Fête de la musique à Paris 21 juin 2011

Just back from celebrating the 30th Fête de la Musique with a head full of sounds and lights and an urge to move to the beat! Another magical visit to Paris! We were fortunately spared the showers promised by the weather forecast and walked for miles as usual, all around the Latin Quarter, the islands,  the Marais and the right bank without an umbrella! The music festival being on Tuesday this year we met on Sunday night.  We gathered for dinner at the Carrefour de l'Odéon in company of a few Parisian friends. We had the pleasure and privilege of welcoming Thirza Vallois, the expert on Paris, who delighted us with anecdotes and unique historical insights. We explored the narrow streets leading to the river, the quaint little Place Furstenberg where Delacroix had his workshop.  The square appears in so many films and yet it is very easily missed by tourists.  However our little group could in no way be looked upon as a bunch of tourists led by a tour operator, rather lovers of Paris in company of a few Parisian friends having a last drink at La Palette before catching the last métro.

And that's where the first evening ended.The next two days were dedicated to discovering yet other less known parts of the French capital such as Les Arènes de Lutèce, la Place de la Contrescarpe, Quai de la Tournelle and Quai Montebello with a visit to the mythical Shakespeare and Co second hand bookstore and we enjoyed being for a few moments in the very place where Hemingway, Scott Fitzgerald and James Joyce amongst others spent time. Meeting up with new members of the group we walked in direction of l'Ile Saint Louis where we enjoyed our tradional ice cream from the Maison Berthillon.  The destination of our walk, Place des Vosges provided us with a cool green haven from where we could admire the pink shades of the magnificent houses surrounding the square.  Dinner was taken in the very bistrot, in the Latin Quarter, that Verlaine and Rimbaud used to visit but where, more recently, Woody Allen shot some scenes of his latest film "Midnight in Paris".  On Tuesday a short visit to the Passages parisiens at the back of Palais Royal was equally unusual. After a short rest under the arcades of the Café Marly overlooking the pyramid we got ready to enjoy a long musical evening... The visit would not have been complete without a cruise on the river Seine and what better night that the night of Fête de la Musique to do so.  We spent hours Place Dauphine that night where Vincent Delerm followed by French Rock stars performed, walked up rue Mazarine to the beat of drums and went home very, very late once more! Such an experience that was for us all!  We are ready to go next year but there will be other visits before that, so keep an eye on this blog to find out.

 

“Paris sera toujours Paris…”

Now comes the time after these months of practising your French in the comfort of your own place to hop onto a Eurostar train,  find yourself in the streets of Paris for a weekend or even longer and experience the real thing...  You can either join our little group for la Fête de la musique next June and you already know all about that or go later in the summer by yourself or with friends.  Should you wish to prepare for this why not join one of the two courses at Madingley Hall in Cambridge, run by Francine about the very theme of Paris.
 
The first weekend will take place on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of June: “Paris est à vous” and will dwell on the relationship between English people (famous or not past or present) and that includes you as well of course, and the French capital.  The second one at an Intermediate level will take place early July (8th, 9th and 10th) and will present an exploration of Paris “on foot” and offer lots of ideas for a visit with a difference! Contact Madingley Hall for details.

And if you are not quite ready to pack your bag yet but are interested in the discovery of the “real” Paris then there remain but one piece of advice for you: the reading of the most thrilling series on the subject: “Around and About Paris” by Thirza Vallois.  Thirza takes you by the hand literally and walks with you through narrow streets or large boulevards, across quaint little squares or majestic ones, over all the bridges there are, pointing out at everything there is to see, telling you stories out of History, mentioning names and anecdotes. 

Whether History is your subject or not you will be transported and totally fascinated.  Her books are now on line and she provides maps of “walks”.  The paperback version is available on amazon and make sure to put it in your bag next to your passport and your ticket prior to your next visit!

Paris pour la fête de la Musique!

Time does fly and here comes the moment to enjoy "Another Paris" with us again... How about joining our little group on our next trip to Paris on June 21st 2011? 

We plan to meet our Parisian friends for dinner on Sunday the 19th June in the evening at our favourite haunt in Saint-Germain des Prés. You will have an opportunity to practise your French and choose activities you'd like to do during the trip. 


Along with many pleasant outings and there will be a wide selection of free concerts all over Paris to enjoy.  We can welcome a couple more people.  Eurostar tickets are still at a reasonable price with just over a month to go before our trip, but hurry up, this is a popular time to go to Paris!

"Au pays de la lavande" workshop - last few places left for next Thursday 5th May!

Join us for our last "Food on your Plate" workshop before we take a short break over the summer!

Christine from Made in Provence will be with us to share some culinary delights her region has to offer. This time we will learn just about all there is to know about Lavender.

As always the evening will include French tuition throughout, cookery demonstrations all topped off with a 5 course meal complete with accompanying wines and special Provençal goodie bag. 

