Finally after like million times of visits to Paris, I feel like I just started getting a hang of Paris. I don’t know why it took so long… It’s maybe the city is quite big? I am quite savvy at figuring out any new places but not Paris… It has been a long time I just couldn’t put my finger on it… It must be the language.  Sometimes I get slightly upset with myself that I do have issue pronouncing French. Why is it damn hard for me? Whenever not so nice French talks down to me or our group, I sssso want to snap out of it by speaking beautiful proper French back to them. But the reality is “Naaaaa”. I am seriously considering to take a crash course some point, so I can read those menus little better at least.

The hotel ” Lumen” where we stayed at recommend us this place called ” Aux Lyonnais“, a super classic old bistro where you can get all that classic dishes consists of ” Butter, Butter and Butter”.  The highlight of September in Paris is apparently Cray fish. But then they cook it with just the same as any other dishes like escargot, or stake….  Butter, garlic and herbs. It’s great but Call me ignorant, but sometimes, I do not understand why people go crazy with French cuisine. Yes I married to a Italian man, and I much prefer great Italian cousin which embraces the core of the main ingredients rather butter in literally every dish. I find Butter quite over powering in most of times. By the way regardless the food, I really loved this old classic decor.

Always love Men serving. Not only in Paris but in general. I don”t know why. When they are older and look firm on what they are doing, it;s even better for me. I find  it quite beautiful.

Mine and Cynthia’s Tarte au quemeau, jeunes salades et truffes d’été. It’s like a new born baby mini pizza with super thin crust with shaved black truffles on top.  I liked it.  But Here’s my thought on Truffle. Unless you can actually get white truffle, I think Truffle oil is a much better option  ( Way more fragrant) than Fresh Black truffle. Black truffle comes in Summer and I don’t think actually it deserves to be called ” Truffle”. It’s quite blend. I rather have Porcini. The real deal is White truffle. Or just get a small bottle of Truffle oil!!!

Reina’s starter, 2 almost raw eggs with mixed mushroom. This1 Oh I loved it! It was very different!

Lexi’s super cute a bowl full of ravioli!

Paris’ Opera house by night. It’s so amazing what people can do. All those years ago, we were way more capable and incredible in so many different ways. I mean, How can we build such things these days.. Right? And how can that gold can be such bright yellow!??

What an awesome building is this?!! Not too far from the Eiffel tower. Another benefit that  my running brought to me. Get to see more things in person!  Hope they had done good water proof system.. For second I worried about the longevity of the structure.

The thing impressive about Paris is that the beauty so consistent in that big of scale. Left bank, right bank, streets, buildings, the way they trim the trees, girls, boys, elders, Seine, cobble stones, shops, museums, galleries, parks, gardens, churches, wine……! And the Flair! The one and only French Flair!

Merci this time didn’t really blow my mind…  This time it was all about Japan design including Muji.  More of little gadgets and stuff. It did not feel strong at all to me. My biggest reason to go to Merci is always the color. The directional approach of using one color that makes everything magical. But this time, I did not see that. Bit disappointing. Or Maybe No color is New color..?!!  Maybe it’s me figuring it out all this late?

They are bath soaps.

Tomato, green apple, Blueberry off the caramel.

There are ton of colors in fashion at least, so maybe the next thing is soft neutral.

Cool lamps.

Love this man.

Me and my cup of tea, Merci.

Window at Donshia. Love it!

Hussein Chalayan Exhibition at Les Arts Decorstifs   Les Arts Decoratifs ALWAYS has quite progressive shows on Fashion and Textile.  If you are in Paris, you should be checking out what they are doing!  

Viva Brigitte!

]]> http://www.lacasapark.com/la/2011/03/paris/feed/ 0 http://www.lacasapark.com/la/2011/03/indigo-indigo-indigo-merci-now-paris/ http://www.lacasapark.com/la/2011/03/indigo-indigo-indigo-merci-now-paris/#comments Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:14:44 +0000 jaehee http://www.lacasapark.com/la/?p=7054 The Fiat 500 covered in printed patch work of Indigo patterns at shop’s front court yard,  the car is always an anecdote of what you will see the inside of the shop, Merci

This man was shopping the entire shop on Skype via I phone.

I find the Merci as one of the most inspiring places as they always approach one thing that far, deep in such interesting ways from every different angle possible from what you put on your body to what you put down on the dinner table, sleep in, cuddle in, carry in, travel with or whatever that is.  The relevancy to your everyday life is powerful.  Merci’s at that point where they can take anything regardless what the world is into and make the most out of in the best yet approachable way to every individual in all different ages. It makes you desire it. You fancy it and dream of what it would be like if you brought that 2 glasses with blue bottom to your own little home from the shop and serve fresh lemonade to your best friend visits you. It makes your skin tingle to fancy to have that bright blue couch with your loved ones sitting in your living room while you are cooking something delicious possibly wearing that indigo linen apron on with bright orange lipstic on and how fun it would be that everything matches and your lips will just flirt the whole thing.

Merci beautifully stimulates your senses and thoughts that you may have not thinking of or feeling for a long time.

Healthy inspiration you have needed.

If you are in Paris, this is the One you must check out!

