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Welcome to the AT YOUR SERVICE Paris
Newsletter |
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What's new in Paris this October
This week we have decided to offer you a
new newsletter, in addition to the
traditional one you have been receiving
for a few months now. Twice a month we
will be sending you news of what has
just opened, just closed, what’s hot and
what’s not. You will discover new
restaurants, new boutiques, new chefs,
and new trends. If it’s happening in
Paris you will know about it. Enjoy!
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Maison Baccarat opens on Place des
Etats-Unis
It is one of those places where
Cinderella would have turned immediately
into a Princess. The new Maison Baccarat
is the stuff dreams are made of.
Philippe Starck was given carte blanche
to transform an already legendary
location, Marie-Laure de Noailles’
townhouse, into something almost
unimaginable. The building houses
Baccarat’s corporate headquarters, a
boutique, a showroom, a restaurant and a
museum; 3,000 square meters dedicated to
crystal, its past and its future.
From an architectural point of view, the
design is nothing short of brilliant. In
what had been the Comtesse de Noailles’
bedroom, Starck chose to expose bare
bricks in order to break the heavy
opulence. Raw concrete finds a home next
to scintillating crystal. The effect is
breathtaking.
The recent move to the quite
aristocratic townhouse is merely a
return to its origins for Baccarat,
which was founded in 1764, under the
watchful eye of Louis XV. It remains to
this day the purveyor by appointment to
aristocrats the world over; a standard
bearer of the French “art de vivre”.
Legend has it that Czar Nicolas ordered
Baccarat glasses without counting as he
tossed them over his shoulder after
drinking from them so that no one else
would put his lips to the precious
crystal.
Some of the most exquisite pieces in
Baccarat’s archives are housed in a room
aptly named “la Folie des Grandeurs”.
There you can admire a candelabra once
owned by the maharaja of Rajastan or a
chandelier with 157 sparkling lights
that practically fills the hallway by
itself.
The creations of the past are mirrored
by those of today. Opposite the
staircase an immense table measuring 14
meters long (about 50 feet) proudly
takes its place among an array of
crystal meant to dazzle the senses. I
recently drove past the building one
evening when the chandeliers were still
lit and I could see the reflections
bouncing off the mirrors. I actually had
to stop the car to marvel at the sheer
beauty.
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Fauchon opens 12 new boutiques
Ah the venerable Fauchon! As well known
in Paris as Chanel or Dior, Fauchon is
renowned the world over for its
gastronomic luxury. I am sure most of
you have stood in front of 26 Place de
la Madeleine at least once with your
mouth watering just wondering how they
manage to produce these works of art
only to be eaten in a matter of minutes.
When I first moved to Paris I had an
office on the sixth floor of the Polo
Ralph Lauren boutique/office, which
looked out over Sacré Coeur and
Montmartre in the distance, but if I
crooked my neck at a certain angle I
could spot Fauchon opening its doors
early in the morning. What could be more
dangerous to the waistline or the wallet
than working 100 meters from the
possibly the most famous fine food shop
in the world?
Since then I have found my favorite
blend of coffee from over 70, my
favorite mustard from over 40 and my
favorite jam from over 130 (by the way,
it’s the autumn blend of fruits). But in
order to give in to my cravings I had to
get over to the center of Paris, not
exactly a hardship I admit, but not
always convenient.
But as of October 1st that has all
changed. Now, those of us fortunate
enough to live in Paris (and I do
consider myself fortunate) have 12 new
Fauchon shops just waiting to tempt us.
Imagine, 12 times the pleasure of
shopping for sauces, spices, oils,
biscuits, exotic fruits and prepared
meals.
From a green bean salad with preserved
tomatoes and artichoke hearts to begin,
followed by a sea bass filet with a
langoustine sauce and topping off the
meal with a “charlotte aux fruits
rouge”. All prepared and packaged for me
to take home on those rare nights that I
don’t feel like cooking dinner. What
could be more luxurious?
So the next time you’re in Paris and you
desperately need to replenish your stock
of apple tea or truffle oil, you can pop
in to one of the twelve new boutiques
throughout Paris or take in the original
Fauchon experience at 26, Place de la
Madeleine. Either way, you’ll be in for
a treat.
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Galeries Lafayette and the fine art
of seduction
From November 4th, underwear takes over
Galeries Lafayette. Paris’ most famous
department store is dedicating 2,600
square meters of floor space to the fine
art of seduction. Over 80 brands of
lingerie will be on display to tempt and
titillate.
Did you know that French women spend
more on lingerie than anyone else in the
world? And they are proud of that
statistic. And rightly so. The French do
lingerie well.
This world of satin and lace has been
conceived not only for the ladies but
for all our boyfriends, husbands and
admirers who long to spoil us with
frilly little nothings. One hundred and
fifty saleswomen and men will be on hand
to advise even the most timid shopper.
The “Trendy” space will rotate its
selection each month to bring you an
ever changing idea of what’s hot in
lingerie. Just besides this area will be
the “Seduction” corner where the
best-sellers will be grouped. Sport,
city chic and sheer luxury will each
have its space, as will the sexiest,
hippest models in what Galeries
Lafayette is calling “Red Hot
Boulevard”.
But don’t think this is just a place to
shop for undies, you can have a salad
and glass of wine in the restaurant,
have your nails done at the OPI nail bar
or have your makeup touched up at the
Chanel Beauty counter.
And for the more daring among you, be
sure to be in the front row on Saturday,
November 8th from 3pm until 5pm. A
professional choreographer from
Stringfellow’s will be on hand to teach
you the art of the strip-tease. Who
knows? You just might meet the love of
your life in the crowd. So mark your
calendars.
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Hotel Lancaster opens its bar to the
public
For ages the bar and restaurant of the
Hotel Lancaster were reserved for the
exclusive use of hotel guests. The good
news is that since the end of the summer
both are open to the public. When the
weather is good you can enjoy lunch or a
cocktail in the superb “Zen” garden,
where the ferns and vines create a green
and peaceful environment, which is rare
just off the Champs-Elysées. The garden
is in what once was the stables of an
elegant 19th century townhouse built by
Santiago Drake del Castillo and later
owned by Emile Wolf who filled the rooms
with antiques and works of art.
If however the climate is not conducive
to outdoor dining you will not be
shortchanged if you take refuge inside
the sumptuous hotel decorated with
refinement and elegance. The menu in the
restaurant is the same as in the bar,
offering a wide selection of both fish
and meats.
More important to the future of the
Lancaster is the arrival of legendary
three-star chef Michel Troisgros early
next year. The recent trend among Paris
hotels to bring in renowned chefs to
update the dining room continues at the
Lancaster. Following in the footsteps of
the Bristol, the Meurice and the Crillon,
the Hotel Lancaster is launching a new
chapter in culinary history. I can
hardly wait until January.
If you are like me you will want to be
among the first to taste Troisgros’
masterpieces. As soon as you know the
dates of your next trip to Paris, let us
know and we will book you a table not
only at the Lancaster but at all the
restaurants you have always wanted to
try.
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