Category — Travel To Go

Every girl needs a castle! We took the train from Paris to Melun to visit Vaux le Vicomte, the masterpiece 17th century chateau and gardens that were the inspiration for Versailles.

And after, a visit to the Chateau’s fabulous gift shop!

Bonne Fête des Mères!

This trip to Paris was planned to celebrate the 10th birthday of a very special girl who was born in Paris but moved away when she was just weeks old. Omaha bff J and Moi reserved a celebratory lunch at my favorite restaurant anywhere, Le Grand Véfour.

What could be more memorable than a 3 hour, 9 course (5 desserts!) meal at an exquisite historic French restaurant impeccably prepared and served? Having the birthday girl served her dessert complete with candle, flowers, and a commemorative photo.

I believe all her dreams have come true! Merci bien, Le Grand Véfour.

Bonjour a tous!

Zara came to the US a few years ago, but we’ve yet to see Zara Home or Zara Baby. I’ve already been to both twice on Moi fave shopping street in Paris, Passy (in the tres BCBG 16th arrondissement).

Zara Baby has baby clothes that are cute, trendy, practical and reasonably priced. Look at this fab wax candlestick I found at Zara Home for 14euros. I’ve seen similar candlestick candles in the US for over $75! Zara Home features dishware, linens, and home accessories.

More Zara, svp.

Bonjour de Paris!

Yes, you can go home again. Today I’m faire du lèche-vitrines (window shopping) on Passy, my old neighborhood in Paris as it’s a national holiday in France (Pentecost). Most of the stores are open today, but not Carel on Passy at Mozart.

So I’m gazing in the window at this fab white raincape without a price, wistfully sucking down my frappuccino from the Starbucks at Passy Plaza. I’ll be back…

Moi tip: In addition to great shops, Passy Plaza offers free wifi!

Bonjour a  tous!

First stop in Paris: PAUL for croissant aux amandes (almond croissant), Moi absolute all-time favorite pâtisserie.

I can’t imagine, and don’t want to know, how many calories are in this seriously decadent croissant filled with almond paste and dusted with sliced almonds and powdered sugar. But I do know one bite makes me happy for hours. And I never have just one bite. (Don’t be fooled by a plain croissant flecked with almonds, it must have the almond filling inside.)

PAUL is a boulangerie pâtisserie with shops all over France, in many other European countries, Asia, and the Middle East. There are several PAULs in South Florida, and when I’m in SoFlo I’m sure to stop and enjoy a croissant aux amandes under the palm trees, with one of their fantastic café crème.

I’ve been assured that the SoFlo stores import their flour from France. We’re also fans of their breads, tarts, cakes, sandwiches, eggs: in fact, TBG and I happily eat anything on the PAUL menu. After we finish our croissant aux amandes.

Moi tip: If you are ambitious, Clotilde at Chocolate & Zucchini has a recipe to make your own croissant aux amandes. I haven’t yet tried it…but I will!

– lyrics by John Denver

My bags are almost packed for my trip tomorrow to Paris, and they’re overflowing with all the goodies and necessities my Paris bffs have begged me to bring. When we were living in Paris our apartment overflowed with visitors: we once had to run out and buy sheets because we couldn’t wash them fast enough between guests! And bien sur, we charged rent: our house guests were obliged to bring us all the things that were hard if not impossible to get in Paris in the late 90s and early 2000s:

• peanut butter: extra chunky
• Crystal Light lemonade mix
• jello mix – sugar free
• taco seasoning and other tex-mex spices
• pants from Banana Republic (French women are just not built like American women!)
• chocolate covered raisins
• Swiss Miss 25 calorie hot cocoa mix (I know we lived in world chocolate capital Paris, but the 25 calories!!!)

