My Russian Epilogue

A spontaneous trip to Spain led me to Madrid and even more...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:08:00 -0400

A spontaneous trip to Spain led me to Madrid and even more surprisingly Valencia. The two hour flight from Paris to Madrid brought me to the land of jambon, churros and paella. Read on to learn about my favorite spots in Madrid and Valencia.

Eat

Dabbawala for dinner because they have fresh langoustines and a very delicious chocolate souffle that pairs well with a local red house wine.

Santo Resto Deli was so delicious I ate here twice. Come for the eggs benedict brunch and freshly made smoothies (mine was mint and pineapple). The restaurant also makes plates of the day which offer creative twists like paella-style quinoa with poached salmon.

Shop

Salamanca is the luxurious neighborhood in Madrid. They have a street that reminded me of Paris with boutiques like Isabel Marant, Vanessa Bruno and other French brands.

The Mercado de San Miguel is a must see for foodies. I recommend to have lunch here or buy souvenirs for friends. My favorite food stalls were of the fresh produce: freshly squeezed papaya juice, langoustines, and jambon hanging from the ceiling.

La Central de Callao. This bookshop/concept store/cafe houses three stories worth of books in every language imaginable. While I had a hard time finding books in English because the new titles were mixed all together, I kept getting distracted by the beautiful covers that the employees definitely take time to edit. The first floor offers a great variety of cookbooks from all over the world along with interesting trinkets like Japanese scotch tape and children’s toys.

Museum ABC for contemporary art. The building’s architecture is just as modern as the work presented inside. There is also a cafe and a studio space for artists.

Museo Municipal de Art Contemporaneo for photography exhibitions and large research libraries. When I first entered this space I was struck by its size. I thought it was a palace!

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. This museum is well known around the world and is home to many paintings of Dali and Picasso, including the infamous Guernica, depicting Spain during the Franco regime.

Museo del Prado is another famous gallery. I was excited to see the Valesquez painting of the queen of Spain, among notable works from Caravaggio, Rafael and others.

La Casa Endendida for modern art and an incredibly chic organic grocery store (who would have thought?!)

Retiro park for an afternoon picnic, stroll and boat ride. Also sight see at the Crystal Palace and the various monuments and gardens scattered around this enormous park.

In Valencia, head to the City of Arts and Sciences to be starstruck by the vast design of these five buildings designed by Santiago Calatrava and Felix Candela. Valencia is a ninety minute train ride from Madrid via the new high speed railroad.

I took a weekend trip to Amsterdam in the middle of March. The...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:37:32 -0400

I took a weekend trip to Amsterdam in the middle of March. The train from Paris takes about three hours but it feels a lot shorter with the comfortable seats, wifi and complimentary coffee. Here is a short guide of some of the places I visited and would recommend.

Eat

Apple pie at Vinkel (Noordmarkt 43) is a must. Have it with a cup of coffee and if you feel guilty afterwards, take a bike ride through the city. You can rent a bike almost anywhere and I have never seen a place with so many people on bikes. It’s really not just a stereotype.

Wild Zwignen (Javaplein 23hs) for dinner was my favorite. It felt like a restaurant in New York City complete with a daily changing menu sourced from local and fresh ingredients, an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs prepare your meal and a wooden table with your name written on it in chalk. The personal touch and the three euro house wine made this my favorite restaurant during the visit.

Shop

Amsterdam has an interesting retail scene. The Dutch seem to have a shop for everything from traditional ceramics (great gifts and souvenirs for friends) to imported Japanese paper products (because that’s always on my list when I’m in Europe…) Nevertheless, fashion is mixed between local designers and my favorite Isabel Marant and Balenciaga. Visit Buise (12 Cornelis Schuystraat), Ennu (15 Cornelis Schuystraat) and Van revenstein (Keisgracht 359)) for international designers and Sprmrkt (Rozengracht) and Sukha (Haarlemmerstraat) for an eclectic mix of local talent.

The art scene was really more than I had expected. My favorite places were the Stedelijk Museum for modern and contemporary art, the Rijkmuseum for some classic still lifes and the Foam photography museum which hosted a Russian exhibit upon my visit.

