30.12.11
Guest blogeuse: Seductively French - Le Palais des Thés
Photo Courtesy of Les Palais des Thés
The French tea company Le Palais des Thés owns the savoir-faire when it comes to tea making. For those who enjoy teas, this incomparable quality is in a class of it’s own. Their discriminating taste only allows for the finest ingredients found in remote plantations around the world. If you are not a tea aficionado, simple education of these will turn you into one.
Just in time for the holidays, and new to the U.S. this year, I welcome and share with you the best tea in the world, Le Palais des Thés! The French have a knack for producing and enjoying the finer things, which is why I’m a Francophile. Le Palais des Thés is an example of this refined quality for tea lovers. "The Paris-based team of tea tasters, or tea oenologists, create Le Palais des Thés' exquisite flavors, operating much like master perfumers," states Aurelie Bessiere, president for the company’s U.S. division based in New York. Bessiere describes to me the journeys to Japan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and India: "Last year I had the pleasure of visiting Darjeeling with the team and plan to join them next April in China." The unheard of devotion by founder Francois-Xavier Delmas travels with his team every year for six months "to over 20 countries to find rare crops by visiting small plantations in remote locations," proudly says Bessiere. Once selections have been made, "we spend one to two years of development time to create each of our signature flavored tea blends, using all natural ingredients (fruits, flowers and spices)." Unequivocally, an extraordinary commitment to grandeur!
If you were not already aware, being a tea connoisseur is much like being a wine enthusiast, a gourmet, or other things one might become fanatical about. It is part of a lifestyle enriched by enjoying experiences and the finer things. Bessiere explains to me that tea pairing is much like, what we more commonly hear, wine pairing. "It adds another whole layer of taste experience to have the perfect tea matching your favorite foods. Be it a piece of chocolate cake with our Thé des Moines or a fresh muffin with our Thé du Hammam, we believe that teas can pair successfully with a wide variety of foods and meals just as wines do."
Wanting to indulge, or find a unique gift for someone who has it all? Try their Jukro tea at $130 per 3.5 ounces. It is a limited edition, "and our customers are happy to pay for exceptional teas with complex aromas like this one," describes Bessiere, "which are available in very limited quantities only at certain times of the year." This would explain the comparison to superior wines. "Like fine wines, these teas are never exactly the same from one year to another, which tea connoisseurs appreciate!"
However, there are numerous selections to be made at Le Palais des Thé at more affordable luxury prices. "For those looking for a true taste of Christmas, we are offering the limited edition Thés N° 25: a collection of teas scented with vanilla, almond, cinnamon, ginger, orange and lemon zests. It’s perfect for those cold nights in front of the fire with friends and family. The teas are packaged in special Christmas gift tins which are $29 each." Try Thé N°25 in the mulled wine recipe below for a more festive concoction! My personal favorite is the Fleur de Geisha blend that is refined Japanese green tea and "delicately flavored with cherry blossom." The smell is as lovely as its name, and makes the most perfect hostess gift in a beautiful Washi tin for $30. Another reason why it is a favorite is when used in this delicious aperitif recipe below. A perfect drink for a New Year’s Eve party!
To complement the essence of all Le Palais des Thés be sure to explore their candles, other gift sets, and The Tea Drinker’s Handbook. Written by founder Delmas and associates, the book "reveals the keys to the art of tea tasting, essential tips preparing infusions, and their choices of the world’s fifty best teas."
Fleur de Geisha Sparling Aperitif
- Infuse 3 tea bags of Fleur de Geisha tea in 10 oz. simmering water for three minutes.
- Remove tea bags, allow to cool, then chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Add 0.8oz. of a peach liqueur to tea, and shake in a cocktail shaker.
- Pour into flute glasses halfway.
- Top off with chilled champagne or dry sparkling wine.
Ingredients:
- 750mL of red wine (1 bottle)
- 5/8 cup brown sugar
- 4–5 rounded teaspoons (7 to 11g) of Le Palais des Thés’ Black Thé N°25”
- Slowly heat the wine and sugar in a large pot over a low flame.
- When the mixture begins to come to a boil, turn down the heat and simmer (without boiling) for about 5 minutes until the sugar has completely melted.
- Add the tea to the pot, cover, and infuse for 4 to 5 minutes over a very low flame.
