Pastry with Jenn

September 29, 2010 13 Comments

Dining in Paris…Gossip Girl Style

Update: In the Season 8 season premiere, Blair’s “Paris” is really Oheka Castle in Long Island, NY.

In last season’s finale of Gossip Girl we found out Blair & Serena would take on Paris for the summer. Already incredibly stylish in Manhattan, imagine them with their Chanel and Louis strolling along the Champs Élysées or sipping tea at a cafe. If I had my Paris vacation two weeks earlier, I would have been there during filming (darn!). Nevertheless, the city was every bit as wonderful as shown in the show. There is something about the city, a certain aura where the people and everything are just so much more glamorous. With tonight’s season premiere, I relived belle Paris in the eyes of Blair & Serena. Where did they wine and dine? Here’s a recap.

Blair “sampling sugary snacks like a modern Marie Antoinette.”

September 21, 2010 4 Comments

Indulging in Macarons: Part 2, Inside Gerard Mulot’s Kitchen

Indulging in Macarons: Part 1

I was floating on a sugar cloud as I continued to taste as many macarons as I possibly could. But I have to say the ultimate macaron experience and highlight of my time in Paris was a visit inside the kitchen of chocolatier and patissier, Gerard Mulot. I thought this behind-the-scenes opportunity would be hard to come by considering I’m not in the pastry business or a journalist, but through a fantastic company called Meeting the French, you can interact with the locals via cooking classes, dinners and in my case, tours to observe the everyday work of a business. For someone visiting on a budget, the tours cost 7 to 12 euros. A real bargain for an exclusive peek into life in Paris.

I saw it all… from creating delicate macaron shells…

September 9, 2010 Post a Comment

Indulging in Macarons…Part 1

While the craze is still all about cupcakes in the US, the spotlight belongs to macarons in Paris. And long lines didn’t deter me from my search for the city’s best. Ladurée, Pierre Hermé,
Gerard Mulot… here I come!

September 7, 2010 Post a Comment

My Paris Mornings: Croissants and Baguettes

“Deux croissants au beurre s’il vous plait.” Oh how I miss saying that every morning. Here in the states a morning typically includes a trip to Starbucks for a latte, mocha.. or whatever it is people need to wake up. Not being a coffee drinker myself I wouldn’t know. But it was nice to finally have my own treat to get the day going. Here is what I discovered on my mornings in Paris.

September 2, 2010 Post a Comment

My Paris

One week wandering the streets of Paris… no museums or long lines, no Eiffel Tower, just food. I returned home mid-August but was in denial that I had really left a city that I fell in love with. The idea of blogging and writing in past tense would only emphasize the fact that the trip is OVER. But alas back to reality. I am however, very excited to share my Paris with you.