Eat This in Paris

Publicis Drugstore.  In Paris, even the mundane is pretty spectacular.

Bonjour, Ya'll!

I hear there's going to be some Texans in Paris soon...in fact, I've had the pleasure of visiting with quite a few friends who are heading that way real soon.  One of the things they always ask about is the food.
Paris is known world-wide for their French cuisine, and yes, it's AMAZING!  But what if you're traveling with a teenager?  Maybe you don't want to spend 100 Euros per person for that fine dining experience for a picky teen who really won't enjoy escargots...Most people think all French cooking is fancy sauces and well, escargots (snails), but the dining in Paris is all that and MORE!  You can find everything from Georgian (Russia's Georgia, not ours) to Moroccan to great Asian cuisine, right alongside traditional French, Italian and of course, one of my favs, Schwartz's Deli, home of the BEST burgers in Paris.  Eat and enjoy, mes amis!

Mama Shelter  Located a little off the beaten path in the 20th, Mama Shelter is a really hip hotel with a great restaurant and so much more:  live music, pizzeria, restaurant and roof-top bar.  I found this place when we were looking for somewhere different to celebrate my daughter's 17th birthday.  We took 5 teens there who all agreed it was awesome! (by the way, that's a dead give-away word to any Parisian that we're Americans...darn our enthusiasm!  We say everything's AWESOME!)
www.mamashelter.com/en/paris/

My daughter, Katherine, with her friends Sara & Sean. My daughter Laura is on the left.

Balls  This is one I've written about before.  I love the concept of an all-meatball restaurant and I think any teens/young adult/hipster adults will, too.  It's pretty simple:  you choose the type of "balls" you want, then choose the sauce you want for your balls.  You can also order vegetarian balls.  For less than 15 euros, I had a feast (very cheap by Paris standards).  You can order several different sauces to try and the side dishes were wonderful as well. 47 Rue Saint Maur 11eme
www.ballsrestaurant.com

Schwartz's Deli  No where-to-eat list in Paris would be complete without a good, excuse me, GREAT burger on it!  You will find this place not only packed with American ex-pats, but with Parisians, too. (You will even get great service, a whole new concept these days in Paris, ha!)  Their sandwiches are terrific, but go for the burgers.  There are several of these in the city, but my favorite is the one in the 17th near Ternes.  There is another near Trocadero--convenient for the American tourists! 7, Avenue d'Eylau; 22 Avenue Niel (Paris 17eme=Ternes); 16, rue des Ecouffes (Paris 4eme=Marais) *no reservations taken*
schwartzsdeli.fr

The Beast  Just opened in the fall by Frenchman Thomas Abramowicz, I hear great things about this place from my American friends.  I've attached an article from Paris by Mouth, a great source to find the best food in Paris.  The Beast is a real Texas barbeque joint!  Love to hear what my Texan friends think about it. http://parisbymouth.com/beast-bbq-paris/  Wow!  Even an article from The Houston Chronicle...must be pretty good! http://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/bbq/article/Texas-barbecue-lands-in-Paris-6062597.php


Le 1728  My girlfriends took me to this very special, very Parisian place on my last visit in March. If you are looking for an intimate setting with fabulous food, this is one of the best I've tried.  Located on rue de Faubourg Saint-Honore, smack dab in the best shopping in all of Paris, this may be the only restaurant where you will see an American flag displayed. It was the former residence of the Marquis de Lafayette, built in 1728 by Antoine Mazin, the military architect of Louis XV. It's gorgeous and the food is unforgettable. 35 euro lunch prix fixe menu, too. *reservations needed for dinner*
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/travel/16bites.html?_r=0

Maison Blanche  Looking for a dinner to trump all dinners?  Maison Blanche is THAT restaurant.  Perched atop the Theatre des Champs Elysees on the famous Avenue Montaigne, it offers stunning views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower. Wear your best and bring a big wallet.  You could be sitting next to Nicolas Sarkozy or Lenny Kravitz. (pssst, it's worth it!!) *reservations needed*
http://maison-blanche.fr/en/index.html

Happy Birthday to my sweet friend, Debbie!

Friends since Kindergarten--she's going to University of Arkansas and he's going to Alabama!  Fun to have a night together in Paris at Maison Blanche!

