Welcome to the Queen's Table

2013 is an important year for heritage in France. 100 years of the 1913 "Monuments" law and the 30th edition of the Heritage days. Created in France 30 years ago, with an endorsement from the Council of Europe and the EU, they are now a tradition all around our continent. A weekend when monuments and sites are open to the public for free and when many places you can't normally visit open their doors. The exact weekend may differ from one country to the other, but always is a weekend in September. 

The British Ambassador kindly opened his Residence to the public for a day. Nice of him. He was even there in person to welcome the visitors. Very nice of him. He had set the big dining room table for 60 people. There was a short video showing the meticulous procedure of assembling and setting the table (two layers of one-piece tablecloths being ironed directly on the 26 pieces table, then the central pieces, the silverware, the cutlery, the bouquets, the name tags, the chandeliers...). The menu and name tags dated back to 1972, to a dinner hosted by the Queen herself. Among the invited - Mr and Mrs President George's Pompidou, Mr and Mrs Jacques Chaban-Delmas, Mr and Mrs Edouard Balladur, a few other ministers, counts and earls... The Embassy's butler was there in person to answer all our weird questions about protocol, food, plates and flowers. Thank you for making us feel welcome in your home, Your Excellency!

My favourite parts - the conservatory, the bouquets, the dining room, the garden and the chandeliers. 

It was a very British visit, we queued in heavy rainfall to get in then we all got bags for our soaked umbrellas upon the arrival and walked out through the garden in heavy rainfall again.

Brit Chic

If you're not new to this blog, you might have noticed my love for most things British. This doesn't include crazy drinking habits and young girls puking into dustbins in the Tube. It's more about London, beautiful countryside, weather and ever changing light, green lawns, grazing sheep, rain boots, cool artists, cream tea and fashion.

We're lucky here in Paris, London came to us for a whole month. In the Printemps department store, a month long "London Mania" takes place right now. 

British designers, the Cambridge Satchel Company and Burberry, of course, with a special pop-up store. Quite nice. I kind of fancy Christopher Bailey, his sense of beauty, the models he picks (he had Cara Delevigne before anybode else noticed her!), the shows (the A/W 2012 with the rain, incredible...), his cute accent, his sense of music and the fact he has a house in Yorkshire (big plus points).

We're lucky once more here in Paris, and that's because we have the Printemps' top floor terrace with an amazing view from an unexpected place. It's for free, it doesn't end in a month and you don't have to queue for 2 hours to get up there, like at the Eiffel tower...

 

For Burger and Lobster Lovers

I am one of those girls who have a thing for burgers. Juicy meat, melting cheese, just the right sauce, that's right up my street. Therefore, going to a burger place and not eating one is somehow special.

On Sunday (oh, London, again, I promise, this is the last London post), we went brunching with our friends. We originaly wanted to have a big and lovely english breakfast in Breakfast Club in Soho. Last time we wen't there, exactly a year ago, we managed to get a table for six people in about 15 minutes. This time, we were four and judging from the queue, getting a table would have taken us about two hours. We didn't have two hours.

Before coming to London, I made a not-so-short list of restaurants, cafes and bars worth the visit based upon the recommendations found on the Internet, and mostly on The Londoner (where else would you like to get tips for London?!?). There was the Breakfast Club on my list, there were several bars in parts of London we didn't have time to go to and there was also Burger & lobster. That one place figured on the top of my personal list. We thought about going there already on Saturday, when we ended in Ducksoup but then we decided we weren't hungry enough for spending £20 on a burger or a lobster and wen't for cute little artichokes instead.

On Sunday then, we finaly got to Burger & lobster and eat our first lobsters ever.

Drinks only menu.

My impressions:

• This is a place where it can take some time to get a table (we were there at noon and got a table right away, when we left, people were already queuing big time). In the Soho Burger & lobster, there is a special "waiting area" where you can sit and sip a drink before getting your table. No queuing outside in the cold. I don't know if it is the same in the other Burger & lobster restaurants though.
• Once you get your table, picking your meal doesn't take much time, since there are only three possibilities: a big burger, a whole lobster or a lobster sandwich. All served with fresh french fries and a tasty sauce. All the meals are £20. We had one burger and three lobsters.
• Don't look for meals on the menu, there are only drinks on it.
• If you prefer, you can get one huge lobster to share. You can go and see them in the lobster tank at the back of the restaurant. I didn't know a lobster can get this big! Upon getting home I checked on the Internet and the biggest lobster ever cought was over 20 kilos!!!
• Even the "regular" lobster for one person is quite a lot to eat. 
• Being new to lobster-eating, we had to ask for guidance on how to get the meat out of the animal. The girl that served us was very nice and helpful. 
• The best meat is in the claws.
• They have really nice cocktails. I must admit I had one at noon...
• Oh and we got plastic aprons, cute and very useful :).
• During lobster season, there are lobsters in Parisian restaurants. I have always wanted to try one but never saw a meal for less than 42 euros. And that's not even for a whole lobster! In Burger & lobster, the lobsters are fresh and whole and tasty, and only £20.
• Thanks, Rose, for you wise advice!