Don’t miss the Bloemenmarkt held on various days throughout the week. This was a mindblowing experience and probably my favorite part of the city. I have never seen such beautiful flowers! There are a few parks around Holland that display entire flower shows but to get a taste of the country’s pride and joy, visit this market.

The Vondelpark is the city’s biggest park and is popular with locals who bike ride and run here daily. Have a picnic with some stroopwafels you can buy at a food market (or anywhere else for that matter) on a sunny day.

On another level of awesome is the Adeline Adeline boutique...

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:42:00 -0400

On another level of awesome is the Adeline Adeline boutique located in Tribeca, NYC. The bike shop specializes in luxury Dutch bikes available in various price ranges. The designs are universal and stay true to the aesthetic of vintage bikes, built with artisan craftsmanship and durability. The bikes are so beautiful I just want to move to Crosica and ride around all day in a billowy white shift and a straw sunhat. The boutique also provides incredible accessories like leather bike bags, Japanese bells, and custom leather saddles. They provide everything you’d want from a bike shop and more! (Wine bottle handlebar case, anyone?)

I have compiled a list of my favorite foods which is probably...

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:13:45 -0400

I have compiled a list of my favorite foods which is probably obsessive and slightly strange but as I am a fan of lists and food (more importantly) this is appropriate. I could subsist on avocado and blueberries for the rest of my life (provided there is sea salt, olive oil and fresh lemon juice for my avocado… and a really good nut bread (see above). Ever since I have been introduced to avocado toast at Cafe Gitane in New York, I have been obsessed with making it in every possible form. Most recently I experiment with a breakfast combination of a sunny side up egg atop avocado and sunflower seed gluten free bread (toasted with sea salt).

Aside from avocado and blueberries, my other favorite fruit is papaya. You can blend it into a juice (brings me to sweet childhood memories of vacations in the Maldives) or eat it raw scooping it of its shell (skin?). I recommend it for breakfast, on an empty stomach. You will feel full and satisfied as if you swallowed an entire chocolate cake (perhaps this is personal reference?).

The other plant that made the list is sweet potato. Works great as a carb and a protein, makes you feel full and tastes equally delicious as sweet or savory. I never get bored of finding new recipes that combine sweet potatoes (and pumpkin or other winter squashes, provided it’s for ravioli, a porridge, baked, fried or steamed, it’s always one of my favorite vegetables).

My other guilty pleasure (guilty according to the nutritionist who told me I can’t digest raw fish) is sashimi. I literally could live off of this food alone and cross off everything else on this list. Would there not be health risks I am more concerned with than the many that come with sugar and fat (sorry pastries…) I would eat sashimi for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I had to have had some Japanese blood in me from a past life because there’s nothing that pleases me more than a ton of raw salmon and uni.

The three guiltiest foods on the list are chocolate, almond milk, and almond butter. I think these three speak for themselves. When combined together in a smoothie there is a symphony in my mouth. I’d love to be that one health nerd that says I eat a square of 90% dark chocolate a day so that the caffeine boosts the collagen in my skin. Or I spoonful myself almond butter because it contains healthy oils that prevent wrinkles. But really, these flavors are my crack and I can eat jars (or bars?) of them nonstop. But I don’t, I try to contain myself.

There is also that picture of pasta in the top left corner. I think everyone likes pasta and so I don’t really have to explain. If you add some tomato sauce, pesto and olive oil (or truffles), you can make yourself feel Italian in any country in the world, and there’s something great about that.

Celine produces beautifully structured coats for every season....

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 17:23:00 -0400

Celine produces beautifully structured coats for every season. Inspired by the colors, but not the price tag, I found a wonderful salmon colored structured coat at Sprmrkt in Amsterdam. The brand is called Avelon. You can find this brand at Opening Ceremony in New York.

This weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the Rijkmuseum in...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 12:51:54 -0400

This weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the Rijkmuseum in Amsterdam. The museum houses many of Rembrandt’s most famous paintings along with beautiful 17th century still lives from some of northern Europe’s most talented artists.

Cafe Pinson is the chicest vegan restaurant I have visited in...

