10 Things I love in Paris (and Bordeaux!) This Week

1.DJing





I’ve found my true calling. If a career in writing fails (see: the catastrophic state of the global world of journalism at the moment), I’ve found plan B: DJ ! Last Monday, I invaded the Cha Cha club with my sister (visiting Paris for a few days) and nightlife photographer/ DJ extraordinaire Jean Picon for “Les Américaines à ChaCha.” The crowd (yes, we had quite the crowd for a Monday night in early summer I might add) danced to our wonderful musical selection, and fun was had by all. Cha cha cha !

2. The Hotel Regent in Bordeaux


The Hotel Regent is the recently-opened 5-star hotel in the center of Bordeaux. I had the opportunity to stay a few nights in a “junior suite,” a vast and cozy space complete with comfortable beds, a re-done, modern bathroom, not to mention a welcome kit with wine and caneles (a Bordélaise dessert specialty). The hotel is located in the town’s center, so is a convenient place to stay, and also boasts a gorgeous view of the city. Extra points for the incredible buffet breakfast, one of the best I’ve had (and I’ve had many). The staff were charming – I highly recommend this spot for a trip to Bordeaux.

3. Gravelier Restaurant (Bordeaux)






Ratatouille would have been jealous. My sister and I had a birds-eye view of the kitchen at Gravelier restaurant in Bordeaux. Located on the Cours de Verdun in the heart of Bordeaux, Gravelier offers some of the most flavorful, inventive – and surprisingly affordable – cooking in the city. We opted for the 39 euro prix-fixe menu, with a choice of two appetizers, four main courses and two desserts, just enough to give choice, but also force diners to be somewhat adventurous. We both started with a “vive piquante,” a filet of cold white fish served with a delectable mint-infused sauce and steamed langoustines in a mayonnaise-like creamy sauce. Then, my sister had the “galette estival de boeuf” (seasonal beef tart) which arrived in the form of thin slices of beef cooked to perfection atop a paper-thin pastry crust, with colorful vegetables, arugula and parmesan. I had the duck, served in savory chunks, with fresh cherries, a sweet and savory cherry sauce and accompanied by small, warm mini-cakes filled with sweet potatoes and vegetables. Both were simply divine. Our dessert was a “blanc en neige,” a soft, meringue-like white sugary ball on a skewer with marinated apricots and served with an apricot nectar sauce and warm chocolate sauce (mine came “sans chocolat” as requested of course!) The petit fours for dessert served with the coffee were also worth overcaffeinating oneself just to try them. The staff were warm and welcoming, and I highly recommend asking for the 2-3 seats at “le bar” to watch the chefs in action. Gravelier is closed Saturday and Sunday nights, and also offers a 28 euro menu serving the chef’s selection of the night or a 60-euro “menu carte blanche” including two fish appetizers, a meat dish, a cheese plate, a “pre-dessert” and a dessert and advertised as “trust the chef!” I certainly do trust the chef after our wonderful meal there and will be sure to return next time I’m in the city.

4. Le Gabriel (Bordeaux)







Thanks to Madame Gravelier (owner of Gravelier, bien sûr), my sister, Erica, and I also discovered a wonderful Bordeaux spot, on the night after it opened ! Le Gabriel, new three-story bar, bistro and restaurant located in the center of Bordeaux’s Place de la Bourse overlooking the fountain and the river, opened the night before we dined there. Le Gabriel is run by chef Francois Adamski, a former chef in Bourges at a Michelin-starred restaurant, who has since settled in Bordeaux in an attempt to earn himself a star. Adamski was named "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" in 2007 and earned the famed "Bocuse d'Or" in 2001. He's taken his Bourges crew with him to the kitchen, but has a whole new look for the restaurant. "We had the different floors to work with - we had to imagine different things we could do with them," Adamski told me. On the first floor is a cozy bar area, complete with outdoor terrace for drinks or afternoon coffees when the weather is nice. On the second floor, a more affordable "bistro" (they call it a bistro, but it looks more like a très chic petit restaurant) offers lower-priced variations on traditional French fare. On the top floor is le restaurant gastronomique. The bistro seats around 80 guests and the restaurant just 30 lucky diners. The brand new establishment took just five months to work to complete. Adamski told me he is aiming for "simplicity and elegance" with Le Gabriel. The name "Le Gabriel" comes from the architect who designed the building back in the 1800s. We dined with a lovely view of the Place de la Bourse and the fountain, and we happened to be there on the night the city was celebrating the 75th anniversary of the French Air France. We stood on the balcony and watched as fighter planes flew overhead and the former head of Bordeaux’s Air Force retired during a traditional ceremony. A uniformed band played “La Marseillaise” as crowds gathered around to watch – it was extraordinary. Chef Adamski came out to give us a private tour of the restaurant and I saw his sous-chefs at work in the kitchen. They even gave him the famous “oui, chef!” when he placed an order. The food was, quite simply, fabulous. An amuse-bouche of a tomato stuffed with zucchini, eggplant and parmesan served with a crunchy cheese cracker awakened our taste buds, complemented with a choice of whole grain or white bread served with a sweet, delicious, fresh butter. For a starter, we both had the langoustines, cooked to perfection in a sweet and savory, thick mustard and passion fruit sauce with a little wasabi kick and fresh mango. I had the John Dory fish, served with a white wine cream sauce over a couscous "semoule" with cilantro and lemon confit, and my sister had a macadamia-crusted marlin with rice-stuffed cabbage. For dessert, I had roasted peach (cooked with the pit still in which, as the chef told me, adds flavor) served over a warm pistachio molten cake and verveine ice cream. My sister had a “vacherin” served with a meringue-like cold ice cream in peach, pistachio and almond flavors. The petit fours for dessert – macarons, financiers and dark chocolate truffles – were délicieux also. Big thanks to Chef Adamski for a wonderful meal, a personal tour of the premesis and a sneak-peek at the just-opened and not-yet reviewed (until now!) establishment. A bientôt !


5. Palais de Party (Ephemeral Club in Palais Tokyo – “Le Club Sans Nom”)






As we all know, the cooler a place, the less information one has about it. All of the hot spots in NY and Paris don’t even usually have a sign on the door, you’re just expected to know where they are. And now, to top off this trend, comes “Le Club Sans Nom” (“The Club Without a Name”), new hot spot sponsored by Russian Standard vodka, on the first floor of the Palais de Tokyo modern art museum. The launch coincides with new art expo A MAN ON THE MOON, a collection of photos of planet earth taken by astronauts from the moon. Pass through the fabulous expo on your way to the new club, open from 10 pm-2 am nightly through Sept. 20th. The NY loft meets Berlin garage club interior leads to a terrace with an extraordinary view of the Eiffel Tower. It’s the same Parisian hipsters you’ll see at Le Baron or the Cha Cha club (both locations are partners in the ephemeral spot), but in a different, more “cultural” space.

