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April 2007
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 Want to go to Paris in
September? Come with me!
Join us for an unforgettable
week in Paris, September 16
– 23, 2007. Book by May 1
and save $150 per person!
Bookings close on June 1,
2007.
Click here for more
info! |
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 Paris had almost no winter
this year, until around
mid-March when the
temperatures plummeted and
the cold rain came down. But
those days are over, and
April in Paris is promises
to be very mild, with a
mixture of sunshine and
showers throughout the
month. The gardens are in
full bloom, the outdoor café
scene comes alive, the
street performers are back
in action, and the crowds
are on their way back to
Paris, the most visited city
in the world. |
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 April 1 in France is known as the
“Poisson d’Avril”. It is their own version
of April Fool’s Day, where children will
amuse themselves taping paper fish on the
backs of unsuspecting adults, getting a
laugh as the adults carry on about their day
not realizing they are sporting a fish on
their back! When it is discovered, the
children yell out a hearty “Poisson d’Avril!”
and a good laugh is had.
At this time of year, French pâtisseries
and chocolatiers have beautiful window
displays full of different sizes and shapes
of fish to help celebrate this longstanding
French tradition. Some are small, maybe an
inch long. Others are large and ornate,
beautifully shaped and made of the finest
French chocolate. Many times their mouths
are full of more candies.
The tradition dates back to 1564. Until
that date, April 1 was considered the first
day of the year. It was King Charles IX who
created a law that the New Year would begin
on January 1. True to French fashion, some
French citizens rebelled against this law
and continued to celebrate April 1 as the
beginning of the year. To mock them, people
would give them ridiculous gifts for their
“fake” New Year. Of course, this story is
based on a legend whose accuracy might be
questionable! |
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 Paris at Easter is really wonderful, if you
can see past the crowds, since this is the
start of “tourist season”. The windows of
the Parisian patisseries and chocolatiers
are like works of art at Easter. The
beautiful cellophane wrapped eggs, the
white, milk and dark chocolate chicks. The
Easter bells. Easter bells? Yes, Easter
bells. You see, in France, there is no
Easter bunny. Instead, they have the
“Cloches de Pâques” or Easter bells.
Traditionally, French church bells remain
silent from the Thursday before Easter until
Easter morning. The French Easter tradition
is that the church bells fly to the Vatican
in Rome, returning to France in time for the
Easter celebration, depositing chocolates
and eggs all over the gardens of French
children. When the church bells ring on
Easter morning, the children know that the
Easter bells have passed overhead and it’s
time to gather their treats.If you will
be in Paris this Easter, there are a few
things to remember. First of all, as it is a
holiday many shops and restaurants will be
closed for the day. Some will remain closed
the following day as well (Easter Monday).
Be sure to call before arriving at a
restaurant, as you don’t want to be standing
outside a locked door. |
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| Ok, so this is about food shopping so it could
go under the “eating” category. But it’s about
éclairs, so it is of great importance: Where can you
buy the best éclair au chocolat in Paris?
 Le
Figaro asked that question, and put 20 pastry shops
to the taste test. Six people were chosen for the
jury, both amateurs and professionals.
The criteria? Freshness of the pastry itself,
visual aspect of the icing, quality of the chocolate
filling, harmony of tastes between the icing and the
filling (not too sweet, cohesive textures), welcome
of the shopkeepers, and packaging of the eclairs.
And here are the pastry shops that create the
best eclairs au chocolat in Paris (Final Ranking is
the Number before Each Shop):
1 - Carette (4 place du Trocadéro
XVIe)
2 - Jean-paul Hevin (23 bis avenue de la Motte-Piquet
VIIe)
3 - Stohrer (51 rue Montorgueil IIe)
3 - Ladurée (16 rue Royale VIIIe)
5 - Vandermeersch (278 av. Daumesnil XIIe)
6 - La Maison du Chocolat (8 bd. de la Madeleine
VIIIe)
6 - Lenôtre (15 bd. de Courcelles VIIIe)
8 - Blé Sucré (7 rue Antoine Vollon XIIe)
9 - Rollet-Pradier (6 rue de Bourgogne VIIe)
9 - Dalloyau (101 rue du Faubourg St Honoré VIIIe)
11 - La Gerbe d’Antan (249 bd Voltaire XIe)
11 - Fauchon (26 place de la Madeleine VIIIe)
11 - Pascal Pinaud (70 rue Monge Ve)
14 - Gérard Mulot (76 rue de Seine VIe)
15 - Arnaud Lahrer (53 rue de Caulaincourt XVIIIe)
15 - Arnaud Delmontel (39 rue des Martyrs IXe)
17 - Paul (17 et 21 rue de Buci VIe)
17 - Kayser (10 rue de l’Ancienne Comédie VIe)
17 - Rousseau et Seurre (22 rue des Martyrs IXe)
17 - Laurent Duchêne ( 2 rue Wurtz (XIIIe) |
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 Le Café de l’Homme
17 place du Trocadéro, 75016
011 33 (0)1 44 05 30 15
Métro: Trocadéro
www.lecafedelhomme.comPeople ask all the
time, “Where can I find good food with a good view
of the Eiffel Tower?”
While this seems to be a typical question, there
have not always been easy answers…the Eiffel Tower,
in the western area of Paris, is not surrounded by
restaurants with views.
But now, with the newly remodeled Musée de
l’Homme directly across the Seine from the Eiffel
Tower, there is a new restaurant with a view: Le
Café de l’Homme.
Le Café de l’Homme is the museum’s restaurant,
but this is not your typical museum fare. The menu
features French greats such as foie gras and sole
meunière, as well as jumbo prawns, black truffle
risotto, a variety of decadent desserts, and a
wonderful wine list. Try to get a table on the
terrace, which looks directly upon the Eiffel Tower.
Come at night and watch the tower sparkle, or come
in the day and watch the boats on the Seine in the
tower’s shadow.
At dinner, starters average about 18€ and main
courses are around 30€. Desserts are around 9€. If
that is too much for you, you can always come for
tea in the mid-afternoon or for cocktails later in
the evening. Hint: if you want a table on the
terrace, be sure to ask for it when reserving. You
won’t be sorry!
Lunch: 12:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Dinner: 7:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Tea and pastry: 2:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
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 Hôtel du Panthéon
19, place du Panthéon, 75005
Métro: Maubert Mutualité
Tél: 011 33 (1) 43 54 32 95
Fax: 011 33 (1) 43 26 64 65
Link to
WebsiteThis hotel has
a superb location, right in the center of the fifth
arrondissement, facing the beautiful Panthéon and a
stone’s throw from the Luxembourg Gardens.
The rooms are decorated with antiques and
beautiful fabrics, even on the walls! The rooms
facing the Panthéon are in demand, so if you want
the view be sure to book far in advance and to ask
for it. Bathrooms are clean and modern, and include
stall showers, which are rare in Parisian hotels.
The hotel has air conditioning, an elevator, and
in the rooms are hair driers, mini-bars and safes.
Rates vary by season, but a superior double does not
go over 255€ per night. Check their web site for
your specific room and dates.
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