The world of travel to all of our outstanding destinations
French Cheeses, A Preview of our tasting event!
Yesterday began our scouring of the French markets for cheeses!Among our discoveries were 36 month and 48 month aged Comtes. Some of the best we've tried.
Bertrand, the shops owner, agreed to do our Parisian tastings himself, either at his shop or personally delivering to our venue! I'm very excited by this because the quality of his products was superior, even for a French cheesemonger.Among the other choices was a truffle stuffed Camembert
After visiting 4 cheese shops in search of specific artisan products, I determined this was the best, by far!We provided clients some late afternoon fortification against the Paris cold! See you soon!
REMEMBER TO contact us if you want to take advantage of our early booking coupon OR if you are attending our wine and cheese tasting in Paris!A Bientôt,Wendywendy@blisstravels.comwww.blisstravels.com
7 Chocolate and French Wine Pairings for Valentines!
Chocolate and Wine....Much like wine, chocolate is harvested, fermented, liquified and "made" into the final product. The "terroir" and the "maker" bring much to the final product.Cocoa grows near the equator, and the heat and type of plant (like wine) create distinct flavor profiles. Cocoa beans are harvested and then fermented. They are dried and processed and eventually ground, roasted and broken down. Finally, they go through a process called "conching", which is akin to constant kneading--and determines the texture of the chocolate. At this point the chocolate is then used as a raw product for artisans and large manufacturers to make their bars, ganaches, clusters and other candies.
Each manufacturer adds his/her own special mixture of ingredients --vanilla, sugar, cream, spice, nuts. Different cultures tend to produce similarly styled chocolates. American chocolates tend to be sweeter, less pure (i.e. milk v. dark) and larger. Belgian and French tend to use much less sugar, rely on thinner more delicate shells for their filled chocolates, use pure creams in the centers (not 'creamy' sugar fillings), and produce higher percentages of purer (i.e. more dark and less milk) chocolate.This blog is going to focus on Pairing French Wine and Belgian or French Chocolate, of course!Here are 7 tips and pairing suggestions to sweeten your Valentine's Day at home or abroad. 1. Pair Champagne with chocolates. Especially with lighter less rich chocolates, or fresh filled Neuhaus creams. Also, this pairs well with chocolate fruit combinations.
2. Pair a French Burgundy (Pinot Noir) with mild, but rich dark chocolates, and dark chocolates with mild spice, roasted nuts or ripe berry fruits. So, consider chocolates with cardamom, hazelnut or dark cherries for these wines.
3. Pair Rhone wines, such as a Chateauneuf du Pape (and other Grenache heavy wines) or wines with rich spicy flavor and high tannins with highly spiced complex chocolates that can match the power of the wine. So, consider chocolate and chili pepper or chocolate with pink peppercorns or strong tea flavors and spice mixtures as good combinations.
4. For purists, wanting to experience the depth of one flavor, use a single origin chocolate with a single grape wine. You can focus on the subtly of each more easily.5. Pair a dessert wine, we prefer a Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, with a salted chocolate or salted caramel chocolate. Make sure you use a rich full flavored deep chocolate. Not a milk chocolate.6. Have a Cognac with a chocolate --either complement it with a cognac flavored truffle or find a very low sugar, almost pure, dark chocolate.
7. Come with Bliss Travels where we do custom pairings and tastings of these things all over France, and in Brussels! At all the best spots! That's why we call it Bliss!
Burgundy Wine Trip Updates
We are planning our twice annual, super exclusive, insider, trip to Burgundy for April and September. What could be better than Spring and Harvest? We note that Burgundy wines are red hot right now, flying off the shelves. So, if you like Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, this is the region for you!Here's a taste of Bliss in Burgundy:Below is the private lounge we use for our breakfasts, and an afternoon aperitif. There are only 4 rooms in this stunning private property.
