C & C on the Move: Paris Part 1

If you follow C & C on instagram, you know that I recently took a trip to Paris...for work. I know, insert world's tiniest violin playing my heart bleeds for you. With a weekend on the front end of the trip, Dr. B joined me for the jaunt across the Atlantic and we took full advantage of it. I'll update you in another post on where we stayed and what we did, but let's start with what's most important...the food!

First stop when we landed Saturday morning was Boulangerie Julien on rue St.-Honore. Paris food guru Elodie Rouge said it best, "Their name is to Viennese pastries what that of Hermes is to handbags." You had me at Hermes. The almond croissant I had was the perfect way to start the trip. 

A longtime friend from college who lived in Paris was an amazing resource when it came to eating in the Marais where we stayed. Our first night we dined at Le Mary Celeste, a new hot-spot with the bobo crowd (a combination of bourgeois and bohemian), and the place for some delicious cocktails and food. The menu is small plates and changes daily. I'd recommend emailing for a reservation or be prepared for a well-worth-it wait.

My favorite stop (well, stops...three to be exact) of the entire trip was Breizh Cafe. If you're going for the cliche crepe or galette, this is the place to do it. When we went for brunch, I ordered a savory combination of fresh cheese, tomatoes, spinach, zucchini, and an egg. It was as big as my face and I ate every last bite. Dr. B went with mushrooms, cheese, and bacon...clearly it could do no wrong. We loved it so much it was only right to return for a dessert crepe that night filled with pear compote and topped with figs, honey, and vanilla ice cream. 

We also made dinner stops at Le Relais de l'Entrecote for the quintessential steak frites and L'As du Fallafel. When we walked by the fallafel carryout window the night before there was a line down the street - clearly a good sign. By Paris standards at 7.50 euro (we ate in the dining room - it's 5 at the window) my sandwich was a great deal. As you can see by the 10-finger grip, it didn't leave me hungry (excuse the weird look of fallafel excitement). 

No trip to Paris is complete without warming a bistro chair at a traditional cafe. For our last night, Cafe Charlot was just the place. Between a bottle of Bordeaux, a cheese plate, and a hamburger, I was contacting the airlines for a seat belt extender for the ride home.

And, of course, there were sweets. Laduree is known for their macarons, and we didn't fuel through all this eating without some highly-charged blood sugar. While Laduree has age (founded in 1862), Pierre Herme has beauty. The combination of flavors is unexpected and mouth watering. If you want to bring Paris home for your friends and family, these macarons are your answer. 

Now it's back to reality (aka the gym). Stay tuned for Paris part deux. 

C & C on the Move: Paris Work and Play

We're all about Paris this week. While Regan is planning her trip next year, I'm just back from 6 days in the city of lights for work. Yes, I know, it's tough, but someone has to do it. I got a great rate at the darling Hotel Athenee on Travelocity. While the hotel is small and the rooms Paris-sized, the bed was comfortable, the shower spacious, and did I mention the Hermes bath products? Bonjour lover. It was also perfectly located just steps from the Opera, which is central to all of the must-sees, must-eats, and must-shops. 

I arrived early Saturday morning and after a quick shower to rid myself of all the plane cooties, I set to the streets to enjoy the Parisian Indian summer. 

Since we were just there last year (posts here), I had few select places I wanted to hit this trip - namely Merci. This cafe/restaurant/store is in the ever-so-trendy Marais and is what I love about retail. The shop is a true experience. And, they've got some killer healthy food in their basement garden cafe which was just the ticket for my jet lag. 

Before I turned in for the night (and after my dinner of Pierre Herme macarons - I think they're better than Laduree) I took another walk (I must have walked 10 miles on Saturday) to see the Eiffel Tour in all of its sunset glory. Isn't it photogenic. 

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were filled with all day meetings and dinners. Thankfully I was fueled by some ridiculously delicious cuisine...and did I mention the dessert? The mille feuille bottom right was one of those desserts that tasted even better than it looked. And it was worth every delicious calorie. 

One of the highlights of the week was a tour of Galeries Lafayette by their chairman. This 100+ year-old retailer knows how to do it right, from the world's most luxurious brands to those that the rest of us can buy. And, a well-kept Paris secret, the view from their rooftop is rivaled only by that of the Eiffel Tower - and a visit is free - well, that's if you can walk through the store without buying anything. Bonne chance. 