My Paris bffs list of American products they neeeeed in 2010 include:

• PopTarts
• peppermint patties
• mint Oreos
• Oil of Olay spf moisturizer
• Goody hair barrettes
• Flintstones vitamins
• doggie treats
• Pam cooking spray

And I am happy to fill my bag with these American goodies…and many more I’m not listing… because when I unpack them, I leave lots of room in my luggage for all the French products I plan to bring back: [Read more →]

Céad mile fáilte:   A hundred thousand welcomes

I am not normally a fan of bed and breakfasts; or I should say, TBG is not a fan. But recently we were desperately searching for a hotel in South Bend (Indiana) for a weekend at Notre Dame and they were all booked. A little luck of the Irish led us to Innisfree Bed & Breakfast.

From the moment we drove up, we were charmed. We lived in South Bend for a few years after graduation, and are familiar with the neighborhood. The inn sits on a large flowered lot, with a wide welcoming porch. Everywhere was a touch of Irish whimsy: Notre Dame is after all, known as The Fighting Irish! I’m sure it was not all authentic Irish, but it is authentic Irish-American, and every room in the B&B was filled with period antiques, charm and quirkiness.

We were greeted by inkeeper Cindy, who made us welcome and comfortable as we toured the parlor and dining room (where coffee and tea greeted us on a chilly evening) and introduced us to the Michael Collins suite, complete with cable tv, complimentary wifi, a bathroom brimming with towels and soaps and lotions, cozy terry robes, quilts, a rocking chair, and an efficient electric fireplace. Cindy then showed us the hallway closet stocked with a minifridge and beverages, and movies and games to pass the night away.

[Read more →]

Mother’s Day is Sunday…Moi has a few shopping ideas for the special Mom or Grandmom or Fairy GodMom in your life.

Breakfast in bed or on the terrace will be extra sweet with Bonne Maman Strawberry Preserves…just like Grandma used to make.

This heart-shaped Quimper dish will remind her every day of how much you care.  Hand-painted and signed, at $42 it’s a collector’s item she’ll treasure.

Your favorite Yummy Mummy will love these books that poke a bit of humor at the world of motherhood…and have conveniently short chapters for the busy mommy. Moi fave to gift is Sippy Cups Are Not For Chardonay. $10.07 at Amazon, and they guarantee delivery by Sunday!

Louis Vuitton European City Guide 2010 is the chic Mom’s insider guide to 31 European cities. Whether she’s crossing the Atlantic soon, or indulging in some arm-chair travels, she’ll love to discover the over 2000 insiders’ tips to traveling in style. $130 for this boxed set of 9 soft-back books. Available in LV stores or on-line. Moi tip: this set will look tres chic just sitting on her bookshelf!

Trendy Mom will love one of the funky iPhone 3G covers by Kate Spade. She’s fun, she’s practical, and she’ll love how slim this iPhone case is, and how easy to find in the bottom of her bag! At $35 with free shipping, you can’t go wrong!

And for the Mom who’s hard to shop for, gift her a special treat from Treasures Online Brocante by The Antiques Diva. A Chanel bracelet, an 18th Century blue and white Delft tile, a vintage Moët et Chandon champagne bucket: whatever you choose, shopping with The Antiques Diva is sure to please!

This is one of Moi favorite shows: the 13th annual Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair, featuring over 100 dealers of everything from jewelry to art to furniture to books to maps…and more.

This year the fair is part of the ARTOPOLIS triumvirate: Chicago’s celebration of art, antiques and culture, featuring  the Art Chicago fair of contemporary and modern art;  and NEXT showcasing avant-garde art and culture.

Moi tip: Make a day out of it; or two! Tickets are valid for Art Chicago, NEXT and the Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair.

Since my India adventure a couple months ago I’ve already begun to deplete my supply of spices and chai that I hauled back. I have a very good Indian restaurant in my neighborhood, but I decided to go investigate NYC’s Little India in more detail. I’d been in the neighborhood before, but now I was an informed consumer: I know what’s authentic, what’s touristy, and what things cost in India. So on a gorgeous sunny day I spent a few hours investigating the neighborhood around Lexington and 28th Street, aka Curry Hill. [Read more →]