I managed to pack a lot in to the shortest month of the year. Work was crazy with a huge surge in demand for trips to France this spring. There were times when I didn’t think I could keep up, but I’ve been able to streamline my processes as well as bring on new partners which has been a huge help. It was a big month for restaurant visits, with lots of warming comfort foods to get us through the winter. I hope you enjoy the February 2023 recap, which includes spots in Paris and the Loire Valley.
Where I Ate and Drank in February
- Le Voltaire. Always. Romain discovered the Miami Vice cocktail in February…Just as a note, if you’re coming to Paris and want to eat at Le Voltaire (which you should), be sure to reserve well in advance!
- Les Gourmandises in Puteaux. If you ever find yourself in Puteaux (just outside of Paris), this was a cute spot and everything is fait maison (homemade). I had a steak frites with a sauce à l’échalote (shallot sauce) that absolutely hit the spot.
- Café Varenne. Romain and I got to have a rare weekday lunch together after an apartment visit (more on that below). I had the salmon gravlax with lentils and the œufs mayonnaise, which are both very good. The portions are generous here so I usually get two entrées (which are appetizers in France, not main dishes) or just one plat.
- Les Antiquaires. I’ve reached the point in my relationship with Les Antiquaires where if I don’t come one day (and don’t tell them in advance that I’m not coming) they start to worry about me. I recommend this café to clients frequently, especially following a visit to either the Louvre or Orsay. They take reservations online (and you should definitely make one).
- Lai’Tcha. Excellent Chinese food. We shared the nems and a dim sum assortment (they’re known for dim sum so we wanted to try one of each). Each dim sum came with specific instructions for what sauce to pair with (or not). Romain had the sautéed beef which was excellent and I had some sort of chicken and mushroom rice bowl, but wish I had the beef. This is the same family as Yam’Tcha, which is a really special dining experience in Paris.
- Boneshaker Donuts. These donuts absolutely knock me out because they’re huge. But they’re really good. You’re probably thinking I didn’t come to Paris to eat donuts, but they are very good.
- Fou de Pâtisserie. We go practically every weekend. It’s a great place to try creations from different pastry chefs in one place.
- Le Boulanger de la Tour. At this point in my life as a parisienne, I will not go out of my way for a croissant. However, on Sunday we occasionally like to do burger night. It turns out Le Boulanger de la Tour makes exceptional buns, which I will go out of my way for and the croissants are a bonus. It’s near Notre Dame in the 5th arrondissement.
- Restaurant Mon Square. The interior and atmosphere is a 10/10, unless of course you’re having lunch next to Marine Le Pen, like we were. As soon as she walked in the entire vibe changed. But, if you happen to go when she’s not there it’s a lovely restaurant overlooking a charming square. They make great drinks too.
- Mamiche. I go to pilates next to Mamiche and unfortunately have to walk by it after every class. It’s impossible to resist. There’s also usually a line out the door, which is a sign that it’s a good spot. My favorite thing is the cookies, which I carefully carry home and then warm up slightly in the oven before eating.
- Sushi B. Without a doubt one of the most incredible meals I’ve ever had. There are just six seats, one waiter, and the chef. You get to watch the chef meticulously prepare every single piece of fish and then enjoy the perfect bite, every time. We still talk about this meal frequently and can’t wait to go back in a couple of months (the first available reservation). If you like sushi put this restaurant on your list.
- Blossom Burgers. This restaurant looks better than it tasted. We could’ve visited on an off day, but the burgers were pretty flavorless.
- Sébastien Gaudard. The customer service is always pretty terrible, but it’s a good pastry shop near the Louvre and if I’m having a croissant in Paris it’s likely from here.
- Le Comptoir de Mamie Bigoude in Blois in the Loire Valley. I didn’t pick this spot, but it was cute and the galettes were good. They have locations around the Loire Valley and it would be an easy and relatively quick lunch stop in-between activities.
- Le Grand Saint-Michel at the Relais de Chambord hotel overlooking the Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley. This meal was truly exceptional and features local products. Every course was creative and delicious. I probably wouldn’t recommend more than a night at the hotel as you’re a bit isolated, but we had a lovely time. Their breakfast spread is a 10/10 for me.
- L’Ambacia in Amboise. Nothing crazy, but a decent meal in Amboise.
- Le Bon Temps in Tours. This boullion (a restaurant that serves French food at very cheap prices) was good and the prices could not be beat.
- Le Petit Vendôme. One of our Saturday spots. The onion soup was absolutely insane – they added the drippings from a pot-au-feu and oh my gosh. I am ruined. If it’s not onion soup season sit at the bar and have a sandwich or take it to-go and eat it in the Tuileries.
- Imperial Treasure. For authentic Chinese fine-dining in Paris, this is the spot. The atmosphere is a little dull, but the food, especially the Peking Duck and dim sum is delicious.
Where I Shopped in February
- The butcher’s shop. Blaming it on the super long winter, but by Friday night I absolutely could not deal with cooking. February’s go-to Friday dinner was choux farcis (you can translate most pages on your browser from French – Marmiton has the best easy recipes!). I go to Boucherie de Varenne.
