Champagne: love it as much as I love wine.Pink or white, I am a fan of both as long as it’s chilled and bubbly! It is the quintessential definition of celebration. Over the next few weeks, there are numerous reasons for my family to be popping the corks on bottles as we toast numerous transitions in our family’s lives. I say “popping” the corks but if we were really adventurous, we might try making a bigger, far more romantic splash at our next party!
Sabrage or the Sabering of Champagne is a method of opening a champagne bottle by cutting the top off, cork and all with a saber. The legend of sabrage has its beginnings with Napoleon’s army returning home after a victory, being cheered on by the local townspeople who offered the soldiers bottles of champagne in celebration. While they were astride their horses, with no means of uncorking the bottle properly, they merely pulled out their swords and lopped off the top at the lip of the cork with an upward blow to the bottle. Let the party begin!!
A second legend has Mme Clicquot(the widow Cliquot), a woman who years before it was fashionable for females to be successful in a male world, did just that by taking over her late husband’s affairs ranging from banking and wool trading. She devoted all her efforts to their champagne business, makingVeuve Clicquot, then and now, one of the premier champagnes in the world. Her gift to the art of sabering was again offering Napoleon’s soldiers champagne in return for safe keeping of her property (I think that’s what’s called a bribe). Offering soldiers on horses bottles of the bubbly and glasses to drink it from, they tossed the glasses to the ground and drew their swords once again while drinking right from the bottle. Ooh la la!!
For those of you non-romantics (boo), there is a scientific explanation to this trick. I don’t profess to understand it, but apparently, done properly, if one hits the bottle right under the lip of the cork at the bottle’s weakest point, on a well-chilled bottle, the cork and glass fly away, spilling little and leaving a rather smooth break. The pressure from inside the bottle ensures that no glass enters and all that yumminess is safe to drink.
A friend of mine,Olivier, who is a sommelier in Paris has put together aseries of videosabout wine, food pairings and champagne that I will send you to. This particular video is about….sabering. We find him at the foot of the Eiffel Tower demonstrating what I think is a most romantic way to open a bottle of champagne. You really have to watch closely and check out the knife that he uses…..he obviously has done this before. Happy Sabrage!
This is Rue des Barres, a cobble stoned pedestrian street in the 4th arrondisement that backs up to Eglise Saint Gervais, one of the oldest churches in Paris, being mentioned as far back as the 4th century. It was formerly seat to the powerful brotherhood of wine merchants–yeah for those wine merchants. The street is one of the best examples of what medieval Paris would have looked like. On the right hand corner where those bushes are you will find:
Chez Julien, a tiny throw back to the turn of the century bistros, claims one of the most desirable terraces for fine weather dining outdoors. A stones throw from the Seine, it is set off the beaten track of noisy, trafficky boulevards and takes you back to a quieter, more tranquil time. The food is traditional–veal medallions with mushrooms, escargot if you are so inclined and beautifully prepared. Oh, as I write this I am wishing I were there. Do give it a try.
Htel Le Bristol, on rue du Faubourg Saint Honor, is one of a handful of magnificent five star hotels in Paris that cater to a clientele of which I am not a member. One or two drinks in the bar and then it’s back to my humble three star abode for the night. I do, however, have my wily ways of getting us in there for something in a “normal” person’s price range that is a bit out of the ordinary experience while visiting Paris.
Fashion High Teas, held on select Saturdays throughout the year, invites locals and guests to The Bar at Le Bristol for a traditional afternoon high tea of pastries, finger sandwiches and desert, along with a choice of 15 teas (I would prefer a glass of wine, but, oh well) while models use this elegant backdrop as a catwalk to showcase the latest fashions for the current season by the best in the business. Two upcoming shows that you might be in town for areAzzaroon May 24th andEmanuel Ungaroon June 28th. Whether you like or even know who these designers are isn’t necessarily the point. The fun part is just doing this. An afternoon of feminine indulgence. If you happen to be traveling with your hubby, leave him to his own devices and allow yourself the treat of surrounding yourself in all this luxury. Heck, I occasionally leave my husband at home in the states. You could at least part ways for about 2 hours;-)
Fashion High Tea at Htel Le Bristol 50 euros/per person Reservations: 33 (0) 1 53 43 43 42 orLe Bristol Hotel
The weather has been magnificent these last few days in Paris, beautiful enough to leave the parapluies (umbrellas) at home for a rainy day ;-) and run outside to soak up the sun. The parks that dot the city will be filled with tourists and residents alike, all positioning themselves to grab green metal parc chairs, pull out a newspaper, turn on an ipod or just lean back and take a nap. One of the most beautiful places to do this is Parc Monceau.
Unknown to many tourists, Parc Monceau is located in the 8th arrondissement that has little around it that would be considered touristy, so you would need to make a tiny effort to get here. but in Paris that really isn’t that difficult–it usually means one more mtro stop. It was established by Phillippe d”Orlans, a Frenchman who loved all things English! As a result, his goal was to create what you might find on an English estate; an informal layout, curved walkways and randomly placed statues and follies that differs from the traditional French garden which is very formal, symmetrical and well manicured. Flowers are left to do as they please, some finding homes in hollowed out logs. The circular colonnade that you see in the picture, surrounds a pond and looks as though it has been here since ancient times with crumbling “debris” sprinkled about.
There are rock gardens,
and waterfalls….
elements that you won’t find in any other park in Paris.
It’s a good size and has lots of room for strolling (my movement of choice) running, roller blading and letting the kids just go crazy after a day of museums. A picnic lunch would be awesome here as well. If you are sensing that the sun is going to be out and being inside can wait for when the clouds roll in–which could be in about 5 minutes with Paris–I would plan to spend part of your day here in nature’s splendor!!
Prom, 2008. It has come and gone. Last night, my daughter’s high school held the annual event that all high school students (mostly the girls who drag the guys) look forward to. It is a month long planning process of dresses, shoe and jewelry shopping. Hair, manicures and tanning may or may not be thrown in the mix. There is no such thing as prom in Paris. The year my daughter went to high school there, her school,EAB, attempted an end of the year dance for their junior and senior class. So few students were in those classes that they had to open it up to the entire school just to make a party out of it. Students from around the world were fascinated by the whole concept of a fancy dress party at the end of the year and all the preparations that went with it. Kylie, my daughter, and her friends from the US and Canada, explained the ritual and the whole over-the-top dressing up idea, and well, this is Paris, and the shopping is great, and getting dressed up is great so why didn’t the French think of it first Ha Ha!Here is what a typical mid-western event looks like:
Kylie and I ( I’m trying to kiss her). All my girls tower over me!
The “date”, Ethan. Supposedly, he is the best dancer in the school but didn’t know who Earth, Wind and Fire were. What’s up with that? All great dancers know who they are!
I failed to mention that many times someone host’s a “picture taking” event…that would be me, and all the parents come to photograph their son or daughter and their date. I of course had to make a party of it since I had the lip on that I wasn’t getting all dressed up to go dancing. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were a must (just for the parents!)
A fabulous group of kids!
The “girls”. These cuties have been friends since the very first day they stepped foot in their high school–some even before that. They are all awesome, crazy, sweet. And now they are getting ready to move on to bigger and better things!
