Comments : 19

Ok, this is getting downright ridiculous. Woke up to another 15 inches of snow..its unbelievable. I had to enclose some pictures because seeing is believing. Feel like we are drowning in the white stuff! Still very much on my high from my wonderful trip…what an inspirational city! In keeping that French feeling alive, I decided to spend the day making something I have not made in many years, Beef Bourguignon. This is a fabulous recipe I have had for years and was passed onto me by a family member, then while in Paris I obtained another recipe, which was quite similar so I combined the two and the result was pure magic! I cannot tell you how this was literally devoured by my entire family, throw in a few loaves of crusty french bread and a nice bottle of wine…and you are in for a real treat!


So I have included the recipe below the pictures. Anyway as promised, more visual stimulation from the fabulous city of Paris. Today’s pictures are various shots I took of the architectural wonders that seem to grace every city block as well as some of the incredible antiques we came across while drooling in the antique district! Let me know if you have a favorite. No matter how many times you go to Paris, I can’t imagine that you ever tire of seeing all the splendor that makes this city truly the most beautiful in the world!



                                         The famous sign outside Bistro Lipp



                                        A gorgeous cathedral


              One of the corner buildings at the Louvre along the Seine

Love the black that is used in abundance in French decor
You can only imagine how wonderful this smelled!

Took lots of “cartouche” pictures since we are fine tuning the design for our own homes cartouche detailing over the front window

Stunning ceiling medallion…love the scalloping

Now this is what I call molding!

A quaint lovely little French bistro

At every turn, something delicious was calling my name……

All these are chocolates..even the purse!

This is what I would call a mouth watering window display

A typical Parisian street

Love the narrow alleys

A pretty corner at every turn

Love both the cartouche and the railing…got all kinds of inspiration

Different view same window

The limestone detailing on every building is so spectacular

One magnificent corner of the Louvre

A corner building at the Louvre

Having lunch at popular Angelines

A beautiful bakery/patisserie

Oooh, those look good!

The infamous Eiffel tower against a cloudy gray sky looks so majestic

In the Jardin des Tulleries in the winter…still beautiful

Walking along the Seine admiring the view

The beautiful apartment buildings along the Seine river

The magnificent Musee d’ Orsay 

Love the symmetry in French architecture

Another gorgeous cartouche

One of the antique mantles we are considering…..love the marble

A 80 year old antique mantle that we are hoping will fit for our dining room

Another view of the same mantle

So many beautiful sconces everywhere I looked, this one plated in 22kt gold

Even the pedestrian bridges are spectacular!

Every entry to every building is breathtaking

The level of detail astounds me every time

Hey, I know now where my architect got his “divine inspiration” for the cupola

Building at the Lourve

The stunning Musee D’ Orsay on a drizzly afternoon

The courtyard in front of the Lourve 

Typical cute little bistro

Another pretty corner….

Another bistro….

Fell in love with this spectacular window and the limestone that adorns it

Is this stunning or what? I am obsessed…..

Loooove the color of this door!

The macaroons oh the macaroons….

They look like little jewels…

Such pretty displays

Got some of these lovely toiletry products for my mom!

The famous Bistro Lipp

And then back to New York and the snow….makes my patio table look like a wedding cake!
Mother Nature’s latest “gift” (at least I am trying to stay positive)

It is majestic looking- have to admit!

Stunning!

Teddy doesn’t know what to make of it

Its a heavy snow so it hugs each and every branch

Should I stay or should I go (in case you are curious he opted to come back into the warmth of the house)
Hope you enjoyed this visual vacation to Paris..it was such a treat, coming home was a bit of a letdown, but as my husband likes to remind me “that’s why they call it a vacation”. So until next time, I have these wonderful pictures to reflect back on. Here is the recipe for the Beef Bourguignon which I promise you is worth the cooking time…you will absolutely love it, I promise!


BEEF BOURGUIGNON

  • About 3-4 tablespoons light virgin olive oil
  • 8 ounces bacon, chopped (1/2 a package)
  • 2 teaspoons garlic cloves, large chopped pieces (not too fine)
  • 1/2 cup Cognac
  • 1 bottle of good full bodied  red wine (ideally like Beaujolais, Cabernet or Burgundy)
  •  2 cups beef broth (I used Emerils box of beef stock which is a 32 oz box)
  • 1-2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2-2 1/2 pounds  beef cut into 1-inch cubes
  • Sea salt to taste
  • Fresh pepper
  • 1 pound carrots, cut to 1 inch (don’t use baby carrots, they are too soft)
  • 2 med.onions- thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (1/2 teaspoon dried) I used a bit more than the recipe called for
  • 4 tablespoons butter at room temperature, melted
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 pound fresh mushrooms (cut off stems and discard)
If you have a nice heavy dutch oven, that is preferable otherwise a good stock pot is fine. I used my Le Cruset “weighs a ton” pot but it was perfect for this dish plus its French!  Heat the olive oil and add the bacon, cook on medium until fairly crispy. Remove and drain bacon. Add cubed beef (after they have been rinsed, patted dry and sprinkled with sea salt and pepper)  one layer at a time and sear the meat, this will take about 4-5 minutes, make sure its seared on all sides. Set aside with the bacon. 


