Setting the Table for New Year's Eve

Around this time of the year days seems to just come and go. Maybe it's because we're watching the calendar more closely, or maybe it's because the holidays are that much more fun. One thing is for sure, if you don't pay close attention, the holidays will be gone before you even have a chance to realize it! This is just one reason why we like to make any occasion a memorable one. With New Year's Eve on the horizon, we're making sure our table is set and ready to say goodbye to 2013 and bienvenu to 2014. As we want to rein in the new year with as much class as possible, we've made sure to incorporate our most elegant dishes and glassware we have. And to us, nothing says elegance like clean whites and crisp golds! We've added just an accent of natural elements and wood decor just to make sure the table feels as warm and inviting as possible. With a fancy meal ahead of us, we're more excited than ever to begin a new year with a clean slate full of possibilities! Bon appetit!

Chef John Besh Booksigning

Last week we had the immense pleasure of hosting Chef John Besh for a book signing and food tasting with the release of his third cookbook, Cooking from the Heart. John and his wife Jennifer were so wonderful to meet and we couldn't be more thankful to both of them for including us on their book tour. The entire evening was a blast filled with good friends, champagne, pomegranate seltzers and the most delicious espresso pot de cremes prepared by executive pastry chef Kelly Fields. It was so exciting to see all of our friends who were able to make it to the event and we were so happy to see Paula Deen stop by and shop for a few last minute Christmas gifts while catching up with her good friend John. Thank you to everyone who was able to make it to the book signing, we hope you had as great of a time as we did! And a big thank you to John and Jennifer and Kelly for making this wonderful evening possible! In case you weren't able to join us last week there are a few shots below for you to enjoy!

The day after Chrismas...

It's always hard to know how to treat the day after Christmas. So much has been building up to the most magical day of the year, how do you come down from that? For most it's a time to relax and take in the beauty and the business of the day before. For the still young at heart its a day to play (or display) with all the goodies you received on Christmas morning. For the grinch among us, its time to start tearing down the tree and trimmings, and go back to business as usual. Wherever you may be this day-after-Christmas, we hope you had a beautiful holiday filled with loved ones and good cheer! We're taking today (and as many of the next few days as we can...) to hold on to the magic of this time of peace and joy just a little bit longer. Snuggle under the tree at least one more evening, and take in this special time to be with loved ones. We've had a wonderful season of decoration preparations, and hope you've enjoyed it as well! If you waited too long to pick up that special something this year (or are already thinking ahead to next year...) come by the store and check out the lovely Christmas ornaments that are still on display- starting today all Holiday decor is 50% off!
Wishing you all a weekend of warm wishes!

Stocking Stuffers: Gifts for kids

Can you believe Christmas is tomorrow morning? It seems like just yesterday we were preparing our dining tables for a Thanksgiving feast, and now we're getting ready to leave out a plateful of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa! As a child there is nothing more exciting than the anticipation of Christmas morning. Maybe we're nostalgic for the presents we received as children or maybe they were truly better, but as far as gifts go, children really get to have all the fun! Our stocking stuffers for him and her were great, but wrapping up all the treasures and treats we have for kids makes Christmas really feel magical. Marbles, spinning tops, handmade Christmas elves, sour candies and finger puppets are just a few of the delightful items we have wrapped up and stuffed into stockings. With less than 24 hours now until Christmas morning you better believe all of us at the Paris Market are filled to the max with the Christmas spirit! Merry Christmas everyone!

Holiday Inspiration: Christmas Baubles

It feels like every year we start decorating for Christmas earlier and earlier. Now it seems it's practically a tradition to set up your tree and begin adorning it as soon as Thanksgiving is over. In Europe however, this tradition is not as common. In fact, it's much more common to decorate a day or two before Christmas instead. While we're not going to split hairs in a debate over which is the better time to begin decorating, we will say we're still excited to be adding our last minute holiday touches! As far as traditional decorations go, one of our favorite Christmas tree decorations is the timeless glass ball ornament. These shiny baubles date all the way back to 1847 in Lauscha, Germany. Nowadays many baubles are mass produced in plastic rather than glass, however when you find the quality glass ornaments like the ones made centuries ago, no other ornament compares. It doesn't matter if you have a miniature tree or the biggest Fraser Fir in the lot, these colorful and classic glass baubles can make any old tree one of sophistication and beauty. If you're like us and the rest of Europe, you've got some decorating to do! We've just marked all of our holiday items 30% off, so come visit us and enjoy this wonderful holiday season!

Available at The Paris Market.

Notes from Abroad: The best of the bakery

While enjoying the holidays abroad with family, we wanted to share some of the things we love most about Europe during this wonderful season. This week it takes the form of delicious breads and pastries from the local bakery! It goes without saying that bakeries all across Europe have their own unique and delectable flavors specific to their regions. As we are currently in the southern most corner of the Black Forest in Germany, we rounded up this collection of our favorite delicious and traditional Schwartzwalder treats to share with friends and family back home!

Stollen - a traditional holiday loaf filled with dried fruits, marzipan and dusted with powdered sugar.

It wouldn't be Germany without the pretzels! / The Berliner - a jelly-filled, sugar-dusted favorite!

Weckmann - another beloved treat around the holidays in the form of a little man made of sweet bread.

Schnecken- or "snail", a delicious sweet rolled pastry filled with any number of nuts and dried fruits.

Stocking Stuffers: Gifts for Her

If you're looking for the perfect stocking stuffers for the Mrs. this year then look no further! With a stocking filled with gifts like our favorite scented Tocca soap, nourishing Fresh sugar rose lip balm, delicious peppermint bark shortbread and so much more, our stockings are guaranteed to make this Christmas morning one of the best ones yet! For her, we've stuffed the stocking with a delightful collection of holiday treats in a color story of soft pinks and purples that are sure to keep her looking and feeling beautiful this holiday season. Happy shopping!

Available at The Paris Market!

Postcards from Paris: { Appearances by Monsieur Hulot }

An image struck my attention while waiting for my train. It was an advertisement for the newly restored version of Mon Oncle by Jacques Tati. The image is simple, an older gentleman on a bicycle with a pipe in tow and wearing a hat, and behind him sits a young boy, wearing a white collar and also a hat, smiling. Clearly set in a different time period, for whatever reason, perhaps it was the simplicity of it all, the image seemed incredibly current.

Skipping ahead to another scenario, the other day while working amongst holiday stress, a man passed by wearing a hat and a beige trench holding his arms behind him and striding nonchalantly past the cake counter. He seemed very familiar yet I could not seem to place him. I admired his calmness and cool demeanour amongst all of the holiday shoppers at Le Bon Marché. His familiarity remained in my mind throughout the rest of my working hours. After clocking out, I decided to take a different route to my station. When such inclinations to wander come to mind, I try to take them even if time isn't really on my side. I made turns down rues I normally wouldn't have, and passed by lovely Christmas displays. The shop windows in the 7ème are all quite festive with holiday cheer, but here comes the exception and the tie-in to it all. Third time is the charm, and there he was on display in the windows of a menswear boutique, Monsieur Hulot.
Who is Monsieur Hulot?
The character who inspired the creation of Mr. Bean, and described by Roger Ebert as, "friendly to a fault, but he is the man nobody quite sees. The holidaymakers are distracted by their own worlds, companions, and plans, and notice Hulot only when something goes wrong, as it often does." Nothing really went wrong in my case, on the contrary he was the calming sense that even if something did turn complicated during his quick appearances he was the character to relate to.
Bisous,

Reba