Nice to Paris & Le Train Bleu

Nice’s train statio’s renovation has begun, having eliminated the traffic and parking congestion, and now has a large open space in place, giving it a cleaner/sleeker look.  Bravo to Mayor Estrosi!

Proposed Project:

Arriving at the Gare de Lyon in Paris in time for a late lunch, I noticed the train announcement board is now modernized/digital – a sign of the times, I suppose (pardon the pun!) I missed hearing the sound of the flip-style announcement board, so, I decided to “go back in time” and eat at the famous brasserie, Le Train Bleu, with its ornate decoration, luxurious ambiance, and fine dining.

View from restaurant onto the train station

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 Une coupe de champagne to celebrate our arrival, not to mention being à propos to our surroundings, was de rigeur!  As expected, the service was excellent and elegant, as well as a vestiare for luggage.  There was a three-course menu (entrée, plat, dessert) that included wine, so I decided to splurge.  I also noted that they offer a vegetarian choice: une assiette de legumes, priced at 18 Euros on the à la carte menu.

 

I ordered the “Royale de fois gras,” followed by the “Paleron de boeuf” and dessert as “La suggestion du pâtissier” with a glass of crisp, white wine.

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I couldn’t manage to finish my dessert, even with knowing I would work it off by lugging luggage up and down steps in the Metro.

Some photo op pics:

Chamber Music Event

I enjoy listening to most all types of music and especially like chamber music – most notably, baroque music by Jean-Baptiste Lully, composer and chef d’orchestre for Louis XIV.

The Berliner Camerata will be performing compositions by Mozart, Bach, and Vivaldi at the Basilique Notre Dame, a Neo-Gothic basilica built between 1864 and 1868 and is the largest church in Nice, but it is not a cathedrale, like the baroque-style Cathedrale St. Reparate in Nice.  So what’s the difference, you ask, too? 

“The difference between a cathedral and a basilica is that a cathedral is a church which acts as home to the bishop`s throne (cathedra) that is the central church in his diocese while a basilica refers to a church’s architecture and importance to the pope. A Basilica refers also to permanent designation for church building.” (wikipedia)

No matter what the setting, this concert sounds like a great one (no pun intended!)

Tickets at FNAC HERE

held at the Notre Dame Church at 37, Av. Jean Medecin, Nice

Tram stop:  Nice Etoile

French Riviera Travel Savings

To help tourists diversify their holidays, and experience as much of the French Riviera as possible, the Comité Régional  du Tourisme Riviera Côte d’Azur has launched a new pass called the Côte d’Azur Card: a prepaid electronic passport that provides access to over 110 activities in the region- from the coast to the mountains – museums, nature parks, water sports activities, excursions, and tours. There’s something for everyone and every interest, so check it out!

Priced at €39 for a three-day adult pass, the Côte d’Azur Card is also a great value. According to the Côte d’Azur Tourism Office, an adult pass has the cash value of nearly €1,000, and a child pass corresponds to a cash value of nearly €560. The card can be purchased online or at local tourist offices.

Source/credit:  France Today

Enchantée ! Nice to ‘meet’ you!

Everyone has a life dream…..

 

Ebook and paperback formats

Available at Amazon HERE

Watch Book Trailer Video HERE

Nice’s Cuisine – Cuisine Nissarde

Nice’s cuisine

Nice is well known as a tourist attraction, but also for its lifestyle and food. The cuisine is traditional and Mediterranean, with plenty of vegetables, flavours and aromas…

The “Cuisine Nissarde” label is awarded to restaurants that work to promote Nice’s cuisine by undertaking to follow the recipes, use quality products and raw ingredients, provide customers with a warm welcome and information and comply with the health and safety regulations.

VISITE GUIDÉE SUR LA CUISINE NIÇOISE

5 Promenade des Anglais
06000 – NICE
Tel. : +33(0) 892 707 407
info@otcnice.com

Walking tour through the history of typical local products.