]]> http://www.lacasapark.com/la/2011/03/indigo-indigo-indigo-merci-now-paris/feed/ 0 http://www.lacasapark.com/la/2011/03/battez-vous-brigitte/ http://www.lacasapark.com/la/2011/03/battez-vous-brigitte/#comments Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:28:19 +0000 jaehee http://www.lacasapark.com/la/?p=7046

Friends… on a Sleepless night in Paris… or  on a Sleepless night missing Paris…

]]> http://www.lacasapark.com/la/2011/03/battez-vous-brigitte/feed/ 0 http://www.lacasapark.com/la/2010/10/nuts-and-bolts-and-leathers-in-paris/ http://www.lacasapark.com/la/2010/10/nuts-and-bolts-and-leathers-in-paris/#comments Tue, 05 Oct 2010 02:11:17 +0000 jaehee http://www.lacasapark.com/la/?p=5379

Entrance of Leclaireur  in Marais, Paris. One of the most cutting edge and influential shop in Paris. I saw leather, PU, Pleather, fur, feathers, spikes, studs, woods and more leathers from the street to stores everywhere in Paris. The Mad Max is Back for this fall! The stretch leather leggings or leather like ( pleather or laminated PU) leggings are the hottest bottom right now. No sign of any jeans in Paris! Also big on whatever mixed hard wear embellishment for tops to bags. Think nuts and bolts and pots and pans!  

A guy at at Martin Margiela store on Rue de Montpensier.  

From the top, WHAT’s in stores Now: Ann Demeulemeester, Rick Owen, Haider Ackermann, Rick Owen, Dries Van Noten, Isabel Marantl, Balmain, Helmut Lang, Elise Overland, couple ladies out of million Parisians with Leather like bottoms on.

And it continues on to Paris Spring Runways! From the top: Haider Aclermann ( By the way , Exquisite Collection!), Costume National, Ann Demeulemeester.

and more…!

One piece you want to invest for this Fall and up coming Holiday? A pare of Leather bottom!

Believe me. Go get one!

If Merci shows it, then it is in.  They got great instinct of what is going to happen. The color that is coming to you? Red. All kinds of Red!

By the way, my favorite thing in the shop. This Bell lamp. love it! How beautiful is it to look it up?

Then the textures. Bell  lamp shade as well. Lots of open Texture. This is was couch throw, Not sure I’ll use that way, it looked bit scratch , but liking the look of it.

Cool plates! would work out great for appetizers.

]]> http://www.lacasapark.com/la/2010/10/merci-now-paris/feed/ 0 http://www.lacasapark.com/la/2010/10/lunch-at-laduree-bonaparte-paris/ http://www.lacasapark.com/la/2010/10/lunch-at-laduree-bonaparte-paris/#comments Sun, 03 Oct 2010 15:17:18 +0000 jaehee http://www.lacasapark.com/la/?p=5303 Raining yet also quite warm, Paris is always Paris. Beautiful as it is as always and  actually bit of rain adds bit more of misty charm to our walk along all those little streets branched out like telescopic images of crumbled sweet Pralines… I quite enjoy this rain. The fashion week just had started for Paris and you can feel the city is getting slowly filled with fashion peeps (Leather is Huge from the street to store level) and I’m in Paris for research with colleagues at Gap. Fashion is all good but you need to eat too! So you have energy to keep fashioning!  We are in charming St. Germaine and dying for some quiet sit down time and simple and good food to fight the fatigue from late night emailing and Jet lag. So we stop at Laduree on Bonaparte.

I have always walked by this location ( on rue Bonaparte) of Laduree but somehow I never walked in. And I did not know not only you can buy those sumptuous Laduree’s Macaroons but also you can have these beautiful meals and decadent dessert in charming and nostalgic setting that I can only guess it would have been in 50’s Hong Kong somewhere… (Somehow the ambiance feels bit of that beautiful movie: Mood for Love, but only in very Parisian way and brighter). Lucky we are!  Having the lunch at 3:00 pm, it was easy to get the table (right before the rush hour of  tea time)!!

Love the frescos on the wall and faux palm polls. The big windows and natural lighting gives you a big break in the middle of Paris like we are away  for a vacation or something…  I was bit envious of this corner seating the whole time. It felt very intimate and romantic regardless two teen boys sitting together.

A entrance to the Laduree shop full of stationary, perfume, teas…

The Menu.

We all got beautiful salads. I got “Salade Concorde” and it was just perfectly seasoned and delicious. You can totally feel the great quality of Sea Salt brining all the flavors together and slight touch of mustard there but not too creamy or heavy. Sliced fresh cucumber wraps function as a little bowl for fresh baby spinach and delicious chicken fillet.

It is so fresh and delicious with packed flavor!

Cynthia had ordered hearty and comforting Laduree’s french fries. Yum..!

2 best things in Paris: Bread and Butter. And here’s Laduree’s Butter. Cute ha?

Cafe ole for everyone. How nicely they serve it here! I mean quality is important but also the presentation definitely does it.

Pink off the green against the dark burgundy wooden table is quite nice. And the soft beige of cafe ole!

Dessert Arrived! Rose water custard with fresh raspberry and rose water cream and vanilla cream crispy puff. Sooooo good!

Felix’s beautiful fig cake. Isn’t the color just amazing? When you eat hearty, your eyes also experience hearty colors. Rich in hues and tones. Also each texture carries it’s own color. It’s a “WHOLE” experience.

It’s a great way to feel the Autumn in Paris. Rich burgundy colored Fig cake and drizzling rain over the trench coats on Parisians….

What a freaking awesome movie….!!!!

Just came acrross on IFC channel. ( taking a break from Barcelona  writting…) No need to explain, Just watch the movie.

A clockwise from the left top corner: Quiet Corners of Paris, Time out Paris, Paris: Made by Hand and Rough Guide Directions Paris.

Each book will function differently  and will be quite successful for me to study Paris I believe. The off the beaten path experience that I must have in any places, a great current general list= pretty much a good Concierge service, authentic and less commercial Paris style and bit of history of the city and different point of view on guiding the city.

I do go to Paris time to time, but I always feel like I’m only licking the surface by visiting same places and doing similar things. I feel quite excite! Its too bad that I don’t speak french, but by the end of the spring, I will become quite an expert of the city.  This little project totally put me into a mood that I am in Paris..!