Its France, Its Astaire, Its Hepburn - what can I say...............

This finale musical number by Ms Audrey Hepburn and Mr Fred Astaire in the 1957 Paramount Pictures' Funny Face is one of the most endearing,revering,and inspiring romantic scenes ever photographed on the silver screen.The entire sequence (set in the picturesque Le Chateau de la Reine Blanche) is remarkably interspersed with brilliance,elegance,exuberance,jubilance,and romance. Ms Hepburn's beauty and poise (in her Givenchy's well-designed bridal silk gown) are solidly stunning. And Mr Astaire's charm and fervor (as the leading man and the dance master) are validly defining. 'S wonderful! 'S marvelous! That they should care for me! 'S awful nice! S' paradise! 'S what I love to see!

Happy New Year - welcome to 2016 - We'll Always Have Paris...........................................

One of the most beautiful areas and hotels outside of France - OH My Gosh, I can't believe he said that?

Just across the border in North-Eastern France is the lakeside city of Lausanne ( known in France as Lac Leman). Here on this most beautiful lake you'll find anywhere in the world, is the sophisticated hotel Beau-Rivage Palace. It's one of my favorite hotels in the world.

Located in 10 acres of private gardens, the Beau-Rivage Palace commands breath-taking views across Lake Geneva to the majestic French Alps beyond. It's a WOW!!!!

All 168 magnificent rooms, including 34suites, are fully equipped with the latest technological features. The spacious individually decorated rooms with elegant furnishings and high ceilings are a hallmark of all accommodations. Most of the rooms have superb views of Lake Geneva and the Alps beyond. 

Their restaurants provide guests ample cuisine from which to choose. The gastronomic restaurant "Anne-Sophie Pic at Beau-Rivage Palace" holds 2 Michelin stars. The "Café Beau-Rivage" serves brasserie-style fare. The refined sushi restaurant "Miyako Lausanne" offers you exquisite sushi prepared on the spot. The Lobby Lounge welcomes you in a contemporary yet cozy ambiance. The BAR provides a retro-chic atmosphere with delicious signature cocktails. In the adjacent sister property Angleterre & Residence, "L'Accademia" offers fine Italian cuisine and boasts one of the best terraces in Lausanne. 

Christmas Markets in Strasboug..The Christmas Capitol of France and just the MOST marvelous place to spend a day for a few days during the season

If you are going to be in France during December, it is worth your time to stop in Strasbourg, a picturesque city in the Alsace region...what a magical Christmas atmosphere! It deserves its reputation as the 'Christmas Capitol' of France.



 The Strasbourg Christmas market is a vast outdoor public space spreads all over the Old Town which sells anything to do with Christmas. It is locally called Christkindelsmärik (Marché de l’Enfant Jésus) and is one of the oldest in Europe. In 2014, the Christmas market of Strasbourg was voted “Europe’s best Christmas Market”. The little stalls made of wood (called châlets) sell decorations, local products and craftsmanship, without forgetting “vin chaud” (mulled wine), Christmas cakes, biscuits and gingerbread.

 Since the opening of the new high-speed-train between Paris and Strasbourg in 2007 (TGV Est-Européen), which links the two cities within 2.45 hours, a day spent in the capital of Alsace’s market has become an extremely popular outing for Parisians.

Horror - "Doggy Bags" being introduced in Paris restaurants to cut food waste

In a bid to combat food waste, Parisian authorities and the catering unions have joined forces to introduce the use of 'Doggy Bags' in Paris. Its first going to be tried in only 100 Paris restaurants, but to be honest what with Paris's notoriously brusque waiters and temperamental chefs, in practice, however, in my opinion, few will dare to make a request for them.

George Gershwin, An American in Paris, The new Peninsula Hotel - where he wrote it, is now yours to stay at..

The Peninsula  Hotel is a painstaking renovation of the old Hotel Majestic, a Belle Epoque beauty that opened in 1908 (George Gershwin stayed for several weeks while composing An American in Paris ).

Weeks after opening, The Peninsula is already having a major impact on the world’s expectations of what a Paris luxury hotel could or should be. And the 16th-arrondissement hotel is especially admired locally as one of the most extravagant examples of historic preservation the city has seen in many years–a quarry in the Loire was reopened to supply the fish-tail slates for the hotel’s roof, the wood paneling in the bar was restored by a team of ebenistes who usually work in museums.

All in All, its a WOW Hotel..................

                     (Enjoy George Gershwin's "An American In Paris")

Lights, camera, action! Welcome to Paris, the birthplace of countless cinematic creations, settings and inspirations.

Movies that were filmed in Paris restaurants -

Le Grand Vefour – Midnight in Paris Take a trip through time in the first ever grand restaurant to have been built in Paris! Tucked away in the Palais Royal, this was the meeting place of political, artistic and literary individuals for over 200 years. 

It comes as no surprise that Woody Allen chose to feature Le Grand Vefour in his fantasy film, Midnight in Paris, which perfectly complements the nostalgic aesthetics of the movie. Chef Guy Martin has managed to preserve the restaurant’s 18th century Parisian glamour, providing his clientele with a real ‘step back in time’ quality- an experience that echoes the essence of the film. In this way, Martin can only be described as an artist. He has triumphed in obtaining a perfect balance between tradition and modernity in the food served at this haute cuisine gem. 