Below is the living area for one of the 4 rooms (2 of which are suites)
One of the baths:
And one of the 2 non suite rooms. Notice the original antiques and art!
After you've relaxed, we visit vineyards and taste wines. The tastings are private and custom.Visit the centuries old cellars of a winemaker for a private barrel tasting.
Have a private wine tasting of premier cru and grand cru Burgundy wines by candle light
Visit the famous villages, markets and winemaker's of the region.
Then, finish in Paris, the City of Lights for fine dining, custom menus and special experiences
Contact us now to be part of this very small, special trip. wendy@blisstravels.comA Bientôt,Wendy JaegerOwner, Bliss Travels609 462 6213
Time for Truffles! 3 Favorites to Eat in Paris in February!
Winter in France. What's for dinner? Truffles.Best to get the most of your truffle, since they are so expensive. First, make sure you're using the best truffles. Not the nasty flavorless things that sometimes show up in place of the real: Tuber melanosporum, available in France (found in Perigord and Provence) between November and March.
3. Our already famously sought after Truffle pizza....It's pure Bliss!www.blisstravels.com
Soul-full (of) Winter Wonders in Paris (Valentines?)
Whenever we talk about Paris in December or February, people think of the traditional winter foods. Foie gras, truffles, oysters, chocolates, chestnuts, roast and braised lamb...the list goes on! But, there are other types of sustenance. Food for the Soul. Paris if full of things that feed your Soul. And in winter, those things are more peaceful, less crowded, and lit up more beautifully. That's why we go for Valentine's Weekend and Christmas Holidays....See some of what we mean below. These shots were taken on normal days, normal hours, but at this time of year. Imagine having the courtyard of the Louvre to yourself! 
Or having an entire Chateau open for your wine tasting?
Or wandering down a street, and turning the corner to find...
Don't get me wrong. Paris still feeds you in all the other ways. Look at some of the wonderful winter fare we've encountered!
A flatbread pizza with thin sliced potatoes and topped with black truffles...
A rustic apple and raisin tart made especially for our lunch...
Springtime in Provence, Paris, and Burgundy Too!
Some photos from last April and May. Our trips to Burgundy, Paris and Provence...A picture is worth 1000 words...or maybe more! I know it was Bliss!
We visited a beautiful farm to pick herbs, have a cooking lesson (Provencal cuisine of course) and photograph everything that was in bloom!
- Anthony Bianciella, our amazing photographer, makes the trip even more fun!
Except...luxurious original appointments in our private Burgundy property. Only 4 rooms --and our 7 guests adored being spoiled, thoroughly!Murano chandeliers, original antiques...
- and specially arranged private wine tours. This was a happy group!
- No lines. No buses. We did it all custom and private!
A bientôt! See you all soon....And again! It was Bliss!
5 Highlights of our Christmas Day in Paris…
- The Day starts with a stroll along the Seine (mais oui) to…
- Lunch. But, you must ask, what does one have for lunch on Christmas Day in Paris? Well, a mon avie (in my opinion), this is a meal meant for comfort and relaxation –not “white table cloth” fine dining. Just friends enjoying a great time….Now, don’t be confused. I don’t mean that the food should be “average”. It should be superb –just not “stuffy”. So, my recommendation (and our menu) consisted of Oysters or Salmon or Foie Gras… followed by Roast Leg of Lamb or Duck stuffed with Dried Fruits, or Scallops.
You get the idea, I’m sure. Dessert was a made to order Buche de Noel of Chocolate, Chestnut, Clementine. And, I for one, have to say, YUM. It ranked as one of my favorite meals of the season.
- A stroll to see the City Hall of Paris --location of Robert Doisneau’s famous “kiss” photgraph, and site of Rodin sculptures –and iceskaters!
- Then, it might be nice to stroll the Ile St Louis? It has such an aura. Of course, Bertillon is a requirement if you stop there! As is the Felini-esque show performed, as is usual, in the most interesting way possible, along a bridge on the Seine river.