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:00:00 -0400

Cafe Pinson is the chicest vegan restaurant I have visited in Paris. The decor is very modern and cozy. There are tables with couches where you can relax with your almond milk latte and read a magazine or newspaper. The cafe serves all kinds of vegan food and desserts. I had a spring salad with goji berries and a cream of celery soup. For dessert I tried the vegan chocolate chia seed pudding. The restaurant also makes fresh pressed juices with my favroite go to combination of apple, carrot and ginger juice. Everything was incredibly delicious and I am surprised it was all dairy free! Cafe Pinson 6, rue du Forez, Paris, France 75003

One must visit Claus for brunch because it has been one of my...

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:02:00 -0400

One must visit Claus for brunch because it has been one of my favorites so far in Paris. The menu is extremely long and varied and you can get everything from a typical French breakfast of croissants, toast, jam and butter to eggs in every variety (from German to American) to pancakes and other sweet treats. Claus also has a very cute epicerie on the first floor where you can purchase their baked goods, juices and even make some of their specialities at home. The item that intrigued me most was the ris a caramel which is a package that includes all the ingredients for your to make this dessert in your own kitchen! Also, there are two Christian Louboutin boutiques across the street (both men’s and women’s) so if you are brunching on a Saturday, stop by after to make your day even sweeter! 14 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau 75001

This Sunday I had lunch at Nanashi Bento in the 10th. This...

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:13:50 -0400

This Sunday I had lunch at Nanashi Bento in the 10th. This location is the original and quite large. The menu changes daily and you have a choice between a vegetarian bento or a meat/fish one. I chose to get the miso soup (with the veggie ingredients changing daily) and a vegan wrap. The food was fresh and quite tasty. My favorite things about the cafe are that the water is served with slices of lemon and cucumber (detox!) and the salt and pepper shakers contain sesame and sunflower seeds (super healthy). I also had a very yummy matcha shake with bananas and almond milk. You can get fresh smoothies and juices to go along with a lot of other menu items. Nanashi also has a smaller bakery inside the cafe that serves interesting desserts such as matcha cake with raspberries and white chocolate, black sesame panna cotta and a seasonal roasted fruit salad. To learn more about Nanashi Bento, check out their website.

Located in Phang Nga, Thailand. Designed by Duangrit Bunnag...

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:23:00 -0400

Located in Phang Nga, Thailand. Designed by Duangrit Bunnag Architect

Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent F/W 2014. Grunge, punk, rock and...

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:59:00 -0500

Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent F/W 2014. Grunge, punk, rock and roll. It all continues to be repurposed but interesting to see this at such a classically French fashion house. It’s funny that the old saying deems to be true, but it’s the man that makes the clothes, not the name. I like that Slimane took to his creative reigns and the new Saint Laurent girl is just so cool that haute couture is the last thing from her mind.

Yesterday my friend and I took a French cooking class on baking...

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 04:53:52 -0500

Yesterday my friend and I took a French cooking class on baking baguettes and fugass (focaccia). There are four simple ingredients to a baguette: flour, salt, water and yeast. The process of baking bread is very comforting and therapeutic. You can even let your anger out on the dough during the kneading process by slapping it hard on your workspace (it won’t break!). The process was difficult and I probably wouldn’t be able to do this alone at home (mostly because I forgot my recipe at the workshop) but I enjoyed every minute of it nonetheless and created four baguettes and two focaccias.

Things I saw at Paris Fashion Week; from top left: Polina...

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 04:42:00 -0500

Things I saw at Paris Fashion Week; from top left: Polina Kitsenko (Podium Russia), Linda Fargo (Bergdorf Goodman), Liu Wen, Giovanna Battaglia, Aymeline Valade, Cara Delevingne, unknown, Mademoiselle Agnès, Emmanuelle Alt, unknown, Taylor Tomasi Hill (Moda Operandi), unknown.

My new love is the Balenciaga rings from the Spring 2013...

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:56:00 -0500

My new love is the Balenciaga rings from the Spring 2013 collection. Unfortunately they only come in two sizes (here in Paris, anyway) which are 50 and 52. The smaller one fits on all my fingers while the bigger only on my ring finger or at the top of others. So I will have to be engaged to Mr. Ghesquiere or stack them as you see in the image above.