All the history of Nice’s gastronomy on a walking tour : candied fruit, olive oil, socca, fruit, vegetable and fish markets, a stroll through the narrow shopping streets of the Old City.
Duration: around 2 hours, arrival Place Garibaldi – Thursday, departure at 9:30am from Nice Convention and Visitors Bureau – 5 Promenade des Anglais.
Accompanied tours with a qualified guide in French/English. Reservation necessary at the Nice Convention and Visitors Bureau or on nicetourism.com.
Price adult : 17 € – Children -16 years : 7€ – Children -6 years : no charge.
On option after the visit, at 11:45 am : “Tickle your tastebuds” lunch tasting at la Socca d’Or : 15 € – childrens menu 10 €. Menu : socca, pissaladière, peppers in olive oil and anchovies, the real salade niçoise and home-baked bread, “torta de blea”,”bugnes” during the Carnival period, coffee, tea, soft drinks, wine.

http://www.nicetourisme.com

Source: Nice Convention and Visitors Bureau

Fragola Restaurant in Old Nice

The fish market in Place St. François:

“Comprising a few rows of trestle tables set out around the square’s central fountain, this busy, noisy fish market is best visited early on in the day, when the catch is fresh in from the trawlers. Then, you’ll find a glistening tableau of sea life spread out over jewel-like beds of ice. Come later and the ice has melted, all but a few morsels have been sold and the gulls are gathering on the surrounding rooftops.” (Credit: TimeOut Nice)

Just beside this square at #5 is the lovely restaurant, Fragola, where I recently enjoyed a lobster dinner – a fitting meal considering its location, n’est-ce pas?

I asked for a some melted butter, since I like to dip my bites of lobster into it (à la Américaine), but was served the lobster with apparently some butter drizzled on top of it by the chef.  I had to equate my request to the concept of escargots/snails soaking in their garlic butter to get the point across of needing a dish of melted butter. It was finally served, although there may have been some puzzled head shaking by the server and/or the chef at this bizarre request!

It was deliciously delectable, as we were seated by the window in a delightful, charming setting – the best table in the restaurant in my opinion.  I couldn’t take a photo of the exterior, as there was scaffolding in place – Definitely a place to return to!

Lobster

Entrance door

 

 

 

Galeries Lafayette at Cap 3000

VERT – une couleur….et au-delà !!   Exposition until June 21, 2014

Ground floor entrance

Walking the green line

Credit: Sarah Illenberger

Ceiling from escalator

Credit: La Diacosmie Opera Nice-Cote d’Azur

Credit: La Diacosmie Opera Nice-Cote d’Azur

Pigment colors for paints

Credit: Valerie Arboireau

Credit: Design & Nature Anne Orlowska

Herbes

Credit: Pascale Peyrat

Zest Restaurant in Monaco (restaurant now named Vintage)

I recently attended a luncheon in Monte Carlo, hosted by the (link HERE)

I find driving around Monaco somewhat difficult, which sounds strange for a place that is so small, but I always have trouble finding my way. The city was also preparing for the upcoming Grand Prix, so stands were being constructed and traffic was being deviated, not to mention difficulty in finding parking on the port.

It turned out to be a nice day in learning great marketing tips, eating delicious food, and sharing comraderie – 3 for the price of 1 – at ZEST Vintage Restaurant on Port Hercule.

 

 

Café Bianco & New friends

One great thing gained from blogging is a sense of community, and so it was that I met up with blogger and author, Lynn McBride of Southern Fried French, for an apero during her stay near Nice.  It was such a delightful evening that I ended up eating dinner with her and her husband and their friends from the U.S.

We shared stories, tips about our blogs, self-publishing woes, & ongoing marketing of our individual books (see photo/link below), over a nice dinner accompanied, of course, with un bon verre de vin.

Café Bianco (9 Rue Chauvain) was the perfect setting for establishing comraderie and new friendships, and not far from the center of Old Town. A nice evening with nice people and new friends in Nice!

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Be sure to also check out Lynn’s book, available on Amazon HERE

Grace of Monaco

Grace of Monaco To Open Cannes Film Fest.

 

I am anxiously awaiting the public release of this film and can’t wait to see it, especially since Princess Grace’s family does not approve of/wasn’t happy with the film.

Read more HERE