paris during the first half of November.
Supercross Bercy
The Paris Bercy Palais Omnisports hosts an annual motorbike competition in mid-November. Call (33) 40 02 60 60 for more information.
Salon du Cheval
The Porte de Versailles sponsors a variety of international competitions between champion horses, including an exhibition of the Arabian horses and award-winning show jumpers.
Christmas Lights
The shops, lampposts and cafes and historic landmarks along the Champs-Elysees are lit up with Christmas decorations. Lalique Ice-Skating Trophy.
Mid-November
Champion ice skaters from all over the world put on a show and compete for this coveted prize, at the Paris Bercy Palais Omnisports.
December
|
|
Prix Culinaire Pierre Taittinger
On December 2, the La Concorde Lafayette Hotel in Paris hosts the invitational competition of gourmet chefs from all over Europe to award this prize to the premier chef of French gastronomy.
Le Bal Crillon des Débutantes
On the first Saturday in December, the Hotel Crillon hosts the annual débutante ball, at which the privileged youth of Paris and around the world dress in the most amazing designer dresses and ‘come out’ in Paris. The ball has had a renewed life in recent years and it’s always an event to see which girls are allowed to wear a designer’s best gowns.
Ice Skating
Bring your family to the ice rink in front of The Hotel de Ville and Montparnasse, where you can skate for free, just down the street from the famous cafes, beginning December and lasting throughout the winter, as long as the ice is frozen. The Eiffel Tower has also celebrated with a small ice skating rink for the past few years. Fingers crossed it will be featured again.
Mystery of Christmas
The Nativity story is recreated on the steps of the ancient Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris every half-hour during December and January.
Children’s World
The place de la Bastille becomes a playground for children with lots of activities, giant trampoline, holiday make-up artists and many other holiday surprises during December and January.
Christmas Mass
At all Churches and Cathedrals throughout Paris
Basketball All-Star Game
The Bercy Palais Omnisports hosts this annual, final basketball champhionship event between the best team in France and the best non-French team in the world.
Celebrate France
Beginning New Year’s Eve and extending into the New Year, Paris and its surrounding communities celebrate their national heritage with a variety of events, including the Grande Parade de Chantilly in Chantilly, Ile-de-France on New Year’s Eve which features floats and live music, and a repeat performance on New Year’s Day at Disneyland Paris.
GAETANO DONIZETTI
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR
Sept. 9 - Oct. 16, 2006
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
LA CLEMENZA DI TITO
Sept 11 - Oct. 2, 2006
RICHARD STRAUSS
SALOME
Sept. 18 - Oct. 18, 2006
HECTOR BERLIOZ
LES TROYENS
Oct. 11 - Nov. 14, 2006
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
COSÌ FAN TUTTE
Oct. 23 - Nov. 8 novembre 2006
GAETANO DONIZETTI
L'ELISIR D'AMORE
Oct. 25 - Nov. 19, 2006
SERGUEI PROKOFIEV
L'AMOUR DES TROIS ORANGES
Nov. 13 - Dec. 9 2006
WOLFGANG AMADE MOZART
IDOMENEO
Nov. 30 - Dec. 29, 2006
Romantic Roman Penthouse
Near the Spanish Steps
|
Elegance, taste, amenities and views abound in this five star apartment that is a two minute walk to the Spanish Steps. This is a one bedroom, one bath apartment that can accommodate a third person. The roof top terrace plus balcony allow you to enjoy the wonderful weather of Rome and timeless views of the Eternal City.
Angelina Apartment in Rome
|
