Throwing a Party in Paris
Bonjour mes amis,
Yesterday was a cool, cloudy day in Paris, remaining in the low 70’s most of the day. We assisted our guests with their laundry, and then Bernie and I did all the necessary grocery shopping for a party this evening in the apartment for friends and neighbors. Jim & Peggy Bilbro arrived just yesterday (to a flooded apartment…oh, no!) and will be joining the group as will my French friend, Ann Jeanne and hopefully Richard Nahem.
It’s quite a challenge and a bit scary to throw a party in a city and culture that is known for elegance and fine eating. In my own environment, I know exactly which dish or bowl or serving tray will work best for maximum appeal to the eye and the palette, but here I am so limited. We will do our best to make it lovely starting with the surprise addition of two wonderful bouquets of flowers which James prepared for me since this is partly what he does for a living.
On the menu will be olives in herbs and oil, pickled garlic and capers, nuts, smoked salmon with a dill sauce, shrimp, a foie gras pâté on toast, chips, a large platter of cheese, French baguettes, pastries, and various chocolates…all of course with champagne followed by wine. So wish me luck, and there will be photos to follow.
James and Stephen will join us for just a few minutes at the start of the party and then be off to a dinner river cruise on the Seine. They are excited!
Last evening, we had planned a dinner for them at Le Train Bleu because they had never been. This is their fourth time in Paris with us so they very much wanted to see this wonderful place. We had probably the best food I’ve ever had there last night. Here are some examples along with some photos of the area and of the “boys” as we were departing. Our agreement had been to split the check, but these guys sneaked around us and picked up the total tab, making the evening a double dose of pleasure.
The “Purely Paris” photo of the day is this artist on the street painting a picture of our apartment building and the corner where we live!
Hope you have a super Thursday, and check in tomorrow to find out how the party went!
À bientôt,
L & B
July 13, 2017 @ 7:20 am
We are looking forward to your party and know it will be wonderful. You are the perfect hostess who can make a perfect party under any circumstance.
July 13, 2017 @ 7:25 am
Merci, madame!
July 13, 2017 @ 10:38 am
Oh la la your Paris party sounds divine! Good luck and I’m sure it will be fantastique.
Love the flowers in the olive jar. Don’t know if Jamie would be interested, but an exhibit on our list is at the Musée de la Vie Romantique, ‘Le pouvoir des fleurs, Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840) + Un parcours contemporain des métiers d’artù’ or The Power of Flowers, Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840) + A Contemporary Journey of Crafts. Redoute was apparently known as ‘the Raphaël of flowers’.
Here’s a link: http://museevieromantique.paris.fr/en
I love this modest museum and its garden courtyard/café, a little leafy oasis — have seen a number of really high-quality exhibits here (most recently one about Baudelaire) and from what I’ve read about the ‘flowers’ one, it is also well-done.
Cheers and meilleurs voeux pour votre soirée parisienne!
July 13, 2017 @ 10:51 am
PS my ‘oh la la’ was intended positively! as in oh wow! oh marvellous! oh how special! 🙂
July 13, 2017 @ 11:05 am
We have been to this little museum and love it! But I haven’t thought to tell Jamie. Will do…he would love it.
July 13, 2017 @ 7:42 pm
Watching the BBC this evening, love that you’re having your Franco-American soirée just as the two countries’ Presidents and their wives are dining together 🙂
Also, thanks to your photos from the Dior exhibit, I noticed Melania Trump’s dress and wondered … Googled around and discovered she was indeed wearing Dior (or a Dior style? not totally sure) in Paris. This link also mentions the exhibit http://wwd.com/eye/people/first-lady-melania-trumps-herve-pierre-dior-paris-trip-10945372/
Wishing you and Bernie a très bonne fête nationale demain!
July 13, 2017 @ 9:19 pm
Thanks, Carolyn, you are always full of great information!
July 13, 2017 @ 12:08 pm
Am sure you’d love to have that picture!
I’m sure the party will be perfectly elegant. Looking forward to pics.
July 13, 2017 @ 3:07 pm
great pics ..I know they don’t just happen. They are wonderful…really puts us there.
July 13, 2017 @ 7:04 pm
Can’t wait to hear about your party! The menu sounds devine and the flowers are lovely. As a foodie, I am so envious of your elegantly presented dinner at Le Train Bleu.
July 14, 2017 @ 1:58 am
Love his flower arrangements AND the olive label…although I would prob only use it w label if it sat against a wall, not as a centerpiece so that you only the front of the label which is artsy.
Excited to see more pics!
July 14, 2017 @ 3:44 am
Jamie will be pleased to hear this! It was a great party but we were exhausted. Guests left at 11pm with happy tummies, I hope.
July 14, 2017 @ 3:12 am
How delightful. What a gracious hostess you are in any culture. Just for fun for us, we stayed at the Hotel Palym on our last stay in Paris. It was a great boutique hotel with a lovely breakfast and location. Wishing you a wonderful party.
July 14, 2017 @ 3:42 am
How neat is that! Are we correct in its meaning? PALYM?