Traveling France…a private dinner in Paris at Cedric Casanova’s le Consevatoire

The first time I heard of Cedric Casanova was in a post by Hip Paris Blog last June. A place in Paris that has a table for five for a private dinner in the middle of his store where he sells fresh oregano, sun-dried tomatos, and especially his own private label olive oil.

 

Well, I was going to Paris in August and emailed for a reservation…they are closed for the month of August…merde!! So I thought, I’ll get there on my April trip. When I emailed for a reservation, they were already booked, double merde!… but were opening a new place down the street for lunch. I was determined.

It just so happened that TWO blogs I follow, Hip Paris Blog and My Little Paris, both posted about the new location opening…this was right before my trip, so I quick sent an email requesting a reservation, and voila! they had an opening on our first day in Paris for lunch. I took it even though we were flying in that morning and I wasn’t sure how we’d be feeling….turns out, I get a phone call the day before I leave confirming our reservation for dinner…I said ‘I thought it was for lunch…she said we could have either’, so I took dinner. Yea!!

It was raining so we took a cab and at first we thought, this isn’t the place, there wasn’t a sign anywhere, so the taxi driver goes around the corner and calls…yes, that was it, the blue one.

Our chef for the evening was Alix, raised in Paris but sounded just like an American. (Her mother is American and she also spent time in San Francisco) She was excellent. So welcoming and laid back. Perfect for our tired selves.

Our table was set with olives, almonds, eggplant, and an olive tapenade, yummy olive oil (Cedric’s) and some bread. A feast for the eyes. For the next course Alix brought over three plates and set them atop the others, so charming.

  

We were served mushrooms with onions, olives and walnuts, carrots with mint and a bit of oil (my favorite), and oranges with blanched almonds, olives and other ingredients that I don’t remember. Amy has it in her iphone but where is she while I’m writing this??? in Texas.

We then had our next course of fish…tuna…mmm I forget the next one, and anchovies. I had never had anchovies before, just a head block…

Next…wonderful pasta with a squash and just a bit of their homemade tomato sauce that they sell. Light and flavorful, at this point I’m already full before the pasta even gets to the table.

Then came dessert…sigh…I just had to make room. Almond biscotti without the flour, oh my so delicious, and an almond square thing, I forget but was so delicious, and lemon rinds that had been boiled until soft, simple sugar, and sugar. MMM!

We had the best time and it was just perfect for our first evening in Paris. It was so easy talking with Alix, she was perfect. Amy mentioned that our niece was meeting us in Paris on Monday and if she had an opening, we’d love to bring her…she had a table for two coming from Texas…coincidence? and if we didn’t mind sharing a table, we could come. So we did…

Amala, Phoebe, and myself…

This was my favorite dessert from our lunch with Phoebe…frozen lemon slices with powdered sugar. MMMM!!

One more thing. When we had to use the ladies room, we had to go outside to get to it. Just a few pics…

     

I had to get the boots in…oh…and the two women from Texas, that was me and Amy…

More info:

Original location:

La Tete Dans Les Olives, 2 rue Sainte Marthe, 75010 Paris…reservations @ latable@latetedansolives.com

Price: 150 Euros for up to 5 people (four course meal)

New Location:

Le Conservatoire, 14 rue Sainte Marthe, 75010 Paris…reservations @ picnic@latetedansolives.com

 Price: 150 Euros for up to 5 people (four course meal)…There is room for 9 at the new location

A chaise lounge has finally found it’s place…

My brother Robert was 15 months older than I am. He was my best friend, full of fun and laughter. He could brighten any room he walked into, such energy. I’ve had a chaise lounge of his in my back basement for about 11 years. It was his favortie piece, and it’s completely caned…seat, sides, back, back of back. I wanted to keep it safe from two little boys and their friends. You know what it means to get even one break…

My kids are teenagers now and I think it’s safe to bring it out. I made room next to the fireplace in our living room. It’s a little stiff, a little straight, but I love it and the memories it has for me. I can sit in it and read my books or magazines, warmed by the fire. He would keep a sheepskin over the seat. I don’t have a sheepskin, but I do have pillows and his Winnie-the-Pooh throw. Just perfect for a Sunday afternoon.

I really miss him.

  

French Country Petrin (Dough Box) and the loaf of bread…

Today day at the shop a couple came in to browse. It had been a while since they had been in and our French Country Petrin (dough box) caught their eye. The husband Pete makes bread and was so taken with this piece, especially the feel and look of the wood of the top.

(I neglected to take a picture of the whole box today, this is an older photo) Anyway…

We found it at a flea market near Avignon in the South of France and couldn’t pass it up. We were only buying smalls on this trip…but I just had to bring it home. It’s from the 1700’s and so rustic and beautiful.

My friend Diana was in the shop when they were in and we were all chatting and I noticed Pete had left and had come back in with a loaf of bread. He had made it for someone in town that wasn’t in, so he brought it in. He wanted to see the bread on the wood top.

Of course, I then had to do a bit of staging…couldn’t just have the bread there all by itself.

There is a dove design on the top of the bread with a nice hard crust.

