I’m trying to figure out where time is going and how we’re already nearing the end of August. It feels like we’re already a couple of months into fall after the most bizarre August in Paris that I can remember. This week’s Five Friday Finds from France features a book on the Napoleon III Apartments in the Louvre, where to find Texas BBQ in Paris, and believe it or not, the Bonne Maman 2021 Advent Calendar.
The Napoleon III Apartments Book
If you haven’t been to the Napoleon III Apartments in the Musée du Louvre I highly recommend going. In the meantime, if you want to have closer look and learn more about them you can get The Napoleon III Apartments book online (or you can buy it in Paris in the Louvre bookstore). I’m excited to dive into all of the details of one of my favorite spaces in the city.
Melt: Texas BBQ in Paris
There are surprisingly quite a few places where you can get BBQ in Paris. But as far as I’m concerned, there’s only one place where you can get true Texas BBQ in Paris: Melt. All you need to know is they brought the pitmaster from Pecan Lodge in Dallas to Paris. They have several locations: Oberkampf – the original and most classic BBQ, Batignolles – “new school” BBQ, and a Taqueria in the 18th arrondissement. Everything on the menu is good. I love the brisket, spare ribs, potato salad, and queso fries!
Bees in the Jardin des Tuileries
Did you know there are bees in the Jardin des Tuileries? In 2019 they installed six beehives. They chose buckfast honey bees because of their calm and hardworking temperaments. The bees have their own special flower bed filled with nectar. This is also where the gardeners experiment with new floral creations that potentially make their way to the main flower beds. Each June there’s a Rendez-vous aux Jardins festival where you can learn more about the Tuileries bees with a beekeeper. I want to know who gets the Tuileries honey!
Bonne Maman 2021 Advent Calendar
My excitement for the holidays comes earlier and earlier each year…and I’m just going with it. Bonne Maman released their 2021 Advent Calendar this week. I highly recommend purchasing one now if you’re interested because they always sell out! The holiday exclusive flavors include raspberry with rose (I adore anything rose-flavored), cherry with hibiscus flower, and peach with jasmine. I’ll update my French Advent Calendars available online post later, but here’s last year’s list for inspiration!
Grinding Meat in a Food Processor
On the long list of things readily available in the US but rarely available in France is ground turkey and chicken. Occasionally at Marché Raspail the poultry (volaille) vendor will have a farce de volaille, but it’s always mixed with other ingredients and I’m never quite sure what kind of poultry it is (always hoping it’s not pigeon). I started asking the butcher to make it for me. Then he, like the rest of the country, went on vacation for a month. I can live without ground turkey and chicken. However, when my friend Emily (again with the hot tip) told me I could make it in a food processor, it changed my life.
You just chop the meat into chunks, pop it into the freezer for 10-ish minutes until it’s cold but not fully frozen, and pulse in the food processor. I’ll be stuffing lots of peppers in the future!
I hope you enjoyed this week’s Five Friday Finds from France. I’ll be back tomorrow with Weekend Links!
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2 comments
Love your blog, enjoy reading your reviews. Have been to Paris a few times,especially in The Fall,will keep fowowing you!
Thank you so much!