Paris
-
The Floating Kitchens of École Lenôtre
My latest foray into the world of French cooking occurred in one of the most unusual places: the floating kitchens of École Lenôtre. If you’ve been to Paris, you know that it is defined by the Seine. And that famous river is lined with an array of watercraft. I recently discovered that the prestigious École Lenôtre has converted one of these yachts into a wonderful cooking school. Situated in Quai Henri IV, it offers a less frequently seen view of Notre Dame de Paris. For some close-up views of Notre Dame as it recovers from the tragic fire, see my post Saving Notre Dame: An Epic Endeavor. Menu Esprit Bistrot…
-
Baking Croissants at La Cuisine Paris
How much more Parisian can you get than baking croissants in Paris? Well, perhaps Discovering the Secrets of Macarons would do it but I think it’s a pretty close race. Having already mastered macarons, I decided it was time to move on to the buttery, golden viennoiseries – pastries. So on a hot, sunny day in May, I made my way to the charming French cooking school, La Cuisine Paris, to attend their ‘Le Croissant and Breakfast Pastries‘ class. Tucked in behind Paris’ stunning Hôtel de Ville – City Hall – on la Rive Droite – the Right Bank – of the Seine, La Cuisine Paris offers a wonderful selection…
-
Baking Sweet French Classics at the Ritz
After enjoying a light lunch on the patio of the Ritz’s Bar Vendôme, I was kindly guided down the elegant, toile-adorned staircase to the kitchens of the École Ritz Escoffier. I was on my way to attend their ‘Sweet Classics’ baking class. Earlier in the year, as I was planning this trip to Paris, I had discovered that the Hôtel Ritz had just re-opened after an extensive four-year renovation. Always on the look out for new French baking and cooking class opportunities, I began to wonder whether they might not offer some. Happily, a quick look at their website confirmed that indeed they do. So, of course, I had to…
-
Discovering the Secrets of Macarons
While planning a recent visit to Paris I was looking for a more unique way to experience an authentic piece of that wonderful city – one that would help satisfy my interest in French cuisine. That got me wondering if Le Cordon Bleu, the world-renowned culinary arts school founded in 1895 by journalist and culinary magazine publisher Marthe Distel, offered classes to amateurs. A quick search of their website confirmed that indeed they do. Delving a little deeper, I discovered that one of the courses offered is called ‘Les secrets des Macarons‘ – The Secrets of Macarons. It seemed to me that one could not get much more Parisian than to bake macarons,…