Untouched.

Get ready to get a bit dirty.

Best meat - in the claws.

You got it, get in one of the four Burger & lobster restaurants and have your own lobster party!

Ducksoup, London

On Saturday, we had a quick lunch in Soho with a Czech friend currently studying at Conde Nast College of Fashion and Design (how cool is that!!??!!) When I saw the ad for this school in French Vogue, I thought it looked pretty cool and pretty difficult to get in. Very proud I know someone who goes there!

We went to Ducksoup on Dean Street. Initially, we thought we were going to a Vietnamese restaurant, since we followed a sign in the street that went along the lines of "fresh Vietnamese food". Upon getting in, sitting down, seeing the hip crowd there (one actress), the cool and simple design of the place, the handwritten menus and the gramophone playing beautiful jazz, we understood quite quickly, we were probably next door from the Vietnamese place.

The handwritten menu. New every day.

Delish artichokes.

Even sun showed its face.

What a great mistake we made! Stepan had a "Wet garlic" and we (the girls), had fresh baby artichokes with pecorino and delicious olive oil (+ a glass of wine). The food was very nice. The service was a bit slow, but willing to help and gave us good advice on the menu.

Londoners, don't hesitate to go there for fresh, tasty and healthy Italian/French style snacks.

London, I Love You

No offense to my wonderful husband, to the beautiful city of Paris or to anyone or anywhere else, but I just LOVE London.

The excitement usually starts when we buy Eurostar tickets. Then it dies for quite some time when I realise we're not going for another few months (since you have to buy your tickets several months in advance to pay a reasonable price). Then, a few days before going, when you call, text and email your friends to set up meetings, lunches and dinners, the excitement comes back. 

And on the day of the trip, it's always this "first date" feeling, I get butterflies in my stomach. That's to tell you how excited I am every time I get the chance to go to London. Once out from the Eurostar at St Pancras, my heart (and stomach) fills with joy and I can't keep from smiling. It's like those first-days-of-a-relationship kind of excitement over and over again. I just can't wipe the smile of my face. I love the houses, the windows, the parks, the rain and the sun (oh the April showers!), the cafés and tea rooms, the shops, the hustle and bustle of the city, those distinguished old ladies walking their dogs, old gentlemen in their hats, young men in crisp tight Paul Smith suits and red socks, girls with pink hair and dresses that are way too shorter than I would ever wear in public, the fact that no one judges you no matter what you wear, how thin or fat and what colour is your hair. I think you got it, I love London.

We were so grateful to spend this weekends with friends we love and miss so much. Thank you guys for having us over, spending time with us, sipping tea, walking around, eating lobsters (yep), drinking cocktails, dancing and having fun. Thank you London, we will be back, you recharge my batteries 100%.

The rest of this post is an "I love you, London" photo-story: 

Club it out!

It's been since forever that we last went dancing to a proper club. In Paris, clubs are either very selective (they can even control the brands you're wearing) or very expensive (you have to buy a 200€ worth bottle of vodka/whiskey/rum... to enter). Or both.

This Friday, in London, we just went for drinks with friends, then decided to go for a bit of dancing to Sway, near Holborn. I was excited like a little kid. The bouncers even let us enter with our huge bags for the weekend. We left them in the cloakroom of course, but I am not sure elsewhere (ie in Paris), you could have entered with weekend bags.

I was like Alice in Wonderland - lights everywhere, disco balls, several different types of music, a colour-changing floor a few dozens of drunk Brits. The best thing was definitely the toilet. I went to the ladies room and when I got in, there was a lady who asked me "Are you alright, darling?". First I didn't really get the question, why shouldn't I be alright ? Then I realised, she was checking on the too-drunk-to-pie-on-their-own girls. Upon washing my hands, she handed my paper towels. If I needed to freshen myself with deodorant or perfume, I could have. I could actually have chosen among Thierry Mugler's Angel, Dior's Mademoiselle, Chloé and a few more. This bathroom reminded me of one in a café in Berlin, which contained not only a toilet but also a glass of red wine and piece of chocolate cake.

One of the DJs was probably in his own strange wonderland, he kept switching between songs in a crazy way (too quick, mostly no connexion between the songs whatsoever)... I had fun anyway.

Need to come back soon to one o London's clubs, to try the famous and trendy lychee martini.