Tuesday night gave me the opportunity to break out this cocktail dress I got from Nordstrom earlier this year. I'm so glad I bought it. A fun pair of earrings and a great shoe turn this basic black dress into an elegant, timeless classic - and for an incredible price (sorry for the selfies - the perils of traveling alone). 

Finally on Wednesday my colleague (who had never been to Paris) and I played hookie, and I got to show him all of the sites. We logged another 12+ mile walking day...

...which included a trek up the Eiffel Tour, my first ever in four trips to the city. I must say the view was worth the wait and the hike. There's a reason they say Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. 

A la prochaine Paris! 

C&C on the Move

As you may have seen on Instagram, we recently returned from a two week trip to Europe. Our journey took us through England, France, Italy, Austria and Germany. Today I am going to share a quick recap on our time in London and Paris.

We spent only one night in London as it was just a stopping point on our way to Paris. While we were there for less than 24 hours, we had a great time. We walked from our hotel near Buckingham Palace past Big Ben and across the Thames to the London Eye. It was a beautiful day, and we enjoyed a spectacular view of the city. At the suggestion of a friend, we had dinner at Bill's which had a great atmosphere, delicious food and was perfect for a four year old.

The next morning we took the train to Paris where we stayed for three nights in an apartment in the Marais. While we had a great time and managed to see a good number of the "main attractions", it was definitely a tiring three days. Touring a city with a jet-lagged four year old isn't ideal. Especially when you are also a bit tired and grumpy.

Here are a few photos from London and Paris.

I'd be remiss not to share some of our favorite eating spots in Paris. Isn't that what traveling is all about, eating good food? I would consider these "not to miss" if you are planning a trip.

1. Merci- basement cafe (bottom left photo)- We enjoyed lunch there on two separate occasions. It is casual, charming and delicious.

2. Du Pain et Des Idees- (Top left and right) Hands down one of the best bakeries I have ever been to. This was a recommendation from Tony Bourdain and it did not disappoint. The chocolate pistachio "escargot" is definitely on my list of top 3 pastries ever. We also ate here twice.

3. Miznon- This restaurant in the Marais was one of the best meals we ate in Paris. They make amazing grilled vegetables (a whole cauliflower) and pitas with chicken salad, lamb, etc. I am sensing a pattern because this was also a 2 visit spot.

4. L'AS Du Fallafel- is also in the Marias, right near Miznon, and this restaurant is cheap and fast and oh so good (bottom right).

Stay tuned for more details from our trip in coming posts!

C & C on the Move: Paris Part Deux

Last week I shared all the amazing places we ate in Paris and promised a separate post on where we stayed and what we did. So, allons-y! (That's French for let's go)

Since I'd be working two of the four days of our trip, renting an apartment made most sense - giving Dr. B a place to hang out - and it was super economical. I found an incredible apartment in the Marais - which we'd coincidentally seen on an episode of House Hunters International. I rented it through Adrian Leeds - who I found through VRBO, but now the owner is renting it on her own site.

Since Dr. B and I have both been to Paris a few times before and we only had two days to tour together, instead of taking to the museums, we took to the streets. On the day we arrived we walked 15 miles. 

From Notre Dame...

To the Eiffel Tour....

Down the Champs Elysees...

Over to the Louvre and the Garden de Tuileries...

All the way up to the Sacre Coeur.

After all that walking Saturday, Sunday we took to the streets yet again, but by bike! Velib is the biggest bike-sharing system in the world. With the app on my iphone to find locations we were ready to pick up and drop off bikes all over the city. Parisian drivers are surprisingly bike friendly and there are paths and bike lanes all over (I know, no helmet...).

My only museum visit the entire trip was to the Azzedine Alaia exhibit at the Galliera Museum. 

Not only was the building incredible, but any exhibit that focuses entirely on fashion and design is right up my alley. We weren't allowed to snap photos, but I got one of this stunning black dress and Dr. B snapped the vintage red dress that Rihanna wore to the 2013 Grammy's (yet another reason I married the man).

And, of course, Paris is just as beautiful by day as it is by night. After a day's work there's nothing like walking along the Seine with your +1 in the most romantic city in the world. 

Au revoir Paris! A Bientot.

Black Tie Optional

I've got a work trip coming up and one of the events is a black tie optional dinner. Did I mention the trip is to Paris? I know, I know. It's tough being me. Especially since I got to go on the same trip last year (remember those posts?) This year I'll be going sans Dr. B, but know it will still be a nice jaunt across the pond. I digress.

If this was a work event at home, black-tie optional (which really means cocktail these days) would mean take a nice work dress, add a statement necklace with some sparkle, and voila! But Paris…it's the majors. And while I wish this amazing gold Dolce and Gabanna dress that I have was an option, it doesn't fit (we'll save that for a "Keeping it Real" post one of these days) and Rent the Runway doesn't make sense because it's an overseas trip. Nordstrom to the rescue. 

This Maggy London dress is a steal at $150 ($148 to be exact), is the ideal length for my taste, and is perfectly chic. I've learned that this style is my go-to if I want something figure flattering, and I know this will become an "old reliable" in my closet. For reference, I ordered a size up since it's a close, body-conscious fit - I didn't want to look too bootylicious around my colleagues. Of course I'll be sharing photos from the trip in early October, so stay tuned. 

Anyone have any must-dos, must-eats in Paris that I may not know about? 

Paris on My Mind

With our trip to Paris just weeks away, I've got everything Parisian on my mind, including Parisian fashion. If I could wear strapless dresses, I would be buying this and wearing it in Paris.

That's All.

 

ASOS Blocked Stripe Midi Bandeau Dress With Open Back $45.00

Parlez-Vous Handbags?

On my trip to Paris I wanted to bring back something that I knew you couldn't find anywhere else. On my walk around Saturday I stumbled upon Faure Le Page - right next door to Chanel on Rue Cambon. I'd never heard of the brand before, but I liked what I saw. 

Founded in 1717, Faure Le Page started as a French firearms manufacturer, playing a big role in the French Revolution and remaining in the same family until 1913. Today, they've expanded to leather goods and have a beautiful store offering hand-constructed bags, wallets, i-Pad cases, hunting chairs, and more. 

I came home with this grey leather bag and know I'll get some great use out of it...and, I'm pretty sure there won't be anyone else carrying it. 

So if you're in Paris, stop by Faure Le Page or Galeries Lafayette (where they carry it) to check them out yourself. Au revoir.  

What I Wore: A Little Lux

Layering is my favorite part about fall. Vests, sweaters, scarves, jewelry, you name it. The added bonus, you get to layer without wearing tights. Every outfit needs a little luxury, whether that's a necklace or a cashmere sweater. For me in this case, it's both! 

In Paris I stopped into Uniqlo during a crazy sale! If you aren't familiar with the brand, they're a Japanese casual wear designer and they've got amazing basics. Like this crewneck cashmere sweater, which I got (in grey, navy, and black) for 49 euros. The quality is incredible for the price. Every girl should have a good cashmere sweater in her closet (I bought a medium if you're curious about sizing). If you're in NY, NJ, CA, CT, or PA, you can stop in to shop in person - otherwise, get thee to the interwebs. 

But the sweater wasn't enough to give this outfit that little extra je ne sais quoi - it needed a statement necklace. Also a Paris Zara purchase, this is going to be a go-to for work and play. I've already worn it twice since I returned. I can't seem to find it online (you might try in store), but did find several other pieces that give the same effect. Along with the earrings that match the necklace.

Looking at all these other options makes me think I need another Zara necklace - or maybe the earrings to match! Which is your favorite?

What I Wore: Tall Black Boots

My trip to Paris could also be called the jackpot Zara trip (remember the statement necklace and vest). I've been slowly rolling out my finds to you (hey, we've got to keep it interesting over here) and have been waiting for the right weather to break out the black stretch leather boots that made their way home with me (also wearing Uniqlo black cashmere sweater, J.Crew pencil skirt, and Zara vest from earlier posts and my new Danielle Nicole bag). 

I spotted these boots in the window walking down the street and knew it was meant to be. I've got a great pair of Cole Haan brown riding boots and have been on the hunt for a black pair. They go up a little over the knee, have great elastic in the back, and are crazy comfortable. 

With my Paris Euro discount, I paid $140, just under the U.S. price of $179. If you're in the market for tall black boots, you might consider a trip to Zara. I dare you to just by one thing.