6. “The Elegance of the Hedgehog”



Muriel Barberry’s book, currently translated to the big screen in French theaters in “Le Hérisson” starring Josiane Balasko, is the best book I’ve read in a long time. The moving yet humorous story is ostensibly esoteric, but in fact, a very accessible, relatable tale of a concierge in a bourgeois Parisian building.

7. Glou




I’m stuck on this recently-opened restaurant like GLOU! (Sorry, the pun was just too evident to pass up, and it doesn’t work in French unfortunately.) This new hot spot, opened by former Regal – French food magazine – founder Julien Fouin and colleagues Ludo and Herve, is an affordable, casual and tres chic restaurant in my favorite neighborhood, le “haut Marais.” Right on the rue Vieille du Temple, Glou offers a wide assortment of dishes to please every palate – quality hams, a great cheeseburger, fish, and even a vegetarian plate for non-carnivores. Their gazpacho is a refreshing and flavorful pause on a hot summer day and, while the food is very basic with not much culinary adventure, all of the ingredients are high quality and tasty – think: melt-in-your-mouth bufala mozzarella with tomatoes so fresh they appear to have been just plucked from a country garden, a creamy “organic, raw milk” rice pudding and their original “Glou yogurt” for dessert. You can sit upstairs, or downstairs perched on stools around a big table or even on one of just three small tables outside. Glou is a great place for a “tête-à-tête” catch-up session with a friend or a fun place for a big group. I discovered this new spot not long ago and have been GLOUed to my seat there every since !

8. White chocolate wasabi (Ze Kitchen Galerie)




William Ledeuil’s white chocolate wasabi dessert is officially my new favorite dessert in Paris (and, perhaps, the world.) In fact, Ze Kitchen Galerie is currently at the top of my Paris restaurants list (I’d give Les Fables de la Fontaine the runner up spot). Ledeuil’s inventive cooking is a modern twist on classical French dishes with an Asian accent. Ze food is zelicious ! The name aptly describes the ambiance inside – an open kitchen with glass windows in the back, and modern art paintings all along the walls. The food is on the pricier side, but for a Michelin-starred restaurant, it’s actually quite reasonable. A yellow tomato gazpacho added intense flavor to my appetizer of fried creamy burrata balls – the most gourmet, and delicious, “mozzarella” stick you can imagine. The chicken and shrimp ravioli are also delectable. The duck main course is cooked two ways – one confit and the other a filet – the meat is cooked in an aromatic teriyaki-like sauce and swims on the plate alongside fresh seasonal vegetables. I also recently enjoyed the main course “rouget” (red mullet fish) served over an Asian-tinted mashed potatoes, quite possibly the best mashed potatoes I’ve ever had, with ginger, olives and other unidentifiable sauces and vegetables. Every mouthful is different, and satisfying. And then… dessert ! Yes, white chocolate and wasabi is indeed an odd couple – white and creamy chocolate meets Asian-infused spicy wasabi. It’s like the John Lennon-Yoko Ono of desserts. Green tea, pistachio sauce, torrone nougat, vanilla, fresh strawberries and crunchy cookies complement the flavors, all topped with a meringue. Special mention to our Brazilian waiter [insert name here if you know him or are him!] currently manning the tables, who is friendly and lovely and, when a slight confusion over our main course order occurred, offered us another dessert on the house that rivaled my white chocolate-wasabi favorite. Dessert number deux was a strawberry and passion fruit “cappuccino” with fres chunks of strawberries, a cream sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream. It was a symphony of flavors in my mouth – creamy, yet fruity and light at the same time. After the meal, take a walk along the Seine, right around the corner. As it is, it’s tough to get a reservation at Ze Kitchen, so please make sure to call me before to call in to make sure you don’t take my table, merci beaucoup.

9. L’Orangerie





I fell in love with Claude Monet during my first trip to Paris when I was younger (yes, can you imagine a bigger cliché?) and it’s been a long love affair ever since. Monet’s nymphéas can be found at the recently-renovated L’Orangerie, complete with other impressionist works. Definitely a must-see.



A picnic in the Tuileries gardens (see photo) followed by a tour of l'Orangerie is the perfect plan for a hot summer afternoon in Paris.

10. THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT



I finally have my carte de séjour! Vive la France ! It expires in March, but still a victory after many days/weeks/months of suffering. Paris, je t’aime !

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

I spent the day on various France 24 shows commenting on the death of the legendary pop star.
Here are a few clips:

In English:

http://www.france24.com/en/20090626-jackson-jackson-fawcett-leffler-akon-chiranjeevi

In French:

http://www.france24.com/fr/20090626-tchoungui-jackson-fawcett-leffler-chiranjeevi-akon

10 Things I Love this Week / June in Paris

1. Frenchie



Cute name. Cute spot. Cute food. And cute chef. What’s not to like? Well, perhaps the limited menu – two appetizers, two main courses and 2 desserts (+ cheese plate) to choose from. But Frenchie, a new petit bistro on a tiny street in the 2nd arrondissement, is almost perfect. Chef owner Gregory Marchand has worked at Gramercy Tavern in NY and with Jamie Olivier in London, before recently settling back into his native country (see: the meaning of “Frenchie”). Marchand changes the menu daily and offers an amazing deal (well, an amazing deal for Paris) of a 19-euro 3-course lunch or a 33-euro 3-course dinner (or 27 euros for two courses). Ask Marchand what he’ll be serving up soon, and even he can’t respond. The chef bases his cuisine on only the freshest market ingredients and adapts his menu to the fruits (and vegetables!) of the season.
On the night I was there, appetizers included an intensely flavorful smoked trout with an avocado sauce, pickled cucumbers, red peppers and dill and a gaspacho, eloquently presented with cherries (yes cherries in a bowl of gaspacho – strange idea at first, but I promise, the flavors just melded together into a gorgeous sweet and savory melody in my mouth), red peppers and croutons which floated to the top when the waiter then poured the soup into the bowl.
Next up was a choice of honey-glazed pork with zucchini flowers and eggplant or a “maigre” fish, a white fish, served with mushrooms and onions in a thick sauce.
Finally, for dessert, a cheese plate, a chocolate tart, and, my pick of course, a panna cotta with blackberry crumble. I have had my share of panna cotta in my day, and this was absolutely the most memorable – light yet incredibly creamy, with just a hint of basil infusion.
You can peek your head in and watch Marchand at work – a “Ratatouille” moment in a très French kitchen, complemented by Marchand’s Anglo-Saxon savvy.
Definitely a must-visit if you’re in Paris – allez y ! (But please don’t take my seat, it’s a small venue and I want to be sure to get a reservation!)