- Filter and drink hot.
- Add a vanilla bean to the pot when adding the sugar.
- Remove before serving. When serving, garnish each glass with a slice of orange.
Santé! To purchase this luxury, and for more holiday gift ideas by Le Palais des Thés, visit PalaisdesThes.com.
By: Slavica Monczka
23.12.11
20.12.11
Xmas window display face-off
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| Printemps |
No doubt that the City of Lights are stunning especially during the holiday season, but one can't help to compare which is their favourite window display this year - Printemps or Galeries Lafayette? View more photos of both on Vingt Paris and decide!
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| Galeries Lafayette |
While you're there, you can't miss the snowy Noël in Paris with its showcase of lights around the Eiffel tower, the Champs Elysees, Notre Dame and the Christmas markets. All can be viewed here.
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| Paris Tourism |
19.12.11
Noël feature: Sweets by Fleur de Sel
Created by a lovely French lady, Virginie, the variety of fine pastries you can get at Fleur de Sel is endless. One can easily fall in love with the authenticity of Virginie's eclairs, macarons, including her own signature desserts, La Vie en Rose and the Chocoholics.
Perfect for the holiday season and special events, Fleur de Sel proposes thematic Dessert Tables for all occassions and provides the invitations, delightful homemade desserts and so much more! They are undoubtedly the winner of the Aussie Cake-Off Competition by the Cake Appreciation Society this year. Purchasing on Fleur de Sel's website will be easier for that special event as their online shopping will be available soon!
14.12.11
Summer Xmas style with NET-A-PORTER.COM
Click on the image below and shop with our partner, NET-A-PORTER.COM for the 'Heatseeker' stylish getaway trends. Parfait for a summer Xmas!
13.12.11
Win our Paris to Provence giveaway!
Diane and Mark Shaskin has did it again. A couple from beautiful Canada who are passionate in food and photography, they have released a cook book called 'How to Cook Bouillabaisse In 37 Easy Steps, Culinary Adventures in Paris to Provence'.
11.12.11
Mode du jour
Miss a snowy Christmas? The sunny side up in celebrating Chrissy in Australia is the summer fashion, loads of food and love. Add glitters and golds for that festive look. Running to the beach? Goldify yourself, mademoiselle.
Icône de mode: Pascal Greggory
French actor Pascal Greggory (fashion fans might remember him as the aging man about town from Karl Lagerfeld’s short Chanel film Remember Now) and the actress / model Amira Casar (discovered by Helmut Newton) make a red carpet dream pair.
Source: rdujour
8.12.11
A giveaway to you!
It is a season of giving and we are giving away some fabulous prizes on Facebook! Congratulations to Lynley Moore who had recently won our prize of 2 nights FREE accommodation at a Petite Paris Bed & Breakfast in Paris, bien sur.
Join us on Facebook to take part in the next giveaway - a gift that will help you make that French Christmas feast! The link is at www.facebook.com/lestyle.org. See you there!
6.12.11
Noël feature: Sounds of Sylvie Boisel
Undoubtedly such a lovely personality, French vocalist, Sylvie Boisel also has a great singing talent that drive your thoughts all the way back to Paris, Montmartre or that part of France that lasts that perfect memory. Her classic performances such as She, La Vie En Rose and C'est Magnifique entitle her opening performances at many prestigious events like the opening night of the 2007 Sydney Film Festival to promote La Vie En Rose (the film about the life of Edith Piaf, starring Oscar winner Marion Cotillard) where she was accompanied by Monsieur Camembert Band. Other recent events include the opening of La Vie En Rose at Sydney’s Dendy Cinema, performances at Alliance Francaise de Sydney, The Melba Festival, The Sydney Multicultural Festival, Carols in The Cauldron at Sydney Olympic Park, Royal Sydney Golf Club, The French Lion’s Club, French Rugby Lunch at Guillaume at Sydney Opera House,The Wallabies Farewell Lunch at the Sydney Town Hall in front of special guest, former Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard and the Bright Festival and Moe Jazz Festival both in Victoria.