I discovered a really cool artist today in the Marais called...

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:45:43 -0500

I discovered a really cool artist today in the Marais called Thomas Lelu. He is a French activist who supports the feminist movement and displays texts on his canvases that are both provocative and funny. I fell in love with his work the moment I saw it. Interestingly enough, I saw one of his canvases at Printemps a few months ago and took a picture of course (it read “I wish Morgan Freeman narrated my life”). Thomas Lelu’s solo show is currently on at the Les Prairies de Paris concept store in the Marais.

I’ve been on a roll this week with vegan restaurants....

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:38:00 -0500

I’ve been on a roll this week with vegan restaurants. Today I had lunch at the much talked about (perhaps in some greener circles) Rose Bakery. The place is bigger than Bob’s Kitchen but that’s not saying much. In terms of French restaurant’s I’d say anything north of five tables is quite big. The staff is almost entirely British so whilst pretending to be local and speaking to them in French, I heard them yelling to each other in a typical British accent (whatever that means). They offer a few fresh pressed juices and so I ordered my go-to carrot/apple/ginger. They don’t have a cold press juicer the way they do in the states, so I had lots of pulp in the juice but that’s okay because I don’t mind pulp- make it taste more real to me. I also had a delicious vegetable soup which was so good I wonder if it came out of a can? (no way can a cream soup made of carrots and coriander taste that good, right?!) I also ordered a veggie pizza which is pictured above. It was delicious but I was too full to eat it. The restaurant also has a bakery that sells homemade cakes (pistachio, chocolate banana) and something called a cheesecake brownie (which sounds delicious but I didn’t try it- all the more reason to come back. You can also get all of the food to go because they offer lots of different size boxes and the counter looks like a high school cafeteria where the chef ladles you potatoes and fresh Salmon into a Whole Foods-style brown paper box. The restaurant is organized similarly to Bob’s in that everything’s out in the open. I get that there is a lack of space and they want to maximize in table space but the lines begin to blur between bakery and convenience store… I was tempted to grab a couple cartons of cereal and coconut milk but then I realized those are part of the restaurant’s brunch ingredients. Rose Bakery has multiple locations throughout Paris, I visited 30 rue Debelleyme in the Marais.

I visited the Jesse A. Fernandez exhibit at Maison de...

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:10:54 -0500

I visited the Jesse A. Fernandez exhibit at Maison de l’Amerique Latine to learn about South America in the 1950s during the rule of Fidel Castro. The exhibit shows some great black and white portraits of Castro, protestors and locals in Havana. The exhibit also showcased portraits of famous writers, painters and musicians, such as Dali, Hemingway and Duchamp. These names are really important to me not only for personal interests (having visited Dali’s exhibit at the Pompidou earlier this month) but also because I am studying Duchamp and Dali in my Contemporary Art Class. The exhibit is on display through February 28th at 217 boulevard Saint Germain.

Today I had the pleasure of freezing my butt of in line at the...

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:53:00 -0500

Today I had the pleasure of freezing my butt of in line at the Jardin de Luxembourg to view the newly opened Chagall exhibit, entitled Entre guerre et paix (War and Peace). The exhibit is was large and features a lot of great works. My favorite are following Chagall’s Russian-Jewish heritage and thus illustrate menorahs, torahs and men during worship. The Russian themed paintings illustrate small villages in Ukraine (where Chagall was born) and are shown in bright, warm colors. The exhibit will be open through July 21st, but be prepared to wait in line or buy your ticket in advance.

If you know me a lot, or even just a little, you will know that...