2. Orson Hodge, Dr. Addison Montgomery and Aunt Becky





I spent my week with Orson Hodge, Dr. Addison Montgomery, Jack Shephard and Melinda Gordon… not to mention the Prince of Monaco (see below). I schmoozed with my favorite small-screen stars at the 49th Annual Monte-Carlo TV Festival, including talent from “Desperate Housewives” (Kyle Maclachlan aka Orson Hodge), « Lost » (Matthew Fox alias Jack), “Private Practice”/ “Grey’s Anatomy” (Kate Walsh aka Dr. Addison Montgomery) and “Ghost Whisperer” (Jennifer Love Hewitt aka Melinda Gordon).
OK, so admittedly, Monte-Carlo isn’t the most exciting city in the world (I’d say the average age is about 97 and the average wealth about €10.6 million ?) but TV stars came out for the occasion nonetheless. All except for Jessica Szhor of “Gossip Girl” who cancelled last-minute in a very unprofessional, diva-like coup. That’s OK Jessica, nobody likes Vanessa’s character anyway. After years of growing up with “Full House,” I got to meet “Aunt Becky” aka Lori Loughlin who is now starring in “90210” opposite Rob Estes, who was also in town to promote the series. Both Loughlin and Estes were charming, and didn’t hold back in interviews. “Any time any one is talking about my penis, I’m happy,” Estes said of one scene in “90210” where said body part is mentioned in conversation. The best part was when another journalist asked about the rumored tension on set between Shannen Dougherty and Jennie Garth. The response:
Lori Loughlin: “They were cordial.”
Rob Estes: “They don’t like each other. It was uncomfortable.”
LL: “But they do their work and they’re fine.”
RE: “But they don’t like each other.”





I spoke with Eric Close who, like me, was very disappointed to learn that “Without a Trace,” on of the best shows on TV, was recently cancelled by CBS.
Jennifer Love Hewitt couldn’t let go of new beau Jamie Kennedy’s arm for more than .004 seconds. And what is this about calling her “fat”? She was teeny tiny (well her waist at least, I can’t say the same for her bosom) – confirmed. Kim Kardashian stood out like a sore thumb in her itsy bitsy, booty-hugging dresses. And Matthew Fox won the award for least well-behaved. The actor was vague and looked bored during the press conference, refused to answer any questions about the series he was there specifically to promote (“Lost”), and even insisted on conducting one interview lying down on a couch. The actor also forced the entire Europe1 radio crew to bring all of their equipment down a flight of stairs and completely change their recording studio around because Fox refused to walk up just a few steps to their HQ for the interview. I’d say he’s “lost” his manners, wouldn’t you?
Kyle Maclachlan (aka Orson Hodge) (aka Trey from “Sex & The City”) had a great sense of humor. When asked about how “Desperate Housewives” has changed his life, he responded in jest: “I’m very happy, and I used to be very depressed.”
He also mentioned how working on such female-dominated shows has been beneficial. “It has been mindblowing. I know things about women now…”
Kate Walsh, aka “Addison” from both “Grey’s Anatomy” and her new spinoff show “Private Practice,” was lovely. She’s not only tall and lithe and well-spoken, but also got to be married to DR MCDREAMY !!! Does it get any better than that ? Well, maybe McSteamy … I’d take him too.
Huge thank you to the Fairmont Monte-Carlo for a wonderful stay. With a special high five to the omelet lady at the INCREDIBLE breakfast buffet. The buffet was served every morning on the 7th floor with an insane view of the ocean, under the sun, and with a fabulous selection of breads, pastries, fresh fruit, yogurts, cheeses, pancakes and omelets. Really – is there anything better than an amazing buffet breakfast under the sun with the view of the ocean … and a prince not far away ?
Xoxo
Her Royal Highness Princess Rebecca Leffler of Monaco (has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?)

3. The Prince of Monaco




The Prince of Monaco, aka His Serene Highness Prince Albert is officially stalking me. Not only does he follow me to dinner twice a year (once for the “Monaco Forum of Cinema and Literature” and once for the closing night of the Monte-Carlo TV Festival), but he even followed me to lunch on the last day of the Festival at MY hotel, the Fairmont. The view from L’Horizon restaurant on the 7th floor is divine (see photo of me hard at work there) – a panoramic view of clear blue ocean water and boats gliding past in the distance. The prince had an even better view – of me ! Lucky guy. When I met him later that night at the dinner, we talked for a bit. I said: “Hello, Your Serene Highness…” He said: “You can call me Aaaaaaal” (No, he didn’t but how great would that have been? Prince Albert singing Paul Simon in the middle of a gala dinner.) I told him how I enjoy my twice-yearly stays in Monaco, and he said he is happy to have me. I mentioned we’d both had lunch at the Fairmont earlier in the day. He said, “It’s nice there, isn’t it?” And I responded – to a PRINCE mind you – “Well, if it’s good enough for the Prince of Monaco, it’s good enough for me!” Cue to the red face and thought bubble: “OMG I just said that to the PRINCE!” Luckily, Al is très cool and laughed and continued the conversation.

4. Nathalie Dubois’ Monte-Carlo TV Festival Gift Suite at the Hotel de Paris

Check out this video of my tour of Dubois’ fabulous gift suite !

http://www.gala.fr/gala_tv/l_oeil_sur_eux/visitez_le_gift_lounge_de_l_hotel_de_paris_a_monaco

5. Top Chef Masters



Just when I thought Top Chef was the ONLY reality TV show I’d ever watch (and like), Top Chef Masters comes around. It’s my guilty pleasure du jour. Not only can each episode stand on its own, but every time, we’re introduced to the crème-de-la-crème of international chefs and different themes each time. I mean, where else can you watch a famous chef make a risotto in a dorm room or serve up wild boar 3 ways ? My current life dream is to be a guest judge on Top Chef Masters. Or Top Chef, let’s start with that. Are you listening, Tom Colicchio?