Listen to Sylvie's music on her website at www.sylvieboisel.com and purchase the latest debut album 'Amour' perfect for Christmas! Aspiring singers behold: We will be interviewing Sylvie in our launch of Le Style magazine on all her secrets of being fabulous and talented. Our favourite song she performs is La Vie En Rose where her singing reminds us of the City of love from a busy day at work. Her other songs are just as magnifique, you have to listen to them to believe it.. Get ready to be jazzified and enthralled. Join her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sylvieboisel.
29.11.11
28.11.11
Le Style magazine launching early 2012
Photographe: The White Tree pour Le Style
Stay tuned to more French chic, food and lifestyle on our launch issue of Le Style magazine. Launching in early 2012.
26.11.11
Expanding our French love
Tea connoiseurs
What would Paris be without its tea salons? Many associate this city with its famous cafes and bars, but the tea salons are just as enchanting. Places like Laduree have become famous the world over (Sofia Coppola loved its pastel colour palette so much she replicated it for her film Marie Antoinette), but there are dozens of others that are wonderful to while away a few hours in.
Order a tea and some delicious macarons, write that postcard and experience Paris at a different pace. We are holding our next French tea rendezvous (L'heure du The) in 2012 and would like to thank all bon vivants who support us tremendously.
Order a tea and some delicious macarons, write that postcard and experience Paris at a different pace. We are holding our next French tea rendezvous (L'heure du The) in 2012 and would like to thank all bon vivants who support us tremendously.
Discovering the Parisian spirit.
Paris is far more than a city. It is an irresistable, enthralling source of inspiration and fascination; an urban wunderkammer bulging with the unusual, the whimsical, the magical and the memorable.
Because of this, the place has become something of a modern mecca for the world's aethetes and creative innovators, who make the pilgrimage here each year to witness its splendid displays and quirky collections, discover new ideas and insights, and generally indulge in a bit of French flânerie (or what's otherwise known as 'rambling the rues in search of new style'). - Janelle McCulloch
Partnering with some of Paris's talented photographers and passionate correspondents, we are happy to be publishing our first issue of Le Stylezine. Le Stylezine is a magazine covering topics on French lifestyle, fashion, interior, business and more. It can be accessed online on our website (www.lestyle.org) and printed upon request. Catch our fresh first issue due to be out in early 2012.
Photographe: lestyletea.tumblr.com
22.11.11
A Parisian chic winter wedding
One good thing about having your wedding in winter, if you live where it snows, especially a flamboyant nature, the background of snow. You feel if you live in a place without snow when it comes to the festival yet, simply because you can create a magical atmosphere in the place to hold your wedding party, it is okay.
Candle is a great decoration for a winter wedding. You are a variety of shapes and styles, you can buy loads of them. They can be lit in one area you have to create a romantic mood. Or, you can use glass candle holder in the haze for a different color.
Best Wedding Decor
Citified
Star, heart, snowflake confetti, and also, you can create a romantic mood for holiday celebrations. Thus, while all guests are happy excitement, nostalgic, romantic look and feel.
Such pine cones, mistletoe, holly leaves, poinsettias, berries, pomegranate, evergreen, to take advantage of natural elements can be seen outside as eucalyptus and ivy. The other seasons are natural elements that you do not have one thing to another, outside the snow is white.
Such pine cones, mistletoe, holly leaves, poinsettias, berries, pomegranate, evergreen, to take advantage of natural elements can be seen outside as eucalyptus and ivy. The other seasons are natural elements that you do not have one thing to another, outside the snow is white.
Your color motif of red, green, white, ice blue, silver, must reflect the colors of Christmas such as gold. Please select a color combination and ornaments of these colors or these. If the theme of White Christmas, selecting the color of gold and silver and white theme is a winter wonderland, ice blue and white, silver or gold color contains a theme and a traditional red, green , white, silver or gold are included.
Parisian Events
One and Only Paris Photography
Another colorful decorations for a romantic winter wedding is bell. Do you want to connect to a bouquet of ribbons and they include most of the bells, you can give them as wedding favors or. Your guests can also use these acts for their Christmas tree ornaments.
The reception area is a large place, and some things several small Christmas trees. Are you a souvenir you can hang a large Christmas tree, you can hang a string of Christmas lights all around it.
Another great for your winter wedding, unique decoration is a magnificent ice sculptures. It can be sculpted for tying those knots or related to women and men, weddings and Christmas. This will impress your guests will certainly be talk of the town of your wedding.
- Best Wedding Decor
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