- Finally –an evening stroll along St Andre des Arts and a stop at St Michel –and perhaps a wine and cheese somewhere (nod to Brooke!!).
Now, that’s a Christmas Day!
Christmas Tastings....In Paris
How do you spend Christmas in Paris? From the culinary perspective, that is!First, you must visit the markets for the seasonal treats.
And, of course, visit the best pastry shops! We led a pastry and chocolate tasting to taste some of the best of what Paris has to offer....ho ho ho!
After walking through the shops and munching on things like millefeuille, lemon tart, madeleines, candied chestnuts, and more, we took a stroll through the Luxembourg Gardens and St Sulpice. Then we relaxed in our own private lounge, sipping real Hot Chocolate and sampling artisan pastries and a selection of 5 different chocolates and caramels.
Of course, we also had "real meals"! Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. We will. We'll be dining in a cozy traditional bistro on French fare such as oysters, foie gras, scallops, truffles, lamb, bass and duck...What are your favorite holiday dishes to dine on if you are away for the holidays?What says "Christmas" to you when you sit at your table? And, what would you try if you were in Paris --during the holidays or any time?
6 Holiday Shopping Tips: How to shop in France
Shopping, that "all American sport" is one of those cultural obsessions we share with the French. Paris is one of the shopping meccas of the world
And, although it's done differently, it's something, especially at this time of year that both the French and the Americans do with gusto! Holiday Shopping. Whether you visit the Christmas markets, the shops, Paris or Provence, here are some great tips for how to pick up the best gift and also make the experience one to remember.
Here are some tips to make the most of your experience.1. The French are more formal than Americans in their commercial encounters. Begin each transaction --indeed, each entry into an establishment, with a formal "bonjour". Always say "merci" and "au revoir" as well. We Americans like to pop in and out of stores and, if we aren't seriously considering a purchase we don't like to "bother" the staff. The French see it differently. Whereas we might find it rude to 'interrupt', they find it rude not to say hello and goodbye.
2. Comment on the items for sale. Talk about them. Ask questions. Find out where they're from, or how they're made, or how to wear them etc. There's a lot of merchant pride and there are a lot of small artisans and producers who take great pride in their work, and they will likely show you even more special things, once they see that you care about their craft. Plus, you'll learn a little something and connect with someone. (Bliss always makes it a point to introduce people to at least one artisan producer or craftsperson on our trips so people can learn about the product but more so, connect with a different person and culture --the raison d'être for travel!)
3. When you make a purchase in the United States, you hand the money to the merchant and they put the change back in your hands. In France, the money goes on the little tray in front of the register and the change gets put there as well for you to pick up. Rarely do you see a "hand to hand" transaction.4. More than likely, if you buy something, you will be asked if it's "a gift". If it is, it will be charmingly and uniquely wrapped for you. It's so great to return home and give a gift that not only is unique, but looks unique. So, if it's a gift, by all means say so!5. Remember to visit some of the smaller shops and boutiques, as well as window shopping (or as the French phrase translates --licking the windows!) the big named designer shops. So you can get a taste of the region and culture instead of the world popular market.
6. If you're in the countryside --Provence, for example, find out what the specialty of that town is, and then visit those shops. If you're in Sault, it's Lavender. If you're in other places it's pottery or paint pigments or cherries or a particular type of cheese or candied fruit...You get the idea. Local is extremely significant in France. And local means a very small area. (Let me tell you a story. One evening I was sitting at a friend's dinner table, in a small village in Provence. She had a fabulously delicious olive oil on the table. I complimented her on it and asked if it was local (almost rhetorically, because I assumed it would be). She said no. I was shocked and said, "really?" Her response was telling: "No, it's not local, it's from my grandfather's tree." Now, that's really local!!!Have a Blissful Holiday shopping experience! And write us if we can help!Wendy@blisstravels.com
In Paris & Brussels, Tis The Season for Chocolate
Now that the weather outside is frosty (hear the tune in your head), it's time for chocolate! Real chocolate. Delicate chocolates. Chocolates that don't like too much heat because they are filled with real, fresh, flavored cream, or stamped and painted with gorgeous drawings, or melted and stirred into thick unctuous decadent drinks. Is your mouth watering yet?