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:39:00 -0500

If you know me a lot, or even just a little, you will know that I am obsessed with eating green. While in Paris I am definitely on a break from my NYC routine (apparently, I’m not the only one to do so in the city of cheese and croissants), I decided to venture out to the Marais to rediscover my old habits. I went to lunch at Bob’s Kitchen which is the secret vegan hangout in Paris (if you’re into that type of thing). For me to have found a place with no sign, no menu and no free seats, call me crazy but I feel right at home! Bob’s Kitchen is located in an alley in the Marais which is Paris’s equivalent of our Williamsburg. When I came there fore lunch, I somehow managed to blend in to the point that the waiters actually thought I was French when I asked for my green smoothie sur place and they pulled up a chair! I was so excited that it didn’t phase me that of the five things that were available, they were already out of three (who am I kidding, arriving to lunch at 2 p.m. in Paris is literally laughable. If you’re not tucking into your appetizer by one o’clock you’re out of luck, my friend). Anyways, I sat down at my communal table where water and tea were being passed around by fellow diners and paper towel rolls served as center pieces. I found the whole experience charming and felt a little bit like Hannah in Girls (I assume those are the places people in Williamsburg hang out in, but in Manhattan this wouldn’t cut it). As I sat amongst the produce my meal was made from, because the restaurant is so small that it is literally a kitchen and the diners are sitting inside the kitchen as food is being prepared around them, I received my green smoothie which was the first one I had since arriving to Paris. I was so excited about getting the smoothie, but I was even happier to tell you that it was one of the best I had ever had! You have no idea how happy that makes me. The food at Bob’s was equally delicious and it changes daily depending on the produce the restaurant carries. It’s open daily from 8 am - 3 pm and there is a brunch on weekends I hear I must try. Following my delicious lunch I went on to explore the Marais. For my little guide I have composed a few places you might want to visit while you are here. For shopping, check out Isabel Marant on rue Saintonge and Shine on rue de Poitou. Shine carries everything from Equipment to Aurelie Bidermann and some very unique Kenzo tiger sweaters I haven’t seen anywhere else. There is also a really great Acne store with a grecian sculpture standing in the middle of the store surrounded by yellow glass. Around the corner is a men’s and women’s APC store and a boutique called Gomina, where you can find the coolest skateboards I have ever seen. For housewares and really cool leather notebooks, check out Merci on rue Beaumarchais.

I noticed that the French have a fascination with Japan. Or...

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:19:00 -0500

I noticed that the French have a fascination with Japan. Or maybe the Japanese have a fascination with France? Even though the Japanese culture hasn’t saturated France as much as I would like it to (can we bring Gari and Tomoe here while I’m visiting?!), the Japanese (or the French, I don’t know!) have done an interesting job in collaborating across international borders. The difference between the Japanese culture I have experienced in Paris varies from that which I have scene in other cities. I can’t quit place the difference as I have yet to visit Japan in order to truly compare the Japan of reality and that of the orientalism brought on by the west. I think that the way Japanese culture has spread in Paris is maybe more authentic than in New York. My example is Toraya, the Japanese patisserie located in the 1st. The Parisienne patisserie of the Japanese tea house serves wagashi, or traditional Japanese confections. These desserts are not the Nobu mochi I grew to love back in New York. These are incredibly authentic (in my opinion) Japanese flavors, and the reason I say authentic is because not all of them were so appealing. I wanted to try a lot of different pastries while enjoying my green tea. The tea, I must say is probably one of the best I ever had! As for the pastries, everything on the left plate was edible, everything on the right - not so much. I tried a green tea matcha cake with red bean paste which wasn’t too sweet and was the perfect compliment to my tea. The sesame macaroon is my new obsession (thank you, Sadaharu Aoki). On the right plate are three different desserts that all consist of red bean paste (even though they look entirely different, how was I to know?!). The desserts are called Haru Tonari and Uguisu Mochi. The tonari is meant toembody the flower Fukujuso (literally, flower of happiness and longevity) that emerges from the ground, browned by frost and cold, and represents winter. The mochi is a tribute to the voice of the nightingale crystal which, hidden in the trees, enchants those who hear and represents the coming of spring. Yes, I did not know any of this when I ordered it but it’s nice to know there is a spiritual significance to what I am eating. Nevertheless, you should check out Toraya for tea if only because Carine Roitfeld comes here. They also serve a matcha chocolat chaud which I did not try but it looked amazing on the table sitting next to me. The tea room gets crowded around five p.m. so try reserving a table in advance. They also serve some lunch specials which I have yet to try.