It's a fantastic opportunity to brush up your French, learn vocabulary related to the recipes you will discover as well as enjoying a good old fashioned meal with friends of The Way to France, all for just £60!

The menu is as follows:

1. Amuse-gueules served with vin de Muscat
2. Assiette de crudités
3. Ratatouille niçoise
4. Tomates provençales - vegetarian option available upon request
5. Gâteau au citron et à la lavande

Contact us now on 01223 46 14 45 or by email to book your place for next Thursday 5th May from 6pm at at Cook's Barn, near Cambridge.

Au Pays de la lavande

Let’s wrap up this academic year in style by welcoming Christine once more to Cook's Barn in Cambridge! Our friend from Made in Provence will be joining us to present the last “French on your plate” workshop before the summer, Au pays de la lavande, on Thursday May 5^th 2011 from 6pm.
  

Join us for 4 enjoyable hours exploring the South of France and discover little known facts about Provence's most precious commodity: lavender!  As always there will be a cookery demonstration in a relaxed atmosphere so you can practise your language skills before enjoying one of our beautiful dinner parties complete with wine and laughter!

Do not miss this fantastic opportunity to practise your French with us before the holiday season. Very handy if like a lot of Brits you are hopping across the channel this summer. 

Prices are still at the amazing value of £60 per person with a 10% discount for multiple bookings and early birds who book before the Royal Wedding! Contact us for full details and to book your place today.

Les Français et la Fête

It's amazing to realise just how many reasons to celebrate the French can come up with in a single year!  In addition to the usual festivities of Christmas and Easter we've added many others such as the Epiphany and its traditional “Galette des Rois”, Candlemas and Mardi-Gras  both with heaps of pancakes, Carnival, May the first with lily of the valley everywhere in town and many, many others...
  

The French celebrate mothers and fathers, and also grandmothers and grandfathers and even neighbours and girls who reach the ripe old age of 25 who are still single, les Catherinettes! As if that wasn't an old fashion concept in itself, if bachelorettes decide to mark this occasion, they are expected to go to work wearing a fancy hat.

Not to be outdone, the French also adopt other countries’ festivities without blinking.  Any excuse to throw a party!  Halloween that old Gaelic feast, became French (again) recently as well as American, St Patrick’s Day is not to be missed either.  

The French also celebrate their 
Patron Saint’s name, receiving a card & present just as they do on their birthday. Far from being very devout these days, they still wouldn't miss any of the Catholic holidays on the calendar as to make “le pont” (create “a bridge”) between the day of the week they happen & the nearest weekend!      
None of that Bank holiday Monday business we get here in the UK which only allow for a three-day long weekend, not if you can make last to five days!!!And there are so many festivals all around the year and all over France that you’d better check first before you book your holiday if you want to find a hotel room or don’t want to be stuck on the roads with another few millions French drivers.  
The biggies are Bastille Night, August 15^th or November 1st. You’ve been warned!

On the other hand you will never forget La Fête de la musique in Paris (and throughout France) in June, Les Voix de la Méditerranée in Lodève or La nuit des Chimères in Le Mans in July, the Fête de jardins in Paris in September, the Nuit blanche in Paris in October, the “Carnaval” of  Dunkerque or Nice in February ,  Bastille Night anywhere, to name but a very few.

At our latest French on your plate workshop we prepared lovely Easter treats and people left with bags full of “Florentines” and “Biscottis” as well as portions of the scrumptious “brioche de Pâques”. All enjoyed a beautifully delicious “Buffet campagnard au vin des Pays de la Loire” with an “Ecrasé d’aubergines” and a “Salade composée”.

Join us in May when we shall go back to “travelling” up and down a region  and that will be to one of the most appealing parts of France: Provence. This time we will learn (almost) all there is to know about the Lavender country.  Numbers limited as usual so book now.  This will be the last “French on your plate” workshop before the summer.

See you on May 5th at Cook's Barn!

Hurry! Last few places left to join our workshop to make French Easter treats

Hurry, you can still join our food lover's group this coming Thursday 7th of April 2011. As always this is a fantastic opportunity to brush up your French, while at the same time trying your hand at making some sumptuous recipes!

Pascale and Francine will be sharing more of the thousands of ways the French celebrate food, Easter being no exception. At the end of the evening you will delight in the fruits of your labour by sampling all that has been made and taking home, some new ideas to share with friends and family.

Here are a few recipes to wet your appetite:

• "Ecrasé d'aubergine au cumin", a fresh idea for a starter 
• Master the art of making "Florentines" with Pascale's expert guidance
• We love traditional favourites "Croquants à l'anis" & "Pain de Pâques"

The workshop starts at 6pm at Cook's Barn near Cambridge and consists of:


Language tuition tailored to this month's theme of "Friandises de Pâques"

A cookery demonstration where you can try your hand 

A meal shared by all the course participants including wine & baguette, bien sûr!

Still at the amazing price of £60 per person, with a 10% discount when buying 2 places or more. Limited places left, so contact us to book your place now! We're sure we can squeeze you in.