6. Le Grand Journal’s compilation CD aka “Le Grand B.O. du Grand Journal”




Feeling like a hobo, like a rolling stone? Nothing’s gonna stop you … from buying the new compilation mix CD from France’s BEST nightly TV show “Le Grand Journal”. The CD features the music from the opening credits of the show, including Charlie Winston’s “Like a Hobo.” Other fabulous singles include Sliimy’s “Wake Up” (see: my obsession with this song in previous blog posting below), Ladyhawke’s “Paris is Burning” and Q-Tip’s “Move.” It’s a great mix of popular songs from all genres – everything from Lily Allen’s catchy “The Fear” to Oasis’ “I’m Outta Time” and Franz Ferdinand’s “Ulysses.” Listen to Reverend and the Makers’ “He Said He Loved Me” while you’re taking a shower (I do) or MGMT’s “Kids” while cooking dinner or Empire of the Sun’s “Walking on a Dream” when you’re getting ready for bed. If I had a car in Paris, this would be the perfect driving mix – so buy the CD, then come over and pick me up so we can go for a spin ok ? I said, “Tonight”! (Yuksek’s song, also on the CD) “Oh Yeah!” (Housse de Racket) (OK I think you get the idea…)

7. Grom




It might be a terrible idea to spread around this left-bank find since the line at this gelateria is still relatively quick compared to Amorino’s queue around the corner, but I just couldn’t post a blog in summer without talking about my favorite part of sunny sky days … namely, Grom gelato. The originally Italian, all natural ice cream line is already the biggest warm weather hit in NY, and is now in Paris. The little shop on the rue de Seine serves up organic, original flavors that melt in your mouth (literally. It’s gelato. That’s what it’s made for.) My favorites include Nocciola (hazelnut), Torroncino (with fresh chunks of nougat) and the simple Vaniglia (vanilla). But for you chocolate lovers out there, there’s also a dark chocolate sorbet, a dark chocolate ice cream and a Stracciatella with chocolate chips. Or, for a lighter mix on a hot day, the milky coconut sorbet coupled with a scoop of melon, strawberry, raspberry or peach sorbet is just perfect. Flavors change depending on the season, as does the length of the line outside. Insider info: If you don’t feel like waiting on line or walking with a cone, you can sit at Da Rosa across the street and, while you’ll pay twice as much for the same gelato, you can eat it in a cup at a table as you people-watch on the bustling rue de Seine.

8. Whatever Works



Woody Allen + Larry David. Do I need to say more?

…. Well no, but I will of course. I just can’t curb my enthusiasm for Woody Allen’s latest film. It’s definitely the most Woody Allenesque in years – pure neurotic Jewish guy in NY humor. The mismatched love affair between David and Evan Rachel Wood somehow works. Despite mediocre reviews across the board, I recommend the film. It’s far from Allen’s best, but it’s entertaining, darkly funny and speckled with an all-star cast that also includes Ed Begley Jr., Patricia Clarkson and the très cute British actor Henry Cavill. David’s Boris Yelnikoff is sort of an exaggerated, less Hollywood version of David’s character on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” but David fans and Allen fans won’t be (too) disappointed. Whatever.

9. Johnny Depp



Johnny Depp is simply uber-cool in Michael Mann’s gangster flick “Public Enemies.” While I’m not a huge fan of the genre, Depp is silky smooth in the bank robber story also featuring Billy Crudup, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard. It’s bang bang boom boom gunshots all around, but there’s a moving story lying somewhere in between all of the blood and darkness. There’s a lot of DEPPth if you will…

10. The ridiculous idea of Carla Bruni in a Woody Allen movie




“"I'm sure she would be wonderful. She's got charisma, she's already acted so she's not unknown to an audience. There are a lot of ways I could use her though I don't have a story for her at the moment," Allen said of the French first lady in an interview with France’s RTL radio, adding: "But I'll certainly talk to her about it and I'll ask her if she's interested." If she’s not, Woody, my number is 06 …

Star-spangled Dinner

Star-spangled Dinner
Dinner with the Obamas in Paris
Barack Obama followed me to dinner last night. Seriously. Out of all of the restaurants in Paris, I chose to make a reservation on Saturday night at Les Fables de la Fontaine, a Christian Constant bistro on the rue Saint Dominique, restaurant-filled street in the 7th arrondissement. After arriving almost ½ hour late thanks to our deviated taxi route due to the fact that nearly every street was blocked off to traffic because of the Obamas’ arrival, we strolled up to the rue Saint Dominique only to be greeted by a huge crowd of people, US secret service men in suits with earphones and pins and what I imagine constituted at least 30% of the national French police force. Policemen yelled out orders and forced the curious Parisians and nearby tourists to move to the sidewalk to accommodate Obama’s arrival. With high security outside, Obama’s entourage of cars arrived in front of La Fontaine de Mars, a casual French bistro, as he was escorted inside. After waiting outside, unable to walk down the street to our restaurant for more than one hour, I finally began to start intense negotiations with every Secret Service man and French policeman I could find, and was constantly calling the restaurant to figure out how we might be able to get inside to dine. Finally, the restaurant manager calls to tell me “There are American Secret Service men on their way to get you.” I laughed – “yeah right, of course they are.” Then, all of a sudden, a French policeman in full body armor, comes running towards us, points to me, pulls me out of the crowd and under the barricade with the two friends I was with (shout out to Judy and Karen, the adventuresome duo in question) and escorted us personally to the restaurant, as the crowd watched in awe. We sat down in the cute bistro – it was like we’d entered the Twilight Zone, everything was calm, we sat and had a very delicious, enjoyable meal, while the Obamas ate next door and police and soldiers lined the streets as the helicopter circled above. You’d think that since I not only voted for him, but also pay US taxes which took the Obama family to France, he’d call and say “hey, come on over and join us for dessert” right ? In fact, Obama wanted desperately to come and speak to me, but, with all of the Secret Service men and French police guarding me, he wasn’t able to (poor guy). Don’t worry, Barack, just be sure to call me next time you’re here. And please, can you perhaps just accept Sarkozy’s invitation and dine with Carla and him someplace private? Your “laid-back intimate family dinner” turned the entire city upside down! However, Mr. O, I’d like to thank you. For the first time in quite some time, I was very proud to be an American. I even sang the star-spangled banner as your entourage of cars rode by. As one American woman nearby said of the swarms of people waiting outside, “If it were Bush eating in there, nobody would be here.” I especially enjoyed when everyone in Les Fables walked outside to try and catch a glimpse of the Obamas leaving dinner and a French police officer came over and said “Monsieur, Le Président would like you to please go back inside.” Amazing. How often do I get asked to do something by “Monsieur, le Président” ? (not often, contrary to popular belief). So I’d like to thank my President, the US Secret Service, the French Police Nationale, the lovely staff of Les Fables de la Fontaine … and the (very cute, mind you) French police officer that pulled me out of the crowd and escorted us to our table. G-d Bless America ! (Land that I sometimes forget I love.)

In honor of last night, I’ve composed my own version of the US national anthem.
The Star-Spangled Dinner
Oh, say! can you see by the Obama’s early light 

What so annoying we waited for while his 400-car entourage swept through the city so he and Michelle and his kids could catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower gleaming…
Whose broad Secret Service men and bright bodyguards, made us perilously fight
To walk down the street to our restaurant, while the crowds outside were so gallantly screaming,
And the mean old French manager of the restaurant next door’s red glare,
the Obama-copter circling in the air, 

Gave proof through the night that I still do care (about America): Oh, say! does that star-spangled banner yet wave 

O'er the land of the French and the home of the Rebecca Leffler…
In Les Fables de la Fontaine, dimly seen through the mists of the deep rue Saint Dominique,
Where the fish is cooked deliciously, 

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep of la Fontaine de Mars, 

'Tis the Obamas ! Oh, long may they wave (to me from across the street)
O'er the land of the French and the home of the Rebecca Leffler… 
And this be our motto: "In Obama is our trust": 
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave 

O'er the land of the French and the home of the Rebecca Leffler…. 






