Partager the Best Chinese Restaurant in Paris!

Au Pays du Sourire Restaurant 5e Paris

On every corner is a Chinese Restaurant in Paris ... but this one is special.  This one is one of the last of the original Peking restaurants left in Paris.  We had been planning for several weeks to visit this restaurant.  I had passed it a few times, trying to look in the windows, as I was on my way to French class.  I was always a bit too early to see what kind of crowd it drew.  The date was set and sadly, at the last minute, Mr. T had to cancel, but I went ahead and met my dates there.  I arrived before the rest, but decided to go on in and get the feel of the place.  I was met with a large sourire, as promised by its name.  "Avez vous un reservation?"  Its always a good way to start a relationship with a restaurant in Paris that you might want to revisit ... IOWs Make a reservation if possible.  I replied "oui"  and I was seated in a very good spot.  The menu was extensive, so I was well entertained while I waited for my friends to join me.  They were also warmly greeted by the owner,  with much talk about this and that while menus were placed in everyone's hands, and apero orders were taken.  Apparently, Sunday and Thursday nights are the nights to visit as the chef, Mme Qi, makes a speciality Pékinoises ravioles, special dumplings  stuffed with meat and vegetables that are loved by all in the neighborhood.  I would suggest you get there early and be sure to make a reservation!

Pays du Sourire Restaurant 

32, rue de Bièvre

75005 Paris

01 43 26 15 69 
Metro Maubert Mutualité

PPxx

Miam ....

  

Partager Paris Apartments and More

This could be what is waiting for you if you are staying in my neighbor's new vacation rental apartments (www.apartments-and-more-paris.com/).  He has been talking about them, working on them, doing nothing but making them perfect ... and they soon will be!  Mr. T and I went to toast all their assets:  the fantastic location, each apartment furnished differently and with a "beautiful French touch,"  the exceptional views, the tranquility of the courtyard,  and ALL the great shopping on rue St. Honoré! and more ...  Mr. P sure has an eye for detail and making you feel special.  Here are a few other views from the apartment to enjoy:
A nice place to  Partager  your time in Paris!


PPxx

Partager PhotoQuai 2009

The day is rainy and not exactly the day for outdoor fun, but who cares?  The photos are great and you are overlooking the Seine at the same time.

Partager Fete Des Vendanges de Montmartre

My first time ...and a great one! Why did I wait so long to partager in this wonderful event? The event that I am still so excited about "La Fete des Vendanges de Montmartre." What a celebration! It is a GRAND parade, défilé, in honor of Bacchus ( one of my favorite gods!) and the Harvest Queen. I went with our photoclub, Paris PhotoMeetup, (check it out for some great shots of this event) to spend the day and most of the night celebrating the grapes of Montmartre. It began at the Marie du 18th arrondisement, and ended at Sacré Coeur, where the "Pyramide des Castellers", were building a human pyramid, consisting of men, women and children. I started to participate, but I am afraid of heights! The grand finale of the this special fete was celebrated with fireworks in front of Sacré Coeur. Along the way we enjoyed some of the fetes' products, produits du terroir, but more important, the Vigne du Clos Montmartre, the wine!

I will make it a point, to partager, this fete again next year. The vendange is celebrated every year...the first weekend of October. How about you? Get ready to climb the hill of Sacré Coeur and join in the fun!

Partager Music

I hadn't seen him in quite a long time. He seems to slip in and out in the middle of the night. Never do I see a suitcase in his hand. He isn't actually my neighbor; he is my neighbor's "petit ami". She is 92 and I am not sure of his age. Oh, the beauty of love ...at any age. I am always so happy to see him, because then I know she is not alone. But, how do I know when this mysterious man has dropped by for a visit? I don't see him, but I hear him. He plays the trombone, not just plays, but really plays well; plays all around France with some big names. So, when he is here, I receive a concert, gratuit. Today I actually saw him; met him in the stairwell. He told me Mme. is not doing so well...going down, he said. "And so am I. I don't play the horn anymore, but the keyboard". "Oh", I said slowly...I guess I must have added bit of sadness to those words, realizing that the much enjoyed concerts were now sold out... because, now, as I am typing this a few hours after our meeting in the stairwell, l'escalier, his music is wafting out his window and into mine. I like to think he is playing just for me...well, probably for Mme, too!

Partager Music...what a beautiful thing to share!

