Onion soup is a type of vegetable soup with sliced onions as the main ingredient. It is prepared in different variations in many countries, the most famous of which is the French onion soup or Parisian onion soup. Because of the affordable ingredients, it has primarily been a dish for the poor for a long time. Common for all variations of onion soup is the use of thinly sliced or chopped onions soaked in fat, and a liquid base such as water or broth, possibly including white wine, after which the soup is cooked for a while so that the onions lose their strong flavour and the soup gains a sweet, spicy flavour. In many recipes the soup is thickened with flour or egg yolks. read more…
The Boulevards of Paris are boulevards which form an important part of the urban landscape of Paris. The boulevards were constructed in several phases by central government initiative as infrastructure improvements, but are very much associated with strolling and leisurely enjoyment in the minds of Parisians. Parisian boulevards and avenues are usually tree-lined on one or both sides, which is rarely the case for smaller roads. read more…
Rue de Rivoli (English: “Rivoli Street”) is a street in central Paris, France. It is a commercial street whose shops include leading fashionable brands. It bears the name of Napoleon‘s early victory against the Austrian army, at the Battle of Rivoli, fought on 14–15 January 1797. Developed by Napoleon through the heart of the city, it includes on one side the north wing of the Louvre Palace and the Tuileries Gardens. The Rue de Rivoli is an example of a transitional compromise between an environment of prestigious monuments and aristocratic squares, and the results of modern town-planning by municipal authorities. read more…
Snails are considered edible in many areas such as the Mediterranean region, Africa, France as a whole and Southeast Asia, while in other cultures, snails are seen as a taboo food. In American English, edible land snails are also called escargot, taken from the French word for “snail”, and the production of snails for consumption is called snail farming or heliciculture. Snails as a food date back to ancient times, with numerous cultures worldwide having traditions and practices that attest to their consumption. Snails were a popular fasting food in monasteries because they are “neither fish nor meat” and therefore eating them does not violate the fasting laws. read more…
Biot (Occitan: Biòt) is a small fortified medieval hilltop village in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur near Antibes, between Nice and Cannes. Many people come to Biot for its renowned cubist art museum of Fernand Leger as well as the winding cobbled lanes on the elevated fort. This village, that is now known for its ceramics and glassblowing, dates to prehistoric times. read more…
The Café de la Paix is a famous café located on the northwest corner of the intersection of the Boulevard des Capucines and the Place de l’Opéra, in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, France. Designed in the Napoleon III style by the architect Alfred Armand, who also designed the historic Grand-Hôtel in which the café is located, its florid interior decorations, historic location, and high-profile clientele have all brought it international recognition as a site of great cultural significance. read more…
Tarte tropézienne, also known as “La Tarte de Saint-Tropez”, is a dessert pastry consisting of a halved brioche filled with a mix of two creams, thick pastry cream (crème pâtissière) and buttercream, and topped with pearl sugar. It was created in 1955 by Polish confectioner Alexandre Micka, a pâtisserie owner in Saint-Tropez, where he moved in 1945 just after the war. read more…