- Barthélémy. I’m going to be honest here, I used to avoid this cheese shop because they were always so snooty. However, the original owner recently sold the shop and now they could not be nicer. It’s an absolutely gorgeous shop and they have wonderful cheeses but also yogurts, fresh pastas, mustards, confitures and more. If you’re renting an apartment in Paris this would be an excellent shop to visit. And if you’re not, the perfect place to go and get picnic supplies. Later in the month I was back for mini neufchâtel cheese hearts to gift to my girlfriends for a Valentine’s Day lunch.
- We got our wedding keepsake box (finally) right before Valentine’s Day, so I got off easy on finding a Valentine’s Day gift for Romain. I did however keep up the tradition of buying him a box of Debauve & Gallais chocolates. He maintained the tradition of eating the entire box in one night.
- My favorite flower shop, Les Fleurs de Sanji for a Valentine’s bouquet for Romain’s grandmother. These flowers are the very best and last so long.
- Petrossian. Romain and I both love caviar, so we decided to have caviar and Wagyu beef (that my dad carried on the plane to Paris from Dallas), and Romain’s homemade aligot for our Valentine’s Day dinner. We paired the caviar with both Petrossian’s homemade blinis and artisanal chips (and with crème fraîche for good measure). We decided that the blinis let you really appreciate the taste of the caviar, but they’re a little too thick. The chips were the perfect little caviar vehicle, although too salty. So our search continues…In any case, it was the perfect way to celebrate.
- Halles de Tours. A covered market in Tours with lots of great stands. I did some souvenir shopping to bring home some regional specialties. I can also arrange a visit to this market paired with either a cooking class or a picnic, which is something fun and different to do in the Loire Valley when maybe you need a break from visiting châteaux.
What I Did in February
- Continued to try to find an apartment. We had so many really promising leads followed by absolutely nothing. To be fair our search radius is very small, but both Romain and I agree that location for us is the most important thing. And so we wait!
- Went back to the Loire Valley. I went for work to test out various guides and visit hotels in the region. It was a very productive trip and there are so many unique fabulous experiences that can be organized that aren’t public knowledge – think floral ateliers at a château, private visits and wine tastings while châteaux are closed to the public, romantic meals in secret parts of estates closed to the public and more. Please get in touch with me here for travel planning assistance – I’m happy to help. While February definitely isn’t an ideal time to visit (cold and can be rainy), if it’s the only time you can go it’s better than nothing. It’s such an easy place to get to from Paris.
A big merci for being a member! If there’s ever anything you’d like to see more of, don’t hesitate to let me know!
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Find out exactly where I ate, shopped and visited in February 2023 and enjoy other exclusive content by becoming a member.
Where I Ate and Drank in February
- Le Voltaire. Always. Romain discovered the Miami Vice cocktail in February…Just as a note, if you’re coming to Paris and want to eat at Le Voltaire (which you should), be sure to reserve well in advance!
- Les Gourmandises in Puteaux. If you ever find yourself in Puteaux (just outside of Paris), this was a cute spot and everything is fait maison (homemade). I had a steak frites with a sauce à l’échalote (shallot sauce) that absolutely hit the spot.
- Café Varenne. Romain and I got to have a rare weekday lunch together after an apartment visit (more on that below). I had the salmon gravlax with lentils and the œufs mayonnaise, which are both very good. The portions are generous here so I usually get two entrées (which are appetizers in France, not main dishes) or just one plat.
- Les Antiquaires. I’ve reached the point in my relationship with Les Antiquaires where if I don’t come one day (and don’t tell them in advance that I’m not coming) they start to worry about me. I recommend this café to clients frequently, especially following a visit to either the Louvre or Orsay. They take reservations online (and you should definitely make one).
- Lai’Tcha. Excellent Chinese food. We shared the nems and a dim sum assortment (they’re known for dim sum so we wanted to try one of each). Each dim sum came with specific instructions for what sauce to pair with (or not). Romain had the sautéed beef which was excellent and I had some sort of chicken and mushroom rice bowl, but wish I had the beef. This is the same family as Yam’Tcha, which is a really special dining experience in Paris.
- Boneshaker Donuts. These donuts absolutely knock me out because they’re huge. But they’re really good. You’re probably thinking I didn’t come to Paris to eat donuts, but they are very good.
- Fou de Pâtisserie. We go practically every weekend. It’s a great place to try creations from different pastry chefs in one place.
- Le Boulanger de la Tour. At this point in my life as a parisienne, I will not go out of my way for a croissant. However, on Sunday we occasionally like to do burger night. It turns out Le Boulanger de la Tour makes exceptional buns, which I will go out of my way for and the croissants are a bonus. It’s near Notre Dame in the 5th arrondissement.
- Restaurant Mon Square. The interior and atmosphere is a 10/10, unless of course you’re having lunch next to Marine Le Pen, like we were. As soon as she walked in the entire vibe changed. But, if you happen to go when she’s not there it’s a lovely restaurant overlooking a charming square. They make great drinks too.
