by Paige Donner
If you're listening to the show from outside France I'd like to share with you some of the sights and sounds and smells that make up the warm and cheerful holiday season here in the City of Lights.
Angelo Musa, Exec Pastry Chef, Plaza Athénée Paris & His star pastries for Christmas 2016
First of all, Christmas decorations start going up by about the 3rd week of November, giving us a long run-up to the happiest day of the year.
The Christmas markets on the Champs-Elysées and in Paris' St.-Germain-des-Prés are all up by this time, too. Here you can find mulled wine, that warm, sweet and spicy red wine that is so emblematic of the holidays here in Europe. The savory smells of roasting chestnuts and hot crepes are also wafting in the air.
Christmas trees are outside all the florist's shops and a common site one sees is people walking down the narrow cobble streets carrying one home for their kids.
The churches, like St. Paul on rue St. Antoine in the Marais, have their creches on display, often lit with twinkling candles that invite you to gaze in wonder and reverence on the baby Jesus manger scene, so central to Christmas celebrations.
This year, for our December show, I'm introducing you to a truly marvelous gourmet gift shop that is easy to find in the Les Halles district, Paris' traditional food district. It's called the Boutique Dans Le Noir and is the little shop of specialty food items that is associated with the celebrated restaurant, Dans Le Noir, a restaurant staffed entirely by the blind and nearly blind. Our interviewee for this segment is the boutique's staff intern, Rasmya Hadji, originally from the Comores Islands and perfectly bilingual in both French and English.
Next, I take you to meet the Plaza Athenée's new pastry chef, Angelo Musa. Here in Paris, the Plaza is one of the holiday destinations of choice and always does things up with great Christmas fanfare. This year, in addition to their Dior decorated Christmas tree, they are also featuring, as is custom, a special tea time. There are few more delicious ways to enjoy a cosy December afternoon than with a pot of tea or hot chocolate and a delicate, melt-in-your mouth fine pastry made by Chef Musa.
So curl up by the proverbial fireplace and enjoy our special Christmas 2016 edition of Paris GOOD food + wine.
Music courtesy of http://www.freexmasmp3.com/
"First Noel" - R&B version |
Traditional English Christmas song in a Rhythm and Blues instrumental version. The author of this song in unknown, many dates it back to 13th century. The first publications were with the name "The first nowell". |
"Ding Dong Merrily on High" |
One of the most famous and our favorites traditional Christmas song. The lyrics was published in 1924 by George Woodward, while the melody is dated back about to the 15th century and was a popular French carol. |
"Silent Night" - Disco edition |
One of the most famous Christmas carol translated in over 300 languages. Published here in a disco version in honor of the Austrian author of the melody Franz Gruber who has composed it as a sprightly, dance-like song. |
More Info @ParisFoodWine
"There aren't many other countries, besides France, that make rosé wines...". This is the surprising fact I was told by Team Chapoutier at their second annual Mathilda Rosé kick-off in Paris.
So when Chapoutier of both organic wine and Cote du Rhône fame took his game to Australia and decided to produce a fresh and fun rosé downunder, and then market it in France in time for the summer season, it was kind of like turning the tables on the two hemispheres, the new world sort of playing to the old.
In short, however you shake it, this Mathilda Rosé is a summertime winner. It's light and fresh and just fruity enough to make it thoroughly rosé-y. The fact that there are no added sulfites make you ever so thankful the day after.
And like a stroke of Australian sun, so far the only sunny day in June in Paris this season, was the day that Team Chapoutier chose to have their Mathilda Rosé beach party down by the Seine. Makes me wonder if we ought to be drinking more of this Mathilda?
The French have it easy, at least when it comes to buying good French wines. And every Fall, many of these top French wines, and wines, too, from smaller lesser known producers, can be found and purchased for competitive prices, especially by US standards, at their local grocery stores.
Geant Casino, one of France's biggest and best in terms of quality, grocery store chains, boasts approximately 400 stores throughout the country. These stores vary in sizes from a super-Ralph's or Vons to their smaller Franprix which is more like the size of a Trader Joe's.
Each year their tasters, such the as young Sophie Talbot, fan out across the mosaic land to find, taste and bring back the best wines to offer their customers for the annual Foire aux Vins, wine celebration days that takes place each Fall.
Foire aux Vins 2016: September 2 - 17 Geant Casino and Casino Supermarche
Two Of Les Vins de Eric Beaumard's Vie
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, the celebrated and celebrity sommelier of Paris's Four Seasons Hotel George V has released two of his own wines under his own label this year which will be available through Geant Casino. The first is a rose, Cotes de Provence, "Les Garrigues d'Eric Beaumard" whose freshness and acidity will leave you reaching for more. This 2015 is full of white flowers and shows off nicely with salad, grilled vegetables and also paper-thin carpaccio.
His next offering, a Chablis, goes by the name of "Les Ammonites." Here you will find the 2015 giving off hints of almond as you sip its generous liquidity. Per Eric, best enjoyed with small toasts of smoked salmon or oysters from Cancale or Oleron.
Bordeaux - Right Bank
Chateau de Pressac is one of the most beautiful chateaus in St. Emilion. If you've ever had the privilege to visit, the memory of it will overshadow even its wines, which is saying quite a lot given this is a Grand Cru. The 2011 on offer here is a stroke of luck to get since the legendary 2010 have all long sold out. Expect a bouquet of blackcurrant and blackberry with dried tabacco leaves. Once tasted you can look forward to black fruits, slightly candies, finishing with a long elegance and freshness.
Enjoy this wine with red meats, grilled or stewed and also fine cheeses.
Looking to make a new discovery and perhaps a new conquest? Look no farther than Portugal's red and white wines. Of course when one thinks of the Douro, Port wines often first come to mind. And while the Douro has made significant headway in recent years getting its unfortified reds onto the international market, their whites still remain a bit of a mystery.
Beira Interior Quinta Do Cardo
This little red that could won the Gold Medal in Brussels in 2015. Its full name is Beira Interior Quinta Do Cardo Touriga Nacional Reserva 2012. An easy to drink but complex red, you'll find here notes of violette and dark chocolate. Expect firm, dense tannins.
Serve with a roast and/ or aged cheese.
Dao Quinta Do Cerrado Encruzado 2015
Of the two Portugal whites on offer for this wine bonanza at Casino, this is the more mineral of the two. Fresh fruits, intense color, small flowers and nice balance.
Best as aperitif or with shellfish.
Douro Vallegre Colheita Branco 2014
This is the wine to bring to the bbq or a meal where everyone is to pleased. It has the mark of an international wine. Hints of lemon on the nose, with an ample mouth, warm and rich.
Photos: by Paige Donner of the selection of wines to look forward to this Fall at Geant Casino. Tasting at Drouant Paris.