When all else fails...go to Chipotle!  3 locations around the city provide that needed fix of Tex-Mex if traveling with teens. Proud to say, my friend (and native Texan) Damon Biggins has done a fabulous job of introducing Chipotle to Paris.  (added bonus:  they speak English) Look for Chipotle on 1 Rue Linois (Beaugrenelle), 18-20 Boulevard Montmartre (Paris 9eme, Metro Richelieu-Drouot) and the big one in La Defense.
http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Food/News/2014/03/06/Worlds-biggest-Chipotle-in-Paris/

Another "When All Else Fails" and also good for teens is Publicis Drug Store.  Located near the Arc de Triomphe, it's an American-type drug store with all sorts of American stuff you might need, including books in English.  The food is very good and their English is not bad, either.  We love the sundaes!

http://www.publicisdrugstore.com/

My friend Sam, with one of their giant sundaes!

A great restaurant and summer spot is Monsieur Bleu, located in Palais de Tokyo.  There is a fabulous terrace shared between the Palais de Tokyo and the Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris that also has a cafe for lunch & drinks, making this a great destination to see 2 wonderful museums.  The bridge just across the street (Passerelle Debilly) makes a great backdrop for photos as well. Monsieur Bleu has their own private terrace, too.  monsieurbleu.com *reservations needed for dinner*
palaisdetokyo.com

Gorgeous bridge just across the street from Palais de Tokyo & Monsieur Bleu.

A favorite Asian restaurant is Lac-Hong, 67 Rue Lauriston.  We were the last guests at lunch one rainy day and the owner came out to chat with us.  Found out she had lived in Houston--small world!  Great Vietnamese food and no tourists--just a quiet neighborhood restaurant in the 16eme.

Bon  Located at 25, Rue de Pompe, Bon was designed by Philippe Starck.  I spent my birthday there last year!  Food is terrific, expensive (as is everything in Paris), but not over the top.  Several neat areas to dine such as the "Library" room or "Chimney" room.  The Wine room is beautiful, but I absolutely loved the "White" room with the rhinoceros! * reservations needed* http://restaurantbonparis.fr/en

Need Paris help?  Contact me at texanstakeparis@gmail.com Bisous, bisous! Teresa

Back Home on the Range after Paris Fashion Week

Bonjour, Ya'll!

Just a short update with a more detailed post later--actually working on "What I Ate in Paris" (and what you should eat when you go) We just returned from yet another wonderful family vacation where almost all of us got sick and the only person who didn't, chipped her tooth on a Coffee Nip in Detroit (moi!).

All sarcasm aside, our week in Paris provided us with unexpected closure on an exciting chapter in our lives, so today, I share thoughts of those I think about and want to thank...

• Thinking about what fun I had going to the Foire de Chatou with my ASP Moms
• Excited thinking about several friends I met in Paris moving to Houston
• Thinking about how families from different cultures who have enriched our lives so greatly
• Thinking about how much I loved living in Paris, but happy to be home again in Houston

Just a few of my thank-you notes for the week:

Dear Paris XVI eme,
Thank you for a poo-filled week in the XVI!  Your dog owners do not pick up the poop nearly as throughly as we do in Neuilly, but your location rocks!
xx,
Neuilly Gal Gone

Dear Models of Paris Fashion Week,
You need some biscuits and gravy, but good job balancing on those crazy shoes you wear. BTW, my daughter looks great in Dior.
Sincerely,
Future Model's Mom

Dear Moms of ASP,
You are a stylish and witty group of beautiful women.  Thanks for tolerating my over-sized personality with my under-sized filter.  I feel more chic just sitting at your table.
Bisous, bisous,
Ellie Mae Clampett

Off to catch up now...there are no buffalo roaming at my home on the range, but I do have a gecko inside my house, so jumping back in my saddle here in Houston.

Je suis Texan

Bonjour, Ya'll!

The Eiffel Tower's lights went dark to honor the victims.

“It is so short and jumbled and jangled, Sam, because there is nothing intelligent to say about a massacre. Everybody is supposed to be dead, to never say anything or want anything ever again. Everything is supposed to be very quiet after a massacre, and it always is, except for the birds. And what do the birds say? All there is to say about a massacre, things like "Poo-tee-weet?” 
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.--Slaughterhouse-Five

While I find the images printed in Charlie Hebdo pretty offensive, I applaud the use of satire and humor as a way to reach people who may not watch the news or read government policy.  Just as we have "South Park" (which I don't really care for) or "The Daily Show" (j'adore!!), Charlie Hebdo used cartoons and satire to call out everyone...no one was immune and everyone was equally skewered.  Our own "Mad" magazine is the same type of publication, maybe not quite as intense, but similar.

