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Post by Sandy M on Dec 10, 2011 16:47:59 GMT -5
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2011
We are having a GTG today!! Suzanne and Jim flew in yesterday and Denise, Gayle, Mossie and myself are looking forward to meeting up with them! We met at the St. Paul Metro and went to the nearby Breakfast in America for breakfast - it's a small place and was busy but they did find space for us around a counter so we could all sit together. The food was okay - (too much garlic in the potatoes for me) but we did enjoy our time together, even though we were interrupted by a couple of guys who had waaaaaaaay too much to drink - although they did apologize for their rude behavior which we graciously accepted.
Some of us had talked about spending the day out at one of the big flea markets but it was a grey and chilly day and I knew that I wouldn't last all day without a break so we split up at that point. I headed for the 5th as I wanted to get to the shop with the Les Fondues au Chocolat that Annette had mentioned previously - it is Aux Anysetiers du Roy at 45 boulevard Saint Germain and is right around the corner from Maubert-Mutualite Metro. The owner was on duty so he and I had a nice visit and I went on after making my purchase - stopped at the little hotel where I used to stay - the Degres des Notre Dame and visited with the employees and then on to Square Rene Vivani across from Notre Dame - sat there for awhile and watched a young family whose boys were feeding the birds - those birds were amazing at catching ,in mid-air, little tid-bits thrown to them !!! Sat there awhile longer and I realized that the sack with all those chocolat pots was going to be too heavy to drag around all day so went back to my studio to lie down and give my knee/back a rest - wise decision as I was very refreshed when I went back out!
On my way to Opera Metro as I needed to visit the Gault store as well as Pierre Herme which are both on Av. de l'Opera. FYI - Pierre Herme has a "sample" box of chocolates with 9 pieces that they sell for 10 Euro - the packaging is lovely and makes a nice gift to bring home! Got my shopping done and went to the CyberCafe nearby that has English keyboards - it's on rue du 4 Septembre at the corner of rue Louis le Grand - wanted to start sending some reports but it was soooooo HOT in there that I had to leave!
By now, it was time to start on my way to meet Denise/Gayle as we had tickets for the Jazz Me Concert - walked to Blvd Montmartre so I could go to Le Valentin's in the Passage Jouffroy - had Quiche Lorraine and a salad - yummy - and of course had to have a dessert which was a chocolate something or other - also yummy!!!
I was early but decided to go get in line for the concert - found out that there were several events going on and those who had tickets for the Jazz Me Concert had to go downstairs, get a "real" ticket and wait in line on the stairs which I did - the lady in front of me held my place in line a couple of times so I could go outside and look for Denise/Gayle - no sign of them - waited a bit and then talked to a comedian who had his own show and he was in and out making sure everyone was in the right line - asked him to please go outside and call out my friends names and tell them they needed to come inside - he looked at me rather strangely and wanted to know if I was kidding - I assured him that I was not so outside he went - next thing I hear is him calling - "Gayle and somebody, please go downstairs to meet your friend and get your ticket!! Eventually, they came inside and got their tickets validated - they had been outside searching for me and worried that something had happened! Thanks for the concern guys - sorry it was a little mixed up - we'll know better next time!! We still had to wait 15 minutes before they opened the door so we could be seated. I was surprised at how small the theatre was - soon after we were seated, the pianist came out and then the singer appeared and started the show - she has a BIG voice and it certainly fills up the small room - I enjoyed every minute of it and would gladly go back!
After the concert, we headed back to our respective apts - another wonderful day in Paris!!!
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Post by mez on Dec 10, 2011 21:27:14 GMT -5
It sounds like a great day.
It's a pity you had to put up with boorish behaviour at breakfast though. If they'd behaved properly in the first place, an apology would not have been required. Grr... Off my soapbox now.
Sandy, I love how your days are peppered with trips to hotels and chocolate stores. You really do have your priorities in order. ;D
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Post by Sandy M on Dec 10, 2011 21:40:33 GMT -5
It sounds like a great day. It's a pity you had to put up with boorish behaviour at breakfast though. If they'd behaved properly in the first place, an apology would not have been required. Grr... Off my soapbox now. Sandy, I love how your days are peppered with trips to hotels and chocolate stores. You really do have your priorities in order. ;D Thanks Mez - it was a fun day! My favorite things to do in Paris are to seek out new luxury hotels - - seek out new pastry shops - seek out new chocolate shops! And of course re-visit ones I have been to previously! I do include some exhibits or a museum now and then but the first three "to do's" are my favorites!! And it goes without saying that I do enjoy Get Togethers - really makes the trip!