The Restaurant of the day award goes not to la Fontaine de Mars (I don’t think they’ll be needing my publicity anymore seeing as the President of the United States just had dinner there, that’s definitely a better ad than paying thousands for Superbowl spot, way to go Fontaine), but to Les Fables de la Fontaine. Owned by Christian Constant, the French chef who pretty much runs every restaurant on the rue Saint Dominique – from his famed, more fancy and pricey le Violon d’Ingres to the more casual Café Constant or even more casual Les Cocottes (my favorite steak and potatoes meal on the left bank – eat that, l’Entrecôte!), Constant has a restaurant for everyone. Les Fables is a tiny place – I think the room can fit a maximum of 22 people – with a big heart. The staff are all warm and welcoming and one literally feels like one is dining in someone’s home (on a typical night that is, I can’t say the secret service and helicopters typically encircle my Parisian apartment on the average night). Les Fables specializes in seafood and offers a mostly fish-based menu, with a few options for pure carnivores as well. We started with an amuse-bouche of a parmesan cream with a red pepper coulis and croutons – divine. Since it was late (see: waiting outside for more than an hour just to walk down the street, merci Obama and co.), we skipped right to the main courses, though I must say the crispy Langoustines I had the last time I was there, still on the menu, are delicious. I had a grilled sea bass in a cream of pea sauce with grilled artichokes, a tuna sauce and parmesan cheese – incredible, especially wiped clean with the amazing mini-baguettes served to accompany the meal. Dessert was a vanilla cream custard crème-brûlée style on top of sugar biscuits with a pistachio sauce, followed by a fabulous hazelnut macaron. While I hesitate to share this spot (make sure you don’t take my seat if I want a reservation!), it is definitely one of the better and reasonably priced restaurants in Paris. Bon appétit !

10 Things I love this week / April (singing in the) Showers

1. La Societe




Where have all the celebrities gone? They’re not at l’Hôtel Costes anymore, le Baron is SO 2004-2007 and no one is home anymore (see: second French commandment, Thous shalt not sit inside at home when it’s nice outside). Don’t worry, I have located all of your favorite celebs – well, minus perhaps Dany Boon who is soaking up the Los Angeles sun as we speak or Guillaume Canet and Marion Cotillard who are galavanting around Manhattan, but I’ve found the rest. They’re all at La Société, the latest addition to the vast Costes empire.
Société [ sɔsjete ] noun. 1. French for “society,” a structured community of people. 2. The new Costes restaurant in Saint-Germain-des-pres serving “Germanopratins”* [*term designating inhabitants of the 6th arrondissement who rarely leave said neighborhood and frequent its establishments notably the Café de Flore and its environs], stars and wanna-be stars for a much too expensive menu of mediocre food in a chic setting with model-like waitresses.
Finally, the Germanopratin community can rejoice – “Left Bank chic” is back in style. After le Montana, the latest in La Clique’s master plan to take over the world, one nightclub at a time, comes THE place to be for the privileged, “look at me” crowd. Celebs from all domains have been coming out for the new restaurant located in what used to be le Bilboquet jazz club. Think: fashion fathers the Fendi family and Dolce and Gabbana, political heavyweights like Rachida Dati, gourmet gurus like Alain Ducasse, every French actor or actress ever to hit the big screen and even “American Idol” media powerhouse Ryan Seacrest, who dined across the room last Saturday night. So what are we eating, folks? [insert laughter here] Oh please, as if anyone comes here to eat. In any case, it’s classic Costes cuisine, read: the same menu that we all have memorized at this point. With the exception of a few Germanopratin additions such as the “Club Saint Germain,” an onion soup and a quinoa and asparagus risotto, the menu remains unchanged, namely a shrimp risotto, spring rolls (“nems”) or a mandarina crispy duck. It’s très cher (very expensive), that's for sure, but, with Carla Bruni sitting to your left, Karl Lagerfeld to your right and Brad and Angie across the room*, who really cares ? (*note: this scene has yet to be recorded in Societe history, but it would be pretty cool, huh?) The très chic décor is signed Christian Aliagre and the musical selection provides a relaxed feel. Financial crisis? What? Let’s go sip 20Euro glasses of wine and munch on slices of hard avocado for 18Euros. Oh come on, you know you love it. (I do.)
See photos taken at La Societe last saturday night.





2. Ca m’enerve

While ostensibly Helmut Fritz may seem like just another pissed off French guy, his latest pop sensation “Ca m’énerve” (“That pisses me off”) is my latest guilty pleasure. It plays on the radio about every .004 seconds, so “c’est normale” that I can’t get it out of my head. Basically, Mr. Fritz sounds off on everything that annoys him about Paris – getting snubbed at Costes or le Baron, not being able to find a taxi or girls who wear Jimmy Choos and can’t walk. He attacks the Zadig&Voltaire-wearing, black Amex card-carrying population, saying “For all of you who have borrowed bangs from Kate Moss.” At the end, he attacks “you who wait in line for macarons at La Durée” then adds, “But ok, I hear they’re pretty good.” Check it out for a good oh la la laugh.



3. Paul & Joe Eyewear





Last week, the stars came out for the launch of Paul & Joe Eyewear at the Grandoptical store on the Champs-Elysees. The designer herself, Sophie Albou, welcomed actresses Julie Depadieu, Marina Fois and Cristina Reali, actors Stephane Freiss and Tomer Sisley (aka “Largo Winch” – see attached photo of us at the Cesar Awards. Don’t we make a lovely couple? Yes, I think so too.) plus TV personalities Ariane Massenet (yay for “Le Grand Journal” !) and Sandrine Quetier (the host of E! News France, aka my dream job). The new collection of shades are what you would expect from Albou – the classic Paul & Joe style of simplicity and practicality with a splash of fun. I left with a beautiful pair of oversized black, round shades (see photo taken inside the Ritz) which I plan to wear as soon as the sun decides to make its way for a long stay in Paris, France.




