In a world of globalization with familiar chain stores and high fashion brands invading even the remotest places, it’s always nice to see new shops with individual owners who have a singular vision.
Off the pedestrian Place Catherine in the Marais is the charming L’Etre Ange, a hybrid home design shop, café, and restaurant. I first peruse the home section of the shop and I am drawn to almost everything, with items cleverly displayed on distressed wooden crates. It’s one of those, I could own everything in here/ I could decorate my whole house, kind of shop. The Melamine plates with bold graphic lines and female faces and the white teacups embellished with insects especially strike my fancy. I also love the flower chandelier covering the ceiling.
Before I get into too much trouble by buying out the store, I sit down for lunch. The menu offers an appealing selection of salads, charcuterie plates, sandwiches, and main courses. I spot a woman eating a colorful salad, and I ask what it is. I am told it is a special salad of Iberian ham and aged Comté cheese garnished with vegetable chips that’s not on the menu, made for a frequent customer. I asked if I could have the same salad and they graciously accommodate me. As I am waiting for my food there’s Japanese magazine crew shooting a story in the shop and having lunch. The taste of the salad matches the external beauty and I savor the rich, buttery ham and the bite of the aged Comté.
After I finish my salad, I notice the waiter serving a white large white cup with a chocolate cube with a wooden skewer going through the middle at another table. Curious, I ask him what is it, and he replied it was hot chocolate. He then brought out a pitcher of hot milk and poured it over the cube and swirled it around the cup till it was completely melted. Wow, that is the most unique way I have ever seen hot chocolate served. I, without question, have to experiment with this new found way of making hot chocolate. The owners Diane and Miguel kindly offer me one on the house and I madly swirl the stick chocolate around in the milk till the last morsel dissolves, then drink it to the last tummy warming drop.
After I pay the moderate check, (the large portion salads are well priced at 12-14 euros), I ask for a card and presented a wooden spoon with card and a red ribbon attached to it. Totally chic!
L’Etre Ange
8 Rue Ormesson, 75004
Metro: St. Paul
Open Tuesday to Sunday 10AM-7PM
My Paris Apartment for Rent
I am renting my fabulous Paris apartment in the heart of the Marais near St. Paul metro, from November 30 to December 16, a total of 17 nights. It's a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft style apartment with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S. The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator.
The price is 2800 euros/165 per night for 17 nights, 1500 euros for 7 nights, and anything in between 7 & 15 nights, 175 euros per night. Minimum rental 7 nights or 1500 euros. Photos upon request.
Please email me at r.nahem@gmail.com if you are interested.
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour