Kristen in France

27/07/2024

So not only was Gojira’s performance epic just because they rocked - but the history and everything behind it was *chef’s kiss*

First of all, the song - “Ah! Ça ira” which translates to “It’ll be fine” is a song from the French Revolution. It was an unofficial song of the revolutionaries.

The location - The Conciergerie - was the prison where Marie Antoinette was kept prior to her ex*****on, it was her last resting place.

And of course, the inclusion of the French opera singer, Marina Viotti, just made for an amazing performance.

A post from an American made me chuckle, it said, “I had no idea that the French hated Marie Antoinette so much!” I mean… they literally had her beheaded? 😂

28/11/2023

If you’re planning to travel to Paris next summer, or if you live here like me, prepare to pay more for transit from the end of July to September. They’re raising the prices for the Olympics.

I’m still trying to convince my husband to leave town during that time 😂

It will see a single metro ticket rise from €2.10 to €4.

Visitors won’t be able to buy the current day and week passes and will instead have to purchase a special Paris 2024 pass for €70 per week or €16 for a day pass. A week pass currently costs €30.

Holders of usual monthly or annual passes won't be affected and the price hike will last from 20th July to 8th September.

The rise is to pay for the increase of buses, metros and RER trains during the Olympics which is expected to cost an extra €200 million.

“Ile de France inhabitants paying that cost is out of the question,” says Valérie Pécresse, president of the Île de France region.

Laurent Probst, managing director of the region’s transport authority, told Le Quotidien newspaper that the move "is designed to simplify the tourist experience as much as possible, but also to limit queues and allow ticket agents to focus on passenger information and flow management. Not selling tickets".

27/11/2023

It’s that time of year! The Christmas markets are already set up around Paris. Last year, I went to Tuileries, but this year I don’t think I have time to visit too many. I had to run to La Défense recently and they also have one set up. I did a quick walkthrough and took some pics.

Christmas markets have delicious food like raclette, tartiflette, aligot, crêpes, chocolat chaud, mulled wine and more. They also have booths from local small businesses and artisans so you can do some Christmas shopping.

18/11/2023

If you’re vegan, you may wonder if you have any options in Paris. Vegan food can be pretty hard to find in Paris, and while I’m not fully vegan, I try to limit my consumption of animal products. I’m really happy to see more and more vegan options cropping up though. I recently visited Cloud Cakes in Paris - a vegan cafe that serves beverages, baked goods and some food too.

The drinks were so good. I had a chai tea latte with oat milk and a vegan red velvet cupcake. They also serve raw vegan cakes and my friend tried one of those and said it was good. I’ll definitely be back!

In the last few months, I’ve tried a few other vegan places in Paris - Kapunka vegan for delicious Thai food and Buddy Buddy for nut butter inspired drinks and pastries. Boneshaker Donuts is also vegan and a favorite of mine. Next week, I’ll be heading back to Wild and the Moon, a vegan restaurant I’ve enjoyed before.

(This post isn’t sponsored and my views are my own, I just like sharing my thoughts on different places around Paris).

26/10/2023

Angelina Paris, the original location which has been around for 120 years - opened as a tea room in 1903 and was frequented by Proust and Coco Chanel. It’s now TikTok famous for its chocolate chaud (hot chocolate). This isn’t ordinary hot chocolate like in the US, it tastes like real chocolate bars (good quality ones) melted down into thick, creamy liquid form and served with chantilly cream. You place a dollop of cream in your hot chocolate and stir until it melts.

They are also known for their Mont Blanc pastries. I tried a special edition raspberry one for Breast Cancer awareness month (proceeds went to a cancer research center here in Paris). The pastry was so good. The texture was smooth and creamy, I’m in love.

There’s almost always a line outside, but it moved quickly today (we went during a slower time too). The place is gorgeous and right by Tuileries, so I can see why it’s so touristy. I’m glad I got to experience it!

21/09/2023

I know France is known for their pastries, and they are delicious, don’t get me wrong. But I can’t help but miss American-style cakes. There’s a difference in cakes here - French cakes are often drier and denser, not always with frosting. And I’m a sucker for moist, fluffy cakes. And don’t even get me started on the lack of peanut butter in this country (I’m obsessed with peanut butter).

This is the second birthday in a row that I’ve ordered a cake from Nadege's Cakes here in Paris. Chocolate cake with peanut butter buttercream on top and in the layers. I ask for a simple, but beautiful design, but she makes more complex cakes as well.

This isn’t promo btw, it’s an honest review. I’m a customer and not getting paid to post this. I just love her cakes.

17/09/2023

I love aligot. We eat it so much in our house. Potatoes and cheese, what’s not to love?

Pommes Aligot

Aligot is a French dish which incorporates mashed potatoes, melted cheese, cream, and crushed garlic. This combination results in a creamy, elastic, and velvety mixture that is similar to fondue. The dish is a specialty of L'Aubrac, a region located in the south of France.

It is believed that aligot was invented by monks who lived in the regional monasteries and were often visited by pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, a pilgrimage site in the north of Spain. The original version included a combination of bread and cheese, but the dish got its final form in the 16th century, after the introduction of potatoes.

Ingredients

4 medium (about 2 pounds) Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
Kosher salt
1 cup heavy cream, warmed but not brought to a boil
1 stick (4 oz) unsalted butter
1 pound fresh cheese curds or substitute shredded Swiss, Comte, or Fontina cheese
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded or torn into small pieces
1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

Directions

Place the potatoes in a pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches (5 cm). Place the pot over high heat, add 2 tablespoons salt so the water is nice and salty, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a light simmer.

Cook until the potatoes are fork-tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain the potatoes in a colander.

Immediately pass the potatoes through a potato ricer or food mill and back into the pot. Alternatively, you can use the back of a wooden spoon to press the potatoes through the colander or mash them with a handheld potato masher until they’ve very smooth.

Place the pot over low heat and stir in the warm cream and butter.

Add half of each type of cheese and stir until melted. Then stir in the remaining cheeses. Continue stirring until the potatoes can be stretched with a spoon like melted mozzarella, 4 to 9 minutes.

Season with salt and the white pepper. Serve warm.

10/09/2023

Today, I learned…

05/09/2023

Last week, I took a quick trip to Arcachon, France on a whim. I needed to see the beach before summer ended since September is a busy month for me. I’d never been before, but it’s only three hours from Paris by train and I found a good deal on a hotel since a lot of French folks are preparing for la rentrée (back to school for their kids, which is this week).

Arcachon is near Bordeaux in the the southwest of France, we passed through there on the train. It’s a popular vacation destination for the French, but I got lucky and it wasn’t crowded at all. Perfect timing for a trip! The tide came in really high on my second day there and flooded the boardwalk, creating the beautiful photo of the chairs in water below (normally the water is pretty far away from the chairs, there’s an ample beach between the boardwalk and ocean typically).

16/08/2023

One thing to keep in mind if you’re visiting Paris in the next year - the city is busy preparing for the 2024 Olympics. This means that they are hard at work on beautifying the city, so this could mean lots of scaffolding, lots of building/monuments covered up, etc. Yes, even famous monuments are getting work done, so you may not get the experience you’re hoping for. I’m not saying don’t visit, but you should have realistic expectations if you do.

11/08/2023

Relatable.

09/08/2023

It’s true. In France, it’s considered rude if you don’t say bonjour before speaking to someone, especially in the service sector. If you’re coming to France, get used to saying it when you walk into a small store, walk up to a cashier, step into an elevator with others, before asking a question of anyone on the street etc. I haven’t had folks call me out when I forgot, but I know others who have. In the evening, you can also say bonsoir (good evening).

Also when you part ways, say bonne journée (have a good day) or bonne soirée (have a good evening). Merci (thank you) and s’il vous plaît (please) will go a long way too.

General translation of the text:

Man at the counter: a coffee.
Barista: Bonjour! (Hello)
Man: Yes, a coffee
Barista: Bonjour, I’m listening to you?
Man: a coffee!!!
Barista: bonjour!!!
Man: are you stupid or what? A coffee!
Barista: bonjour, sir!

At the bottom: I never serve a rude customer