Isabelle Andover's Blog, page 2

Zazza – The Best Pizza in Paris

[image error]Last week I went to Italian restaurant Zazza, which is hands down the best pizza in Paris. Perhaps even the world.

With a pizza oven from Florence, ingredients imported from Italy and dishes whipped up by Italian chefs, this place is as authentic as it gets. It’s a little bit pricey, but the food is sensational, so well worth it in my opinion.

I went with a friend and we each had a spritz (€10), shared two pizzas—the Affumicata (€15) and the Figata (€21)—and a tiramisu (€8), all washed down with a limoncello (€5).

My only regret was not being able to eat a whole tiramisu on my own….

ZAZZA – Bistro Italien

18 rue du Faubourg Poissonnière

75010 Paris

Metro: Grands Boulevards, Bonne Nouvelle

Spaghetti ice cream at Spaghettina

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Summer is finally here in Paris, which pretty much means any excuse for ice cream… Sunday was a sweltering 32 degrees when I stumbled across Spaghettina, an ice cream shop that serves up the cold stuff in the shape of spaghetti.

Spaghettina has brought this German spaghetti-shaped concept (invented by Dario Fontanella in 1969 in Mannheim) to the French capital, to a little shop in the 10th arrondissement.

You opt for a cone or pot, then choose your ice cream flavour–so far, so normal. And that’s where things start to get interesting. A layer of cream lines your pot or cone, your scoop of ice cream is fed into a machine and comes out like spaghetti, and you choose a sauce and a topping. I opted for praline ice cream, caramel sauce and white chocolate shavings; my friend went for something more fruity and topped with raspberries, and we ate sat by the canal.

I’d highly recommend this place–great staff, great ice cream and a novel concept. Price wise it gets a gold star too–my ice cream spaghetti cost less than €5.

Spaghettina

61 rue de Lancy

75010 Paris

Metro: Jacques Bonsergent

Le Grand Musée du Parfum–Paris’ perfume museum

[image error]Yesterday I went to Le Grand Musée du Parfum, Paris’ recently opened perfume museum that should be on the to-do list of any perfume lover.

Located on the French capital’s rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in a townhouse that previously housed the headquarters of Christian Lacroix, the perfume museum takes visitors on a multi-sensory fragrance journey. Fragrance enthusiasts can learn about the history and the science of perfume, and all about the role of the perfumer.

You can smell different perfume notes and selected scents–a special mention goes to Frederic Malle’s Portrait of a Lady composed by perfumer Dominique Ropion, which might actually be my new favourite fragrance.

Perfumes are available to smell and buy in the gift shop, as are various books on fragrance.

Le Grand Musée du Parfum

rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré

75008

Paris

 

Seafood and Spritz at Polpo

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If you’re looking for somewhere a bit different to go for dinner or drinks, look no further than Polpo, a seafood brasserie.

This bar-restaurant is in fact a 600m2 barge on the banks of the Seine in the Parisian suburb of Levallois-Perret. You might have to walk along the side of a busy road to get to the place, but once inside, the relaxed vibe makes you feel as though you are on holiday.

Food options include oysters, lobster and mussels (I had the fish and chips, since I’m a Brit), although there are pasta and steak options available if seafood doesn’t float your boat. Dessert is delectable–I had a chocolate mousse to die for.

When it comes to drinks, I’d recommend going for Happy Hour, from 5-8pm, when a spritz is €5.

Polpo

47 quai Charles Pasqua

92300 Levallois Perret

Metro Pont de Levallois (Line 3)

Chimney cake and cappuccinos

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The Marais district of Paris is known for its cool and quirky shops, bars and eateries, and  Alma the Chimney Cake Factory is a perfect example of the latter.

This cool cafe serves great coffee and sweet and savoury versions of Hungarian treat kurtos kalacs, aka chimney cake.

I had the soup and a mini herb chimney cake (because I’d been to a spinning class and had developed notions of becoming a fitness fanatic and starting a healthy eating regime), and my friend had a tomato, mozzarella and pesto chimney cone. We sat on the table you have to climb a ladder to reach, which is not for the fainthearted but affords a great view of the chimney cakes being prepared and a sense of superiority as you look down on people.

We’ll definitely be back to sample the sweet versions–options include cinnamon, almonds or praline.

And apparently you can make chimney cakes at home, so I might just have to give it a go.