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Post by Shoesy on Dec 10, 2011 23:11:30 GMT -5
O.K. You've just given me a strong craving for quiche Lorraine, and I can't imagine a nicer place to have it than the Passage Jouffroy. I love those covered passages. I've always wondered about Breakfast in America, though I've never thought of trying it. I'm more than satisfied with my morning almond croissant and coffee for breakfast. However, for an OPF GTG , I'd be willing to go ANYWHERE. ;D
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Post by PariS on Dec 11, 2011 1:14:55 GMT -5
Sandy, I'm glad the owner was at the fondue pot place when you visited instead of the snotty young girl who was there when Geordy went in! I love your style--5 star hotels, chocolate shops, pastry shops!
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Post by denise on Dec 11, 2011 5:09:01 GMT -5
I really enjoyed our GTG at Breakfast in America, although it was a bit surreal being in an American diner in the middle of Paris with the bright and cheery American waitresses.... but now I know where to get a good fry up but before 10 00h on a Sunday as they were lined up out the door when we left.
The drunk ( at 0930h!) guy was a nuscence but I thought you handled it well. No fuss, just quietly pointed it out to the waitress and to his credit he did apologise. Why he thought thowing cigarettes at us and making unprovoked comments was funny I don't know.
This trip turned out to be a great GTG trip as we all got together a lot, but all had fun on our own. Actually Sandy you must be the queen of GTG's. I bet you have met more OPFers than anyone else!
I also like your, chocolate shops and posh hotel itinerary's but you must need an extra suitcase for all the generous gifts you buy!
I DID go to the flea market at Porte deClignancourt, despite the drizzle. I am a Lancashire girl, somebody else's rain is my light drizzle! LOL!
I had a lovely afternoon in Chez Louisette, a traditional chanson place in the middle of the antique market. I actually had a really good Beof Bourginon despite the food reviews.
I loved wandering the Marche au Puces. As good as any museum with all fascinating the old stuff and particularly beautiful Art Deco furniture.
Love Denise
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Post by Sandy M on Dec 11, 2011 8:37:36 GMT -5
Sandy, I'm glad the owner was at the fondue pot place when you visited instead of the snotty young girl who was there when Geordy went in! I love your style--5 star hotels, chocolate shops, pastry shops! I was in that shop in May and encountered that same snotty girl - she never acknowledged my presence when I came in even though I said Bonjour to her when I entered - I was looking at some little pots and picked one up to read it - when I set it back down, she said to me in a very gruff voice "put that back where you found it"!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so stunned at what and how she said it that I just meekly put it back - she did not have any samples out on the table and really acted like it was a bother to her to have to ring up my purchase!! If I hadn't wanted those pots so badly, I would have left when she spoke to me so rudely! Sooooooooo, when I was in the shop this time and discovered that the man who was working was the owner, I gave him an ear full - he wasn't surprised at all - said that he had other complaints about her and would I please send him an e-mail with my complaint and be sure to CC his wife as she's the one who thought the girl would be a good employee!!! I heard back from the owner right away thanking me for my e-mail and he assured me that the next time any of us go to his shop that we won't have to worry about an encounter with that girl!!!!! Hooray!!!
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Post by Sandy M on Dec 11, 2011 8:41:03 GMT -5
Denise - I wish I could have gone to Porte deClignancourt but I just knew that I couldn't do it without a break - next time we'll go for sure!!! That is if you would like to! LOL!! Sounds like you would like to do that again - I can't imagine all the "stuff" there would be to look at! And Chez Louisette sounds like a lot of fun too!
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Post by Sandy M on Dec 11, 2011 8:43:47 GMT -5
O.K. You've just given me a strong craving for quiche Lorraine, and I can't imagine a nicer place to have it than the Passage Jouffroy. I love those covered passages. ;D Me too Shoesy - I especially like Passage Jouffroy because of Le Valentin - their food is always delicious! Next time we're in Paris at the same time, let's have lunch there!!!