- Mamiche. I go to pilates next to Mamiche and unfortunately have to walk by it after every class. It’s impossible to resist. There’s also usually a line out the door, which is a sign that it’s a good spot. My favorite thing is the cookies, which I carefully carry home and then warm up slightly in the oven before eating.
- Sushi B. Without a doubt one of the most incredible meals I’ve ever had. There are just six seats, one waiter, and the chef. You get to watch the chef meticulously prepare every single piece of fish and then enjoy the perfect bite, every time. We still talk about this meal frequently and can’t wait to go back in a couple of months (the first available reservation). If you like sushi put this restaurant on your list.
- Blossom Burgers. This restaurant looks better than it tasted. We could’ve visited on an off day, but the burgers were pretty flavorless.
- Sébastien Gaudard. The customer service is always pretty terrible, but it’s a good pastry shop near the Louvre and if I’m having a croissant in Paris it’s likely from here.
- Le Comptoir de Mamie Bigoude in Blois in the Loire Valley. I didn’t pick this spot, but it was cute and the galettes were good. They have locations around the Loire Valley and it would be an easy and relatively quick lunch stop in-between activities.
- Le Grand Saint-Michel at the Relais de Chambord hotel overlooking the Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley. This meal was truly exceptional and features local products. Every course was creative and delicious. I probably wouldn’t recommend more than a night at the hotel as you’re a bit isolated, but we had a lovely time. Their breakfast spread is a 10/10 for me.
- L’Ambacia in Amboise. Nothing crazy, but a decent meal in Amboise.
- Le Bon Temps in Tours. This boullion (a restaurant that serves French food at very cheap prices) was good and the prices could not be beat.
- Le Petit Vendôme. One of our Saturday spots. The onion soup was absolutely insane – they added the drippings from a pot-au-feu and oh my gosh. I am ruined. If it’s not onion soup season sit at the bar and have a sandwich or take it to-go and eat it in the Tuileries.
- Imperial Treasure. For authentic Chinese fine-dining in Paris, this is the spot. The atmosphere is a little dull, but the food, especially the Peking Duck and dim sum is delicious.
Where I Shopped in February
- The butcher’s shop. Blaming it on the super long winter, but by Friday night I absolutely could not deal with cooking. February’s go-to Friday dinner was choux farcis (you can translate most pages on your browser from French – Marmiton has the best easy recipes!). I go to Boucherie de Varenne.
- Barthélémy. I’m going to be honest here, I used to avoid this cheese shop because they were always so snooty. However, the original owner recently sold the shop and now they could not be nicer. It’s an absolutely gorgeous shop and they have wonderful cheeses but also yogurts, fresh pastas, mustards, confitures and more. If you’re renting an apartment in Paris this would be an excellent shop to visit. And if you’re not, the perfect place to go and get picnic supplies. Later in the month I was back for mini neufchâtel cheese hearts to gift to my girlfriends for a Valentine’s Day lunch.
- We got our wedding keepsake box (finally) right before Valentine’s Day, so I got off easy on finding a Valentine’s Day gift for Romain. I did however keep up the tradition of buying him a box of Debauve & Gallais chocolates. He maintained the tradition of eating the entire box in one night.
- My favorite flower shop, Les Fleurs de Sanji for a Valentine’s bouquet for Romain’s grandmother. These flowers are the very best and last so long.
- Petrossian. Romain and I both love caviar, so we decided to have caviar and Wagyu beef (that my dad carried on the plane to Paris from Dallas), and Romain’s homemade aligot for our Valentine’s Day dinner. We paired the caviar with both Petrossian’s homemade blinis and artisanal chips (and with crème fraîche for good measure). We decided that the blinis let you really appreciate the taste of the caviar, but they’re a little too thick. The chips were the perfect little caviar vehicle, although too salty. So our search continues…In any case, it was the perfect way to celebrate.
- Halles de Tours. A covered market in Tours with lots of great stands. I did some souvenir shopping to bring home some regional specialties. I can also arrange a visit to this market paired with either a cooking class or a picnic, which is something fun and different to do in the Loire Valley when maybe you need a break from visiting châteaux.
What I Did in February
- Continued to try to find an apartment. We had so many really promising leads followed by absolutely nothing. To be fair our search radius is very small, but both Romain and I agree that location for us is the most important thing. And so we wait!
- Went back to the Loire Valley. I went for work to test out various guides and visit hotels in the region. It was a very productive trip and there are so many unique fabulous experiences that can be organized that aren’t public knowledge – think floral ateliers at a château, private visits and wine tastings while châteaux are closed to the public, romantic meals in secret parts of estates closed to the public and more. Please get in touch with me here for travel planning assistance – I’m happy to help. While February definitely isn’t an ideal time to visit (cold and can be rainy), if it’s the only time you can go it’s better than nothing. It’s such an easy place to get to from Paris.
A big merci for being a member! If there’s ever anything you’d like to see more of, don’t hesitate to let me know!