Alma the Chimney Cake Factory

59 boulevard Beaumarchais

75003 Paris

Free chicklit!

My short story, HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT, is available for FREE worldwide on Kindle, Kobo, Nook and iTunes, so go and grab yourselves a copy!

http://bit.ly/2hiN35v

Bella Hunt thought the nanny quitting was the worst life got. Until she lost her job, that is. Going from a high-flying fashion PR consultant to a stay-at-home mother of three turns out to be a rather rude awakening, and Bella finds she’s coming up short in a few too many areas. But with a dash of ingenuity, a spoonful of friendship, and a sprinkling of love, Bella manages to not only have her cake, but eat it, too.

~ One of five finalists in a Chick Lit short story contest judged by Marian Keyes, Have Your Cake and Eat It is a novella about family, friendships, and making lemon cake out of lemons. A reader’s delight that will warm the heart and maybe even inspire some cake making. Or some eating, at the very least! ~

 

L’appartement Leboncoin

French classifieds website Leboncoin has created an apartment in Paris, furnished entirely with things bought on the site.

 

 

 Open until 19 November, it features different animations each day, including DIY workshops and “job-dating”.

Today was a vide dressing, with bloggers selling clothes, shoes and accessories-perfect for me as I can never resist a fashion bargain!

And on the last day-19 November, everything in the apartment will be up for sale.

So whether its a cushion, lamp or even a sofa you’re after (there’s a bed, too), be sure to pay it a visit.

 

L’appartement Leboncoin is at 3 Rue Française, 75001 Paris.

Coffee & cake at Merci

There’s no shortage of places to go for coffee and cake in Paris, but the Used Book Cafe at the Merci concept store is one of my favourites.

Located at 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais, it’s the perfect place to refuel after a Saturday spent (window) shopping in the Marais.

I opted for a cappuccino and a slice of chocolate cake, but if you’re feeling flush there’s an organic salmon and cream cheese bagel on the menu for €18–for that price it can only be fabulous.

Merci was set up in 2009 by the founders of children’s clothing label Bonpoint, who spotted a gap in the market for a place that combines fashion, design, household goods and refreshments. Each year the company contributes to a foundation that funds educational projects and development in south-west Madagascar.

Belle in Balenciaga

This weekend in Paris was the 33rd edition of Journées Européenes du patrimoine (European Heritage Days), where sites open to the public across the capital included ministries, embassies and Hôtel Matignon, the official residence of the French Prime Minister.

Being a bit of a fashionista, I opted to visit the new head offices of French group Kering, which owns brands including Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci and Alexander McQueen.

 

Located at 40 rue de Sèvres in Paris’ 7th arrondissement, the new head offices of Kering and Balenciaga is the site of the former Hôpital Laennec and is classified as a ‘monument historique’.

In the chapel there was a contemporary art exhibition from the Pinault Collection, while in the Balenciaga showroom some iconic pieces from the fashion designer were on display.

 We also got to peek at the office waiting area, which was as luxurious as you might expect.

All in all, a great visit that made me want to indulge in a bit of retail therapy-lucky then, that the Le Bon Marché department store is just up the road!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Behind the scenes at Dior

Ever wondered about the craftsmanship behind designer handbags, haute couture gowns and men’s tailoring?

Well, today I got to find out thanks to a behind the scenes visit at LVMH-owned Dior in Paris as part of the group’s Journées particulières open days.

(If the Dior haute couture gown to the left looks familiar, it’s because it’s Jennifer Lawrence’s Oscar’s dress).

 

 

From men’s tailoring to embroidery, haute couture to Baby Dior, the visit shone the spotlight on the materials, skills and time needed to create some of Dior’s most emblematic and eye-catching pieces.

To create the iconic Lady Dior handbag above, it takes 140 components, one full day and four people (once all the pieces are ready). A Baby Dior dress can take 30 hours to make, a haute couture gown 250, and there was even a one-of-a-kind bracelet that represented a year and a half of work.

 

The visit continued with a gallery of miniature Dior dresses, then down to the perfumes where we could smell the scents in Dior’s Collection Privée and admire a model of Dior’s La Colle Noire chateau near Grasse in France (La Colle Noire is also the name of the latest fragrance in Collection Privée).

  

And as if it wasn’t amazing enough to get a sneak peak behind the scenes of one of the world’s most coveted luxury brands, we were presented with a gift in a beribboned Dior bag on the way out.