Next, you will add carrots, onions, and either potatoes or turnips if you are using them along with salt and pepper to the fat in the pot and cook for about 15 minutes or until soft and onions are lightly browned. Then add garlic and cook for another minute or two. Next add Cognac…you then should take a match and light it right in the pot…STAND BACK while you do this and stare in awe at your budding creation! (This process burns off the alcohol) 


Next add the meat and bacon into the pot with the juices already in. Add the bottle of wine and beef broth, this mixture should pretty much cover the meat. Next add tomato paste and thyme. Simmer and then cover…at this point you can either cook it on the stove or transfer to a preheated oven (300 degrees) I cooked mine on the stove. 


After about an hour and a half, the meat will be fork tender. On the side, take 2 tbsp of butter and melt then mix with flour and add to stew. In a small saut? pan, melt additional 2 tbsp of butter and saut? mushrooms for about 5-10 minutes or until soft. Add to stew, bring to a brief boil and then simmer and cook for an additional 30 minutes. Season to taste. At the end, I add a few additional stalks of fresh thyme…get that baguette and wine ready and you are in for a divine treat!
  • .
  • And a few picture highlights from my little cooking adventure yesterday……


 BON APPETIT!







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This pictures are INCREDIBLE. Wow- want to jump on the plane now…looks like a great trip you had. And that stew looks fantastically delicious…will have to try. Love your new blog…cna’t wait to see more photos of your incredible new home. Am sure the trip provided much inspiration.
Cheers-

Great pictures! Everyone in Paris always looks so chic, and those bakery items look so tempting – I don’t know how French people manage to stay so slim!

I’m sorry that you’ve had so much snow – it does look pretty, though.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Susan

I wish I had read your post before I went to the grocery store otherwise I would be trying out your recipe, all is not lost we’re still having braised short ribs. Don’t your just love cartouche? I do I think they’re fabulous, you know I have a pillow that has a large cartouche on the front. I’m glad I’m not you and needing to decide on a style for them above my doors but I do like a simpler style. Your antique mantle is fabulous, I’m jealous. You were right Teddy looks just like our Dylan dog only Dylan would have been diving head first into that snow drift. We have just as much snow and while pretty it’s getting old. Thank you for sharing your holiday in Paris it brought back a lot of memories and has me bugging the husband now to go back!

Your home is gaining the appearance of a French Estate and it’s beautiful. Photos give us notes than we may overlook in the wonderful details. Especially when are making our vision our true living breathing reality.

Love the photos, recipe, Teddy and your generous ability to share. I love it all.

Bette

Completely in love with that white mantle .. love all the beautiful detail!

The Architecture in Paris is incredible … a lot of great inspirations for your home … its a dream of mine to one day visit Paris too but we’ll c once our house is complete.

Loving my vicarious Parisian vacation! Beef Bourguignon is one of my favorites which I make frequently at this time of year – yours looks delicious. Mine is slightly different – I use salt pork instead of bacon and pearl onions. I’ll have to try your version sometime soon.

If ever this post was so timely! I am heading to Paris and I can’t wait to experience what I’m seeing in your photos! And, for the snow…it is the same here in Westchester! Love Teddy.

These are stunning photos and we have exactly the same taste! When I am in Paris I love to go to all the same haunts and you have captured it beautifully. Especially the architectural detailing and the delectable treats at Laduree. I stuffed as many Laduree gift boxes and treats as I could into my luggage and took on a whole new meaning to the words “Excess Baggage”. Between that and all the interior design gear I was way over!
I also went to Angeline’s for lunch as well and it was divine and you are so right the French do everything so exquisitely!
I am so glad you liked my client’s coastal interior and I would love to come and work with you. Just say the word and I will hop on a plane across the Pacific and we will have a ball! Unfortunately, Australia to New York is a long way but I am up to the challenge! I love New York as well. Thank-you for your lovely comment it was very sweet of you.
I am going to make your Beef Bourguignon as I love it and I am always looking for a good recipe and yours looks so yum. Lisa of Hamptontoes and I swap recipes and I once gave her my Chicken and Pea risotto and she made it on Christmas Eve!
I can’t believe how much snow you are having but it does look very pretty and magical.
I can’t wait to see how your home goes especially because it is my favourite style.
I had best go and shop for groceries!
with best wishes
Frances
ps I LOVE that blue/grey door as well!!!! You have great taste!

I’m so ready to go back to Paris. there is just nothing like it. these images make me swoon. I may have to try that recipe this weekend. Stay warm. Mona

Oh, what a treat! I actually recognized some of the places in some of the pics-brought back great memories! Did you eat any crepes while you were there? They’re so yummy! That recipe is perfect for this cold weather too. I might just have to give it a go. I hope you’re staying warm. Here, we’re finally getting some lovely weather-hopefully it sticks around.

So enjoy your photos of Paris…feels like I am there. Though I have never been! I know I would feel at home in Paris…It is so beautiful. San Fransisco has always been my Paris, but I believe if I went to Paris I would not want to come home. The narrow streets and extravagant buildings and tree lined rivers attract me. I would just want to walk everywhere in awe of its beauty, rather than shop.

I would love to visit Paris someday. It’s my dream vacation. There are lots of places there that I would love to go aside from the chocolate shops and the Louvre. You have a beautiful dog, Teddy is so handsome.

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