I wish I had some profound, ground-breaking thing to write about this attack, but probably like many of you, it leaves me speechless and amazed that someone could take hatred to a level such as this: to walk up to an unknown, unarmed person and shoot them dead.  I cannot understand a hate like this.  I also cannot understand how it must feel to live under this shadow every single day, the way my Israeli friends must.

So what do I believe?  I believe there is a place for everyone.  There is a land for the Israelis, the Palestinians and all the rest of us.  I'm not sure how the Palestinians, the PLO, Hamas, ISIS and all others who want to exterminate our earth of the Jewish people don't yet understand the truth I believe from my Bible:  the Jews are a chosen people and they will not be removed.  Even if you aren't religious or a Bible-believer, throwback to that 6 Day War and many other battles when the odds were never in their favor, but the Israelis were unbroken and undefeated. These signs strengthen my faith in the Israelis as a people, a nation, and my God as Mighty.  

I had the opportunity to have a conversation on this subject with a friend back in June, while still living in Paris.  He is an Israeli, familiar with these complicated issues.  He told me there would be a terrorist attack in France, but just when or how, the French hadn't uncovered the information yet.  So for me, it was quite eerie and of course, disheartening, when I saw it all happening last week.  I did feel relieved that several of our Israeli friends are no longer living in Paris, so I could breathe a sigh of relief to know they were safe.  So sad I couldn't be there to march on Sunday at the unity rally. So proud to see many of my friends there supporting free speech, a free country and keeping the spirit of Paris alive and well.

Paris rally for unity--3.7 million strong!

"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."  Voltaire

Au revoir, Ya'll!  Holding you close in my heart & sending hugs from deep in the heart of Texas!!

Sign of the Skull

Bonjour, Ya'll!
I've taken a brief hiatus from writing my blog to do a few things:

sell, donate, or trash all the things my lousy French movers refused to pack
pack up as much as insanely possible into my suitcase
move, move and move again: Paris>HTX

Yes, it's been a lovely and thrilling adventure...NOT!!  But, after a couple of months of staying with friends and family, we did finally move into a rent house....on the same street as our old house!  Yes, the charm of Minsmere Circle drew us back, not to mention a short-term lease on a nice little house.  Thanks to my sweet neighbor, we have been able to settle down for a while. (Thanks, Jenny!)

So, you ask, what has been happening?  Well, there's been a heck of a lot of house hunting.  Lots of folks offering to help and sending messages about houses coming up on the market for sale or rent--really appreciate it, too.  But, where is the entertainment value of this blog?  Here it is my friends:  "Adventures in House Hunting".

Lucky for me, I have my excellent realtor named Honey to guide me through this fantastic journey.  No joke--her name is Honey and her sister Holly often comes by to help.  On a good day, the girls' Mom, Shelly, also comes with us.  (It takes a village, people!!)  And what have we seen you ask?  Well, we've seen many well, "interesting" homes.  Just a few I'd like to highlight here for your enjoyment. Addresses changed to protect the innocent.  Oh, and I give names to all the houses to keep them straight in our ever-expanding file...pretty sure we've seen over 50 houses by now.

"Sign of the Skull"
This treasure is filled to the brim with all sorts of huntin' and fishin' gear, not to mention many, many dead animals.  The interior is brown, wooden and more brown.  The kitchen sink was even brown.

The first skull that greeted us at the front door.

Skulls, skulls everywhere!

A specially crafted desk displays a foxalope?

Antelope chandelier:  It's a Texas thang...Ya'll wouldn't understand!! 

MEOW!!

Gone fishin' homeboys!!

The Party House
So I found out there was a custom builder that had an interesting signature to all his houses:  a phone booth with a real, working pay phone.  Remember the Brady Bunch episode where the parents installed a pay phone so the kids would all share the phone?  I think these houses might be from that same era.  This builder is really wonderful, but I really don't need a house with a pay phone.  This house also had a huge party room complete with disco ball & soda fountain.

Party on, Laura!

Wow, how great is it to have these kind of super choices??

