To St Malo to see the sea, and a word about the Bigarrade
May is a curious month. There are three public holidays scattered in the first half so the French try to make long weekends around those dates and the city feels quieter than usual. The sun has been out since last weekend and we who have been locked in by the cold and blustery weather of March and April are taking the opportunity to go out and enjoy some warmth.
Even now, two weeks after our little weekend holiday, every time we take V out she asks if we're going to the seaside. St Malo and Mont St Michel obviously made an impression on her. We stayed in a small hotel in the walled city, took walks around the rampart, rode carousels, walked on the beach, collected seashells and it was absolutely lovely. Definitely a big improvement on the chateaux-tramping of our previous vacation in the Loire Valley. The eating was good too. Lots of crepes, in particular the butter and sugar ones at Chez Margaux. Also lots of seafood, like pink roses with intact ebiko, cold crab and my new favourite, sole meuniere.
Posting will be sporadic again because next week I join third and fourth sister in New York for a girly vacation. I need to shop for some skincare products and children's clothings. In the meantime, if anyone is coming over to Paris the go-to restaurant is definitely Bigarrade. People say it is this year's Spring. I'd say it is much better, euro for euro we get more value for the money as exemplified by a great dinner we ate last night. The multi-course menus (my 45 euro Gourmet one: 2 apps, 1 fish, cheese, 3 desserts and husband's 65 euro Gourmand version which adds one more each of appetiser, meat and dessert) were exciting, brilliantly delivered and very yummy. My favourite dish was a small dessert of mango dessert topped with dried olives, just the thing for a jaded palate.
La Bigarrade, 106 rue Nollet. 17th arr. M: Brochant.
T: 01 42 26 01 02
WAH WAH..NEW YORK, you lucky duck! How brilliant. Have a wonderful wonderful time and which restaurants are you planning to go to?
I am convinced about St Malo by the way. If V is still asking for it, that's good enough a recc for me!
Posted by: Weylin | Friday, May 09, 2008 at 03:48 AM
They didn't have restaurants like that when I was staying at Brochant more than a decade ago...
Have a great trip, I am very envious of course, girly trip plus NY are magic words.
Posted by: East Meets West | Monday, May 12, 2008 at 04:17 PM
Hi There
I just stumbled upon your blog and think it is an excellent read for foodies and especially like the photos and design of the blog.I started off as a blogger myself and realise the importance of a good clean design like you have here. I have now bookmarked it for myself to read and have added you to our new list of "all the food blogs in the world" on www.ifoods.tv which we have been compiling for the last month! Hopefully it will send you some traffic in the long run. Looking forward to reading your thoughts on food so keep up the good work and talk soon. Cheers
Posted by: Niall Harbison | Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 02:39 PM
You have a blessed life! I wish I could go on a girly trip to NYC and your food pics are driving me crazy! :)
Is the first pic of Mimi? Looks like her.
Posted by: superfinefeline | Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 06:53 AM
What a fabulous blog. I am so pleased thet Typepad featured it. I will tell my friends to visit.
Posted by: Stencil Helen | Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Weylin, I do recommend St Malo it was lovely. As for NY... posts akan datang.
Beaulotus, yeah we had been planning this trip for months.
Niall, thank you for adding my blog to your list I really appreciate it.
superfinefeline, it is Mimi. She wasn't that pleased to be outdoors in windy and occasionally rainy St Malo.
Stencil Helen: Thank you for visiting and I am glad you like my blog. Cheers!
Posted by: umami | Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 08:51 PM
ha ha ha! Actually, she seemed to have a petulant look on her face! That was how I figured it was her as Rufus is a little more easy-going. Just my take on the 2 lil poochie's temperament.
St Malo, j'espere que j'avais de la chance pour le visiter.
Posted by: superfinefeline | Monday, May 19, 2008 at 07:42 AM
superfinefeline, you're right about Mimi and rufus. Et St. Malo, pourquoi pas? Tout est possible, non?
Posted by: umami | Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 06:31 PM
:)
Oui, tout est possible. Je doit etre plus positive! :)
Posted by: superfinefeline | Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 05:53 PM