4. Twilight




Teenage vampires in love. It’s like “Romeo and Juliet” with fangs. While I am perhaps the last mortal on earth to see the movie “Twilight,” I just had to express my adoration for the title. I wanted to see what all the buzz was about and rented the film from iTunes (long live LEGAL downloading, ladies and gentlemen). The film, based on the popular young-adult vampire novels by Stephenie Meyer, is a love story about a young girl named Bella who falls in love with a vampire named Edward. It is impossible not to fall in love with Edward – Robert Pattinson has “heartthrob” written all over his face. The story is completely ridiculous, the acting mediocre and the special effects déjà vu, but somehow it all works. Catherine Hardwicke strikes again with her adolescent angst expertise mixed with vampire thriller. I’m hooked, and looking very much forward to the upcoming sequel “New Moon,” so I can spend yet another night with Edward, my favorite vampire.




5. Ryan Seacrest or “I followed Ryan Seacrest into the bathroom last night …”




I followed Ryan Seacrest into the bathroom last night …
You know you’re about to hear a good story when it starts with following Ryan Seacrest into a bathroom. Actually, it sounds like the title of a book. Have you read “I followed Ryan Seacrest into the bathroom last night” by Rebecca Leffler? The scene: La Societe (see above). Saturday night, circa 10 pm. A young (well not that young, more like youngish) man flirts with our tall, gorgeous waitress on his way back from the bathroom. He is speaking American. (yes, not English, but American.) It’s Ryan Seacrest ! Part of me wants to jump up on the table, grab a fork as a makeshift microphone and belt out my rendition of “A Moment Like This,” but I decide against this course of action (maybe the acoustics aren’t quite as good as they are in my shower?). As I did not want to disturb Mr. Seacrest, who appeared to be enjoying his meal with a pretty blond woman and two other unidentified people (who have very nice back of their heads, that’s about all I can say about them), I gave my card to our waitress to pass along to Monsieur Crête de Mer (that’s “Seacrest” in French). Shortly thereafter, the waitress told me to go down the stairs towards the bathroom. “Monsieur Seacrest would like to speak with you now.” My mind began racing. Could it be that, while taking a stroll during his Easter vacation to Paris, Ryan Seacrest overheard me singing in the shower and thinks I am the next American Idol? That must be it. I begin to rehearse Whitney Houston’s “I will always love you” in my head as I follow the waitress down the stairs. Ryan is waiting for me. Then, I realize that perhaps this is more like a scene from “Pretty Woman” than a scene from “American Idol.” Maybe he thinks I work nights? Turns out that Seacrest – who is a household name in America and probably enjoyed a weekend of anonymity in a country where no one watches American reality TV – simply wanted to talk in a more private setting. Probably to avoid papa razzi lenses – the headline “Seacrest and famous French TV star caught making out in Paris restaurant” probably wouldn’t be so good for his image. As for mine however… Anyway, so turns out Mr. S is quite friendly and down-to-earth. (Well, he was eating at one of the most chic, more expensive restaurants in Paris so perhaps I’d say more “closer to earth than most celebs” than DOWN to earth per se.) He even came over to our table afterwards to introduce himself. (Only natural as we are now best friends, of course.) I am waiting for my phone call – any day now – requesting that I become the next Guiliana Rancic and host my own French-accented version of E! News in Paris and at the next Cannes Film Festival.

6. Hotel Bel Ami



Want to meet my new dear friend? The Hotel Dear Friend, aka the Hotel Bel Ami, is among my favorite spots in the 6th arrondissement. The contemporary hotel in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-pres, has a prime location – directly across the street from the Café de Flore, down the street from la Hune and l’Ecume des Pages bookstores and just a hop skip and a jump (actually, I have yet to see any French person hop, skip or jump in my life) away from chez moi. I’ve filmed countless TV shows inside in the bar area, and the hotel staff is always warm and welcoming (a rare occurrence in most of the small boutique hotels in this neighborhood, may I add.) The bar/café area is a great place to meet for a coffee or a glass of wine – less touristy and less expensive than the Flore, and I recommend the hot chocolate which arrives as a hot glass of milk and a chocolate lollipop that then dissolves into the milk to create a frothy, delicious blend. The rooms are pretty basic, yet modern and clean, and relatively affordable compared to most of the other options in the neighborhood. The hotel also offers a quite impressive small fitness room and spa – “The Wellness Center by Payot” – for relaxed, modern luxury. Yes, “modern” and “Saint germain des pres” are not always synonymous, so it’s quite refreshing to see the contemporary touch at the Bel Ami. They even have a blog http://bel-ami-trend.com/wp/ where guests and visitors can read about the various music-related events the hotel offers from time to time – how modern ! WWJD? (What Would Jean-Paul Sartre Do?)

7. Sliimy

He’s skinny, he’s French and he can sing. Sliimy, aka a skinnier, Frenchier version of Mika, has the entire country hooked on his unique sound. His hit song “Wake Up” has been echoing in my head for weeks (in between “Ca m’enerve,” Lady Gaga’s “Poker face” and admittedly Britney’s “If You Seek Amy”). Check him out:




8. A smart car convertible



I was strolling along the rue Jacob on a sunny Paris afternoon when I spotted this car and had to stop to take a photo. A smart car convertible. Now why didn’t anyone think of that before? I can just see the advertisement now: “Too tall for your tiny French smart car? Try our roof-free version.” For anyone who feels too confined in one’s itsy bitsy mini-vehicle, now there’s a warm weather-inspired way to enjoy a more spacious ride. It’s the latest in French technology (yes indeed, the terms “French” and “technology” are not in fact mutually exclusive contrary to popular belief). The ridiculously tall person’s smart car. Ah, how I love this land !

9. L’Instant Critique

This week’s “Instant Critique” segment on “Le Grand Journal.” I review movies for a weekly segment on Canal Plus’ popular nighttime show here in France called “Le Grand Journal” or, in English, “The big news show” (think: “The Today Show” meets “Jay Leno sitting around a table with David Letterman, Barbara Walters and lots of really pretty young girls”). Here are clips from this week’s episode and that of two weeks ago. Stephen Frears’ “Cheri” hasn’t come out stateside yet, but, when it does, RUN to the theaters. Michelle Pfeiffer is more radiant than ever in Frears’ melodramatic yet gloriously romantic adaptation of Colette’s novels.

http://www.canalplus.fr/cid231437-l-instant-critique-du-grand-journal.html


http://www.canalplus.fr/cid225559-l-instant-critique-du-grand-journal.html

9.5 While we’re watching me on TV, I thought I’d bring back some “Johnny Saucisson” for old time’s sake.

Despite it’s cult fan following, “Johnny Saucisson,” after a strong five-episode run on Canal Plus, wasn’t renewed for a new season. Here’s some “Johnny Sausage” nostalgia for those of you weeping in its absence (you know who you are).