Partager Nuit Blanche 2009

Yes, Paris is known as the City of Lights,...which invites you to stay up all night. It is the city to partager at night. So the first Saturday in October, Paris celebrates with an all night Slumberless Party...La Nuit Blanche, which translates to "white night", or a night awake. A great excuse to give in to that "itch" to be outside..., to roam the city all night. So, I did! Not only was the weather great, but the moon was FULL, one of the fullest moons of the year. This year, the city concentrated most of the celebrating to three quartiers of the city, Chatelet/Marais, Buttes Chaumont, and the Latin Quarter; even Notre-Dame and the Grand Mosque were included in the events. To make the evening easier to enjoy, (there were more than 60 projects being shown!!) Soundwalk provided gratuit an application for the iphone which offered promenades of each of the quartiers of Nuit Blanche..just like a movie! What a great idea! and so, I was able to make it to just about all that was happening. Paris knows how to give a Slumber Party! Make your plans to be here for the the next Nuit Blanche 2010, so I can Partager it with you!

Dans Mon Coin - PARTAGER ART and CULTURE

Just happened to be looking out my window to witness the "love of art" in mon coin. It is not surprising to see this type of support between artisits, even on the street corners as seen here. It is so much of the life here; and there is never a shortage of art to appreciate, admire, be inspired by..or just plain wonder "what were they thinking?" Art, to me, is one of the best ways to connect with life and self....somehow. This week (26th Sept. thru 4 Oct.) there is the 8th Edition of the Week of Cultures Étrangères - an exchange and convergence, a partagering, between men (and women of course!) of all different embassies that are found dans mon coin, the 7th arrondisement. You will find Canadiaens, Italiens, Romanians, Chinese to name a few...take a look www.mairie7.paris.fr. I don't know which embassy to visit first! but I hope you will be able to partager this event with someone, too.

Dans Mon Coin - La Grande Dame

Well, its been a great week...my birthday week! I believe in making the most of it every year. That also explains the lack of daily postings..too much really good Champagne from
Epicerie Fine Rive Gauche and from an impromptu birthday party celebrated at Le Bosquet. Jean-François, the owner, has a great group to serve you, tasty menu (especially the St. Jacques and the Moelleux Chocolate..I never get enough!), and will recommend good wines if you don't have a clue! It is my other home. Speaking of other homes,...I am off to Florida tomorrow for 5 weeks..hopefully I will be able to check in from time to time and share my Florida vacation...if not, be sure to come Share Paris with me in the Fall!

"Dans Mon Coin" Brocante!

Oh how I love a Brocante! I can spend hours rummaging, pretending, wondering, maybe even buying at a brocante. Rue Cler usually has two brocantes a year, one in the fall and one in the summer. Its a real social occasion for the other shopkeepers around the brocante, too. Never miss a chance to sell your wares! There is something for everyone's tastes, as bizarre or as classic a taste as one my have... and the day is shared with all!

"Dans Mon Coin" Pain & Chocolat

Salon de thé, petits dejeuners, patisseries, viennoiseries...miam, miam! This was one of my secret places, but I think the cat is out of the bag! And why not? As you walk down La Motte Picquet (16 avenue La Motte Picquet, to be exact) in the 7th, Paris, you are tempted by this discrete, intimate, so sweet-looking, petit restaurant...the smells beckon you in...along with its vitrine of lovely, naughty desserts. Each one would be welcomed at your own table...and always served with a smile. Pain and Chocolat, you will still be one of my secret places, but now I will have to share it with others...avec plaisir!

"Dans Mon Coin" L'Epicerie Fine

L'Epicerie Fine, located on rue du Champ de Mars, is the place where everyone knows your name. Pascal, the owner, along with his wife, Nathalie, and Joanna run this fine food store. Its not uncommon to find half of the "coin" tasting wines, jams, spice cake..whatever the season is serving. Par example, the other night, we tasted this year's ROSÉS..Les CRU 2008.. Nine to be exact, well, I think...I did have trouble keeping count .All were delicious, as I am prone to a nice Rosé for the summer. If I'm having a low day...this is where I head..just the smell as I walk in the door is enough to put my head back in the clouds, where I like it..the oils, the vinegars, the teas, the cafés..the wines...yikes! that reminds me! I need a nice rosé for the evening! Maybe I will try the Domain des Aspras Culture Biologique.. Down I go.. to L'Epicerie Fine, where eveyone knows my name.

(a Big Merci Bien to Ted Tabor, photograph)