This culinary decadence certainly comes at a price, costing around €300 per person, but the prestigious dining experience will be one to cherish forever. 17 Rue de Beaujolais, 75001 Paris. +33 1 42 96 56 27. www.grand-vefour.com

Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle - Alsace - so much more than just a monument.....

For those of you who follow my blog, will know that I love all of France; but two of my favorite regions ( I have to admit) are: Brittany and Alsace.
The castle looming high above the Alsace wine trail is the fantastic Haut-Koenigsboug Castle - which is one of the symbols of Alsatian heritage and a witness to the course of European history. 
Its a must visit for anyone touring this area.

'It’s a terrible thing for a historian to admit, but the quality of my lunch really does influence how I feel about the places I visit.’’

I adore the historian and writer, Ina Caro and her statement above is something that I have always thought of when I travel, since I was a young lad. And you know, its so true!!

When traveling to France, History is OK..but not what I think you should look for.....

I believe that when one travels (Especially to France) one should look for and participate in a life style trip; a non-history trip to be more specific. 

Your travels should be focused on authentic experiences and a real sense of place.
I want you ( as I do) to enjoy visiting food markets, walking old quarters, entering small (true) artisan shops, sampling local delicatessen's and wines and just sitting in an outdoor cafe and watching city life and feel the rhythm of the place you are at.

(Cafe sitting present day)

(Cafe sitting 1927)

Dressing for the pleasure of dressing - Men's shirts and ties - a must buy in Paris - CHARVET

It's Christmas time ( not the festive season as American's call it) and ones thoughts ( at least the men in my family) turn to buying something for themselves and there is none better place to look and buy in Paris than the Legendary men's store - Charvet.

There cannot be many brands, however illustrious, that can claim incontrovertibly to have changed the face of fashion. Charvet, however, is one such. Before the French company was established in 1838, men’s shirts were billowing, unstructured garments. Charvet introduced the yoke, seams and collars that transformed what was essentially underwear into the shirt we still recognise today. 

The company was founded by Joseph-Christophe Charvet, son of Napoleon’s wardrobe master. It was the first specialist shirtmaker store in Paris and, indeed, the world. A completely new term, chemisier, was invented to describe this innovative new business. Charvet became a French fashion institution, known for setting trends and for the exquisite quality of its shirts, cravats, waistcoats and pocket squares. Its customers included Baudelaire, George Sand and Manet, European royalty, President Kennedy and General de Gaulle.

A Christmas Experience just outside Paris -a MUST-DO.............................

For visitors to Paris this month, a must-see holiday wonderland is the beautiful 17th century Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte (my favorite of all of Frances Chateaux's) . The grand estate celebrates 10 years of Christmas displays with more than 8,000 decorations spread among the elegant rooms, multiple Christmas trees, crackling fireplaces, and tables set for a lavish feast. Outside, ride the 45-foot-tall Ferris wheel—the views of the estate are gorgeous! 

France Cuisine - what I miss today are the 'dinosaur;' dishes of real French cooking of years ago - but it still can be found

One place is the city of Lyon and here among the many great 'bouchons' is Cafe Comptoir Abel. ( warning: vegetarians, gluten free, 'I need this on this side ' and fussy Americans - who consider themselves foodies, but are not- this is definitely not for you and thank goodness, I say!)

Without a doubt the oldest, most authentic bouchon in Lyon, Café Comptoir Abel is steeped in history. The bistro tables and chairs wear their patina of age proudly, and the original wooden paneling and bric-a-brac make this magnificent building a place that’s not to be missed. Hidden away near the quays of the river Saône, this restaurant has been a veritable institution in the city since 1726. 
Current owners Philippe Florentin and Bruno Metzlé fell in love with this very special place on one of their trips to Lyon, and their most prized dream is to preserve Lyon’s culinary tradition. 
Chef Alain Vigneron loves the place – which is just as well, as he has worked in the restaurant for 37 years. Arriving as a commis chef, he has spent most of his career in this mythical bouchon, working his way up to head chef some fifteen years ago. Faithful to his own style of cooking, this legendary chef’s menu has remained unchanged for 25 years. Pike quenelles, chicken with morel mushrooms and crayfish salad are all staples that demonstrate his ancestral skills, and food is served in the dishes in which they have been cooked, which all goes to further enhance the bouchon’s typical, authentic ambiance.

For me a must is starting with Saucisson (hot) with Lentils and then tete de Veau ( Calf's head)

The Magic of the Var - The Unknown part of Provence/Cote d'Azur - Alain Ducasse's Inn - La Bastide de Moustiers

Moustiers( in the undiscovered Haut-Var region of Eastern Provence) is a very pretty little village , set in a wonderful natural setting – the village sits astride a rushing mountain stream that divides the two halves of the village with a narrow rocky canyon. The view of this mini-gorge, with small waterfalls down inside and medieval houses above, is beautiful. The sound of the river, and the running fountains all over the village, give Moustiers the feeling of an Alpine village. It’s full of shops and restaurants – many of the boutiques selling the famous Moustiers ceramics Nearby is the Grand Canyon of France; The Gorges Verdon. 
The only place to stay here is Alain Ducasses lovely and romantic inn, the luxurious Bastide de Moustiers which is just outside the village itself. It’s a wonderful hotel – a converted old stone house, set in its own extensive grounds and with additional accommodation in little stone cottages a short distance from the main house and because its part of the Alain Ducasse cooking empire, the place to eat!!