10. Jelly beans, peeps and other Easter candy NOT found in Paris





As a former member of the Jelly Belly Flavor of the Month Club (yes, I was actually sent new flavors on a regular basis up to age 15) and a peep addict (wow, that doesn’t sound very good – to clarify, I am referring to the marshmallowy bunnies and ducks), I find the lack of bunny-influenced Easter candy in Paris to be UNE SCANDALE. I mean, how better to celebrate Christ rising from the dead than with popcorn-flavored sugar-coated gelatin and marshmallows shaped like ducks ? While jelly beans can be found at select locations such as the Bon Marche Grande Epicerie, the ubiquitous candy we know and love in America is scarce in these parts. Chocolate eggs are found everywhere, but non-chocolate products (see: my intense aversion to chocolate since birth) are hard to track down. So, all you Americans, remember how lucky you are as you enjoyed toasted marshmallow or watermelon-flavored jelly bellies, Cadbury cream eggs (or at least the middle part, my favorite) and pink peeps and think of those poor, unfortunate souls in Paris condemned to a candy-deprived Easter holiday.

****Sick of me yet ?

If not, check out my blog(well more like blogs – there are two parts to click on) from Gala Fashion week

http://fashion-week.gala.fr/blogs-fashion/

Or on SayWho?

blog.saywho.fr/

Or on GoGo Paris (which, by the way, is the BEST site of its kind, offering a fabulous tour of Paris with a much younger and cool selection than most English-language sites of the genre, check it out)
www.gogoparis.com

And don’t forget to put your email into the RSS feed below so you can receive updates on la vie de Lafleur de Paris.

Bisous mes amis ! à la prochaine…

10 Things I Love this Week/ April in Paris

1. SAYWHO?

www.saywho.fr



Paris finally has it’s very own version of Gossip Girl. The veritable online popularity contest SayWho? was launched just a few weeks ago by Paris-based creative agency Say Hmmm! (www.sayhmm.com) From the people who brought you drunken outdoor parties at Bagatelle, parties for luxury brands (think: Diesel, Givenchy and Russian Standard Vodka) and that ubiquitous tall sexy Danish dude Rasmus comes a new web movement which is picking up where Facebook left off. SayWho is basically a website – in French, but will eventually branch out into other languages and territories if all goes as planned – featuring photos of Parisian soirées. Party attendees are tagged and labeled, then thrown into a rating system where the city’s most-viewed partyers are ranked in order of social appearance. This week, for example, Kanye West is #15, Guillaume Canet #20, and Jeremy Scott #3. (and Rebecca Leffler #8 may I add.) A crew of photographers – including my favorite night reporter Mr. Jean Picon – let no party go unsnapped. Can’t make it out Tuesday night before your big meeting Wednesday morning? No problem, just check out the SayWho? photo recap and it’ll be just like you were there (only with no hangover or unidentified French guy/girl in your bed the next morning).

Check out my blog on SayWho? @ http://blog.saywho.fr/

xoxo French Gossip Girl

2. OSS117






“He’s so French” was the slogan advertised all over the Cannes Film Festival a couple of years ago. The “he” in question is secret agent OSS117, aka Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, aka actor Jean Dujardin. The spy genre parody is directed by Michel Hazanavicius – I still can’t pronounce his name, but I love his movies – and the 2006 title “OSS117 Cairo, Nest of Spies” was a hit in Gaul. The next installment in the series “OSS117: Rio ne répond plus” (Rio isn’t responding anymore) is, in my opinion, even funnier than the first. Jean Dujardin is back in his starring role in this story filled with subtle humor and dry satire, a sort of “James Bond” meets “Naked Gun.” The screenplay is bitingly witty and Dujardin is brilliant as the anti-Semitic, racist, sometimes clueless spy. There’s even a token American guy in the film – actor Ken Samuels, who is hysterical in the role of Trumendous. The Paris premiere was held last week with the whole cast, among other French celebs. Jean Dujardin and his lady love fellow actress Alexandra Lamy, former OSS117 girl Berenice Bejo and current “Bath Girl” Louise Monot, and a hodgepodge of other French talent like Gilles Lellouche, “Hostage” director Florent Emilio Siri, and others who, if you can understand this English so well, you have no idea who I am talking about. Here’s a sneak peak at the fabulous film.



3. ZADIG ♥ LEFFLER







Or more like Leffler ♥ Zadig. Either way you look at it, it’s a trans-Atlantic love affair. Zadig & Voltaire is a French clothing brand – sort of a chic rock glam combo of hipster-wear with a twist. The brand is famous for its Parisian street style basics like cashmere shirts and dresses, jeans and funky leather studded bags. Zadig & Voltaire just opened up a store in New York’s trendy meatpacking district and also started a new Zadig&Voltaire Music label. Their new hit “Playground” is already making waves. I don’t think I go a day without wearing something with a “Zadig&Voltaire” label on it – the clothes are definitely too pricey (300 euros for a cotton dress?) but are logical purchases since they are all very basic and très chic. I have been carrying around my black leather Zadig bag for years already – it’s quality, great-looking leather. I just checked out their new Fall/Winter collection for next season which is fabulous and features the classic Zadig basics, but also more sparkly tops and dresses, cashmere wrap-around sweaters and a lovely straw hat I plan to wear to sport a “farmer chic” look this spring. Here’s the “Playground” clip for your listening pleasure.



and the NY store:




4. MR SUZUKI



Finding tofu in Paris is like finding … well, like finding tofu in Paris, an ostensibly impossible endeavor in the land of steak frites and foie gras. While tofu is found at most organic stores like Naturalia or Bio Génération chains, it doesn’t compare to the “real” stuff from Japan. Luckily, that’s where Kioko comes in. The Japanese shop near Opéra sells Japanese imports of all kinds, including Suzu Tofu, homemade every day and hand-delivered by the tofu master himself, Mr Suzuki. I happened to arrive at Kioko just when Mr Suzuki was delivering his fresh tofu of the day. In Japanese-accented French, he described the entire process of the tofu-making to me, then went on to give advice on how to cook the tofu, all with a huge smile on his face. He is my new favorite person in Paris (or at least my favorite tofu-maker. He’s actually the only tofu-maker I know, but I think if I met the others, I’d still favor him.) Tofu has a bad reputation, but is a wonderful food – it’s filled with protein, absorbs the flavor of any marinade or sauce and can be stored in the refrigerator for longer than most meats. I am a To-fool.