I took it home and had it out on the cutting board and toasted a few pieces, added a bit of butter and it was eaten in no time. As my husband and kids came in, they had to have some too. Mmmmm. It was delicious. Thank you Pete, I’m so glad you and your wife MaryEllen stopped in today and so enjoyed talking with you. And loved your bread too!

Just a few details of the Petrin at the flea market

Traveling France…a few French Country Canister sets…so cool

I was going through my pictures and came across all these French Country canister sets we’ve found through the years of flea marketing in France. There are so many different designs and I love ALL of them. Here are just a few…

 

This spring when we head back to Southern France to our favorite flea market, I’m hoping to find many more. We only have one set left in the shop at the moment. We need a few more I think.

 

French Country yellow confit pots with yummy roses

I guess by now you know I love the French yellow confit pots I find on my travels through France. Most of these I found in the Savoie region of France, near the French Alps. Others, at the flea markets in the South of France.

Just a quick share with the yellow pots and roses…

 

    

And that little transferware piece…I ADORE it, chips and all.

Traveling France…my ideal trip

Recently I was talking with someone about imagining my ideal trip to Paris. It was a put yourself there in your mind kind of thing. So many images came to me.

What stood out in my mind was that I love just walking around Paris. The architecture fills my senses and my soul. Everywhere you look there is some small detail that makes you think…wow, just that little detail is a gem. It could have been so utilitarian. A korbel with winged dragons holding up a balconey…

Looking up on our way to Montmarte after taking the bus, I had never taken a bus, and seeing these beautiful iron railings with incredible flowers, this you see all over.

Finding beautiful cathedrals…one of our favorties is Saint Eustache. It has incredible stained glass and it feels more intimate than Notre Dame. We went to mass there on our last trip and the priest asked when he gave us communion…’American’? haha! I wonder how he new.

Stopping about five times a day for a yummy cafe creme!!! Love, love, love!…and there’s the Amala enjoying hers!

Then I was thinking about my ideal place to stay. You could say the Four Seasons, it’s beautiful, it’s big…but I love the little boutique hotel where we’ve been staying. It’s charming, intimate, friendly, and has crystal chandeliers in every room, (which I LOVE) and a few antiques!

This April we’re heading back to Paris. I so psyched, I can’t wait to discover new places and neighborhoods, AND the cafe cremes of course. And ending our day standing on a bridge looking over the Seine, soaking up all the lights.

A few things I’m lovin’

There’s so much I love in the shop…here a few pics

Moving things around again…

I moved the part of the shop that’s in the ‘kitchen’ around. (We’re in a 100 year old house). I love all these pieces, but one of my FAVORITES is the doughtry from the 1700’s.  We were only going for smalls that trip, but found this man selling his mother-n-laws table. I just couldn’t leave it behind. Just TOO wonderful. We found it at a flea market in Carpentras, in the South of France.

All the red earthenware we found in the Savoie region of France, near the French Alps, from Francois, a really cool dealer. I had sent letters to different dealers in the area, telling them what I was looking for and found him. We met up with him before we headed South to Provence for the flea market. (He takes his wares there too, but we met up with him before the market). So now I have another dealer friend, one of a few, that I have a relationship with.

This huge copper pot we found on one of our trips to Paris. It’s really heavy, and wonderfully rustic. The brass/bronze candelabra with the wonderful curves to the arms, we found in a barn in the town of Pezenas, in the South of France….look at that table top.

 

On our latest trip, we found these fabulous white folding concert chairs. They have a porcelain number on the back for seating location. We also found the square iron garden table. Odd, we hadn’t seen any square tables until this trip and found two fab ones. This one and a rusty blue one. The bench in the background is from the same flea market. Love…there’s a 200 year old wood cradle on a stand behind the bench…so cool.

I love ironstone and just can’t resist it whenever I come across it (in the states). These pitchers I found in Pennsylvania. The plates too. We always find a few pieces in France, but I don’t want to pay for the shipping, so I won’t let Amy get it.

The bench and the wood cradle…

Next is the front room. I’m hoping to video myself moving stuff around, Paul bought a video camera you put on your head!!! hah!

Another great giveaway from Post Road Vintage…

Post Road Vintage is offering another great giveaway. Rachel Ashwell’s “Shabby Chic Inspirations” . I’ve had my eye on this book, but just havn’t gotten around to buying it. Everyone loves Rachel Ashwell!!! Check out the details at Post Road Vintage

Stay warm and Merry Christmas!…This giveaway entry is good until December 27th.

Great Give Away from ‘Post Road Vintage’…

I get emails from French Larkspur, a wonderful blog about home, design, and beauty. The photos are amazing and just beautiful. I always find something I can take away for myself, my home, and my shop.

In her latest email, she is offering, through her fellow blogger and friend Heather,

from Post Road Vintage a give away that ends on Christmas day. The give away is the Amazing Retreats – Under Nordic Skies  a hardback book from Jeanne d’ Arc Living.

I have the High Summer magazine and it’s wonderful. It’s something you can look through over and over.

So, if you’re interested…go to Post Road Vintage and enter.

Stay warm!!