The Angel House
Here is another cool house we found.  We loved the floor plan and location (small cul-de-sac on golf course), but it has an interesting feature we haven't quite figured out how to incorporate into our decor:

That's right--it's a rotunda painted with some angels.  Painted quite beautifully, I must say.


We were DEFINITELY interested in these:

But sadly, they sold either WHILE we were inside looking at them, or a few minutes before we could make it to see them.  The count is now up to FIVE houses sold at the moment we were looking at them...So the search continues...stay tuned!

Working on a Dream

Bonjour, Ya'll!
I'm back in Houston.  Yes, back after only one year.
In Houston.
Maybe for forever.

And, I'm feeling very sad about this.  So I haven't been able to come up with a cheery, funny post about some crazy thing that happened to me, like that time when I got lost and walked 10 miles through a couple of towns.  There are so many words in my head about this, but getting them on paper is hard.

On or about July 15, Paul was given an assignment back in Houston.  I just renewed my visa about 3 weeks before.  The girls just finished their first year in a new school, in a new country.  We just survived one of the most stressful years of our lives.  We just took a breath and bought a new rug.  We were really excited about starting the next year in a place where we would know our way around and feel at home.  Katherine was finally happy there.  Laura had a boyfriend.  We were the ones saying goodbye to friends instead of the ones selling all our stuff.  We just relaxed for a moment.

Sometimes I feel like it never happened.  Did I really sell my house, cars, furniture and clothes and leave Houston?  It's weird moving to a place you already lived before.  Like when you try to register your kids in school, and you don't have an address any more.  It feels so surreal.

Back in 2008, Paul and I took a vacation to Paris.  As we stood at Trocadero watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle, I told him I wanted to live in Paris some day. (I know, totally cliche, right?)
But it did happen.  We DID move to Paris and we lived there all last year.  In spite of what people told us, we liked it.  We REALLY liked it.  And, yes, sometimes French people are rude, but there are many, many nice French people, too, and it was a great experience for us.

But today, I'm feeling a little like this:

So, here I start another chapter of my big fat redneck life.  I don't know if anyone will want to read about my life here in Houston.  Maybe it won't be funny or interesting...ya'll will have to let me know.


 So I leave you now with this, from one of my favorite musicals, "Dreamgirls" because it is SO hard to say goodbye not only to Paris, but to all the wonderful people I met there.

What I did When it was Supposed to be Summer

Bonjour, Ya'll!
The months of May and June have really flown by.  In the US, we usually finish the school year in May, which brings craziness with all the "end of year" stuff.  With all the holidays here, my kids only went to school 2 full weeks in May--viva la difference!  So school here was not out until June 21st.  According to French law, even though our school is American, we must adhere to the French school calendar up to 76% of the time, so lucky us!  Lots of holidays! So here's a quick catch-up to what we did with some of those wonderful holidays in May and during the gorgeous weather we've had in June.

Welcome to Roland Garros! The French Open begins in May.

Got to watch 2014 Champion Maria Sharapova

All the players returned to the locker room during the rain delay, which proved to be a great spot to people-watch...John Isner here.

2014 Runner-up (Wimbledon winner!!) Novak Djokovic

Funny moment when Djokovic invited his ball boy under the umbrella

Andrea & Mary Puskar came to visit

.

World Cup Fever!!  Fete en Blanche pour Brazil!!

Celebrating my birthday with the Fearless Foursome: Diana, Patrice, me and Jeanne-Marie at Victor.

Laura & Zoe on their way to a dance

Fat Tire Bike Tour with Emily, Katherine, Noa and Laura

Bidding farewell to Noa & the Lahav Family at the home of the Israeli Ambassador

Girls' weekend in Bruges with Megan & Nicola

DeLorean show in Bruges...very Back to the Future!

Last walking tour of the year at Pierrefonds Castle

Father's Day 2014

Rhapsody in Blue: Sara, Katherine & Berangere with hair & make-up by Laura & Noa

Katherine & Emily

Brando the Italian Greyhound stops by to check out the prom scene

Laura & company on top of the Paris Observatory

Our American CoCo 

Rolling Stones 14 on Fire Tour...I probably hurt my throat screaming so much!!  It was awesome!!

Mick

Keith

Trying to calm Paul down at the concert

Hanging out with our friends, Diana & Sam (aka The Peacock Whisperer) at Parc Bagatelle, near our house.