5. MARKET



Did I mention I adore all things Jean-Georges Vongerichten ? Or just Jean-Georges for short since nobody in any country seems to be able to correctly pronounce his last name, nor do many people know he does indeed have a last name since he is known across the globe (mostly in New York and in Asia) as Jean-Georges. I am addicted to his Paris hotspot, Market. I’ve been going since I moved here nearly five years ago, and even got the chance to celebrate the 7-year anniversary of the restaurant with JG himself (and copious amounts of truffle pizza and mini cheesecakes – it was a dream come true - see photo of me and the culinary master himself.) The trendy, New York-like décor is complemented by the, well, trendy, New York-like cuisine. Jean-Georges offers modern French cuisine with an Asian flare. My favorites include the black truffle and fontina pizza or the tuna rolls to start, the daurade (a white fish) served with a sweet and sour sauce or the always-changing variations of duck breast or chicken as main courses, and then – bien sur – the most amazingly delicious cheesecake ever in life to end the meal. Try not to fill up on the delicious breads and butter albeit very tempting – you must save room for dessert. JG is offering a special “recession menu” (he is the ONLY one in Paris, France to do this mind you) for 34 euros for three courses if you eat before 8:30 pm or after 10:30 pm. Please note that you need to ORDER by these times. I went last week with a group of friends. We reserved for 8 pm, sat down around 8:20 pm (see: I was eating with mostly French people) and didn’t place our order until 8:34 pm, and were thus told we were “too late” to take advantage of the offer. But 34 euros for three courses at JG is an extraordinary deal (most of the main courses cost that price or more) so I plan to return imminently for an early or late night chowdown. Care to join me?
PS It appears that my BFF JG has followed me onto blogspot?
http://www.jeangeorges.blogspot.com/

6. PASSOVER IN PARIS

When Moses was in Egypt land … he would have been appalled to discover that Paris, France is not very Pesach-friendly. While in the US, or at least in MY part of the US (read: the tri-state area), supermarkets dedicate full aisles to Passover products, the Parisian supermarkets are severely lacking in Passover fare. I had to go to four different supermarkets yesterday just to find K for P wine. And while the US offers Manichewitz products including everything from Passover muffin mix to Pesach-approved cereal, and matzoh in all forms – whole wheat, crackers, gefilte-fish flavored (no just kidding, but I imagine it will be on the market by 2015) – Paris offers a few boxes of matzoh and other canned K for P products. So sad. The Bon Marche Grand Epicerie sells 450 different kinds of olive oil, 600 different types of ham … and offers a measly mini-stand of a few boxes of matzoh and strange-looking chocolate chip cakes. So instead of “Next Year in Jerusalem” how about “Next Year at Monoprix”?
(see photo of THIS year in Monoprix)



7. FERME DU MANEGE YOGURT




It’s white and creamy and I swallow some almost every morning. Get your minds out of the gutter! I’m talking about French yogurt. While I do miss my occasional Stonyfield Farm’s during trips to America, French yogurt is in a class of its own. Don’t have a cow, the US has some good products too of course, but here the yogurt is mostly full-fat made from whole milk instead of the “fat free” (and usually “taste free”) fare found in US supermarkets. In French supermarkets, the yogurt aisle is a well-stocked department of its own. I have tasted every yogurt in the country (yes, 4.5 years allots a lot of time for yogurt-tasting). I enjoy the more commercial Danone products, have dabbled in sheep’s milk yogurts (much thicker and creamier, but typically easier on the stomach) and goat’s milk yogurts. I’ve decided to stick with cows for the time being (I’m moo-ving on, sorry Brebis sheep). La Ferme du Manège is probably the most expensive yogurt – I’ve found it so far only at the Bon Marché Grande Epicerie and the individual containers are quite costly, but are nearly twice the size of the average French yogurt (which is about 1.2 the size of most US yogurts) – 180 g instead of 125 g. The Ferme du Manège is creamy, but not too thick and uses no cream, only milk and fresh products. I love the honey flavor and the vanilla, but have also enjoyed the occasional “Mureboise” (the delicious offspring of a blackberry and a raspberry), fig and caramel (ok so it’s a dessert disguised as a breakfast addition, but let’s keep fooling ourselves, it’s damn good). They even have a few flavors made with skim milk. I’ve never been to the Manège farm, but I hope to one day take a trip and thank them for making my mornings even more enjoyable.


8. ERIC BESSON




After hours and hours of tears and several visits to the Police HQ in Paris, I am still struggling with French authorities to renew my visa to stay here. I recently received a letter from the Minster of the Interior telling me that, while it is not under her jurisdiction, she has transferred my file to Monsieur Eric Besson, Minister of Immigration. While this appears to be good news – that is, SOMETHING is happening with my file – the idea of Eric Besson holding a fat file with “LEFFLER, Rebecca” written on it sends shivers down my spine. Besson has recently become well-known for cracking down on illegal immigration and has set arrest quotas for those citizens who “assist” such people. There was an article in this week’s New York Times that said this: "France is restricting visas for workers from outside the European Union in the face of rising unemployment, according to a policy directive by President Nicolas Sarkozy that was released Tuesday. “The absolute priority must be for people in France who are deprived of work to get back into jobs,” he said. The unemployment rate among foreigners from non-European Union countries living in France was 22 percent, he said, compared with 8 percent for the whole population." This is NOT good news for moi, ladies and gentleFrenchmen.
Dear Mr Besson, if you are reading my blog (you know you are), you are France’s Minister of “Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Solidarity Development” and I just happen to be very well-integrated into French society, not to mention do so much for the national identity of France through my many stories in the Hollywood Reporter and elsewhere and help, “solidarity development” is like my middle name. Please let me stay ! Je vous aime !


9. TRADER JOE




Oh how I miss you, Joe ! Joe-meo, Joe-meo, wherefore art thou Trader Joe-meo? Definitely not in Paris, France which is très disappointing. I have learned to live without my family in close proximity, without good bagels and without available taxis, but life without Trader Joe’s has become increasingly difficult. I have recently been diagnosed with SGW – Severe Granola Withdrawal. My body is craving those delicious clusters of whole grain goodness and my yogurt bowl weeps as it is forced to cover itself in unacceptable French cereals. Then there is the mix of “harvest grains,” the greatest thing to happen to “I just got home and am hungry and want something delicious, satisfying and well-balanced that goes with anything” since sliced bread. Not to mention their “just a handful” series which provide the perfect amount of nuts, trail mixes or dried cranberries. But Joe, woe is me – you refuse to offer your products online or send them to me (yes, I’ve sent letters requesting such a service) or to open a store in France. Your almond granola is my Proust Madeleine – it makes me feel like I am back home in America. So I will pine away in Paris for my dear Joe, eating a croissant all the while dreaming of rekindling our love affair soon in the USA.


10. TAYLOR SWIFT's "WHITE HORSE"




Yes, I confess, I’ve been playing “Love Story” over and over on iTunes. I admittedly enjoy the country tunes from the singer who is still in her teens and sold more albums in American last year than anyone. I’m currently into her very cheesy, yet secretly (or not so secretly) “White Horse”.

I'm not a princess
This ain't a fairytale
I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet
Lead her up the stairwell
This ain't Hollywood,
This is a small town
I was a dreamer before you went and let me down
Now its too late for you and your White Horse,
To come around.

Love it.