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Post by geordy on Dec 11, 2011 9:10:46 GMT -5
Sandy, I'm glad the owner was at the fondue pot place when you visited instead of the snotty young girl who was there when Geordy went in! I love your style--5 star hotels, chocolate shops, pastry shops! I was in that shop in May and encountered that same snotty girl - she never acknowledged my presence when I came in even though I said Bonjour to her when I entered - I was looking at some little pots and picked one up to read it - when I set it back down, she said to me in a very gruff voice "put that back where you found it"!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so stunned at what and how she said it that I just meekly put it back - she did not have any samples out on the table and really acted like it was a bother to her to have to ring up my purchase!! If I hadn't wanted those pots so badly, I would have left when she spoke to me so rudely! Sooooooooo, when I was in the shop this time and discovered that the man who was working was the owner, I gave him an ear full - he wasn't surprised at all - said that he had other complaints about her and would I please send him an e-mail with my complaint and be sure to CC his wife as she's the one who thought the girl would be a good employee!!! I heard back from the owner right away thanking me for my e-mail and he assured me that the next time any of us go to his shop that we won't have to worry about an encounter with that girl!!!!! Hooray!!! Thanks for clearing that up Sandy! I read Annette's post and was scratching my head trying to recall who had the bad experience there as it wasn't me! When I walked in there were two young women behind the counter who barely acknowleged my greeting but I asked if they spoke English..in French..and once I started talking about my friend who "lived " in the area who had recommended the place the older of the two warmed up and asked what kind of chocolate I preferred and showed me all the different kinds of fondue, as well as the other things they carry. I bought a couple of jars...they are a bit heavy..how many did you get Sandy?...one of which.."Dark Chocolate/Caramel" I just mailed to VA in my sister's Christmas package! (the other Dark Chocolate was served a dessert with strawberries and pound cake at Easter. ) Now I'm curious who will be working there in Feb! OPF could become a force to be reckoned with...or as someone..Shoesy?..once suggested we could start getting discounts! ;D Have you been to the Hilton Arc du triumph Sandy? JUst read the piece about the Bubble Bar in Bon Jour. And I've never been in France long enough ...not sure how long that would be .....to "need" a full "American" style breakfast or "fry up" as Denise says (love that term! :P0 Content with croissants and other breakfast pastires or cheese, yogurt, ham tartines, when we eat at the hotels! And one can always get an omelette at a cafe! Same goes for "sunday brunch". But other than the drunks it sounds like a fun time...except I don't understand the concept of "too much garlic" ;D I've been asked in Europe if Americans eat eggs and sausage/bacon, pancakes, etc. for breakfast all the time. I reply that most do not..TV aside..most eat it/pick it up on the run..a bagel/buttered roll and coffee or whatever the regional equivalent is! (for me it is usually a cup of dry cheerios at my desk..the occasional bagel is a treat!) The "american" breakfast or brunch is for weekends..if then. Now diners at 2AM...that's another thing!
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Post by Sandy M on Dec 11, 2011 9:21:10 GMT -5
I was in that shop in May and encountered that same snotty girl - she never acknowledged my presence when I came in even though I said Bonjour to her when I entered - I was looking at some little pots and picked one up to read it - when I set it back down, she said to me in a very gruff voice "put that back where you found it"!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so stunned at what and how she said it that I just meekly put it back - she did not have any samples out on the table and really acted like it was a bother to her to have to ring up my purchase!! If I hadn't wanted those pots so badly, I would have left when she spoke to me so rudely! Sooooooooo, when I was in the shop this time and discovered that the man who was working was the owner, I gave him an ear full - he wasn't surprised at all - said that he had other complaints about her and would I please send him an e-mail with my complaint and be sure to CC his wife as she's the one who thought the girl would be a good employee!!! I heard back from the owner right away thanking me for my e-mail and he assured me that the next time any of us go to his shop that we won't have to worry about an encounter with that girl!!!!! Hooray!!! Thans for clearing that up Sancy! I read Annette's post and was scratching my head trying to recall who had the bad experience there as it wasn't me! When I walked in there were two young women behind the counter who barely acknowleged my greeting but I asked if they spoke English..in French..and once I started talking about my friend who "lived " in the area who had recommended the place the older of the two warmed up and asked what kind of chocolate I preferred and showed me all the different kinds of fondue, as well as the other things they carry. I bought a couple of jars...they are a bit heavy..how many did you get Sandy?...one of which.."Dark Chocolate/Caramel" I just mailed to VA in my sister's Christmas package! Now I'm curious who will be working there in Feb! OPF could become a force to be reckoned with...or as someone..Shoewy?..once suggested we could start getting discounts! ;D Have you been to the Hilton Arc du triumph Sandy? JUst read the piece about the Bubble Bar in Bon Jour. I don't remember if I posted about that snotty girl - maybe I did!!! Anyway, she was really bad news!! The owner's name is Marc Lombard and his wife is Christianne - hopefully one of them will be there when we go back! If it's Marc, please tell him I said Hello - he's really a nice, pleasant gentleman! I bought 5 pots of chocolate, 1 with Praline and the others with Caramel, and one pot of Christmas Tea so that sack WAS heavy - glad I took it back to the studio as I couldn't have continued on very long carrying that sack! I just read about the Bubble Bar also - wouldn't that be fun to be there for NYE?!! Only 35 people at a time in the bubble though - wonder if one is just allowed a one drink time in there so others can come in? I have been to that Hilton but it's been several years ago.
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Post by PariS on Dec 11, 2011 11:11:41 GMT -5
I guess my "snotty girl" memory was all off! Sorry Sandy and Geordy! An exalt to you, Sandy, for making sure she won't be greeting any of us in the fondue store again!
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Post by geordy on Dec 11, 2011 11:43:16 GMT -5
I don't think she was exactly "greeting' anyone Annette...or at least not with what any of us would take for a greETING! LOL Yes 5 would be very heavy...we were staying around the corner so I made sure to stop in one day as we were making our way back to hotel!
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Post by PariS on Dec 12, 2011 3:10:07 GMT -5
I don't think she was exactly "greeting' anyone Annette! Oh yes, that was a big part of the problem...how could I have overlooked that! hehe
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