Each winter --in both December and February (Valentine's Day, anyone?) Bliss Travels visits the most magnificent chocolatiers and patissieres to see what new creations and exciting treats are available. (And, we don't just visit, we taste, and taste...and then have a glass of Champagne --whoops, got distracted. Sorry!)This year is no different. Even if you can't come on our Christmas week trip (where we do this in Paris) or our Valentine's weekend or add on a visit to Brussels, you can still look at these amazing treats and learn what to find here. What could be better ?Smaller than American confections, and typically more delicate, with thinner shells, these treats also have significantly less sugar, making them (in the opinion of Bliss Travels) practically a health food! (Truth: they are less fattening, and less addictive, because there is less sugar and nothing that's chemical in them.) If you talk to an artisan in Brussels or Paris, they will tell you chocolate in proper "doses" is medicinal and very good for you. I wouldn't argue with that if I were you. I sure don't!
Some of the flavors below include lavender and a fresh cream of tiramisu!
The chocolates in this photo are from Neuhaus. You can buy this brand in the US, but you cannot buy the fresh creams. They are too delicate to travel. The photo here depicts chocolates filled with a very light flavored whipped cream (this is not the cloying sweet gummy stuff we call "creams" in the box of assorted chocolates you get in the US). You must get these in BRUSSELS.So, what to do here. Look for small batch chocolates, make by artisans. Look for higher quality (and darker, more pure) chocolates. Avoid anything with a list of ingredients with things you personally wouldn't cook with. Look for smaller pieces, interesting flavors, freshest ingredients.Then there are other things you can do with chocolate...If you're in Paris or Brussels! Take a look at a typical, well done treat. (But, you have to know where to go!)
What could be a better gift than Chocolate --well, taking that person tasting in Paris --but, if you can't do that, find the real thing here. It makes a difference.We wish you a truly sweet season....And hope you'll join us soon! It's BlissIf you want to know more, write me. I love to hear from people! Wendy@blisstravels.com
Versatile Blogger Award
BLISS TRAVELS NEWS HAS been nominated for its first award! I hope you'll read our blogs and look at our videos and give us more fabulous feedback!
There are three requirements:1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.Wow! Thank you MegTraveling for that nomination. I'm new to blogging, but just couldn't stop myself from writing about the things that make me follow my Bliss! I enjoy your posts too!2. Reveal 7 things about yourself.7 things about Bliss Travels:I named it that because it's True! I followed my Bliss to France!I've been traveling to France for more than 30 years and find something new every single trip!I'm hopelessly energetic about my topics and even dream about them (embarrassing)!Our real focus is food and wine, even when it isn't!I'm camera shy, even though we do photography trips and people are always snapping my picture.The people I work with are people I like --otherwise I don't work with them.I become friends with my clients. I can't help it.3. Nominate and link to 15 bloggers.I'd like to nominate the following bloggers for their excellent photography, writing, topics and insights!NicoleMillerPhiladelphia.blogspot.comwritingfeemailBecoming MadameVictor Tribunskyhttp://anthonybphotos.blogspot.comLa Petite Pastry MonkeyCushiontheimpact.wordpress.com Anuneduatedpalate.comENOFYLZGusta.com/blogOn A Pink Typewriter.emilialiveslifeWineguys Radio and TVSarahMillerPhotographyallyson, recipe ranger
5 Holiday Treats You Can Bring Back from Paris for Family & Friends!
It's all just too good! Right? That's what you're thinking as you take another bite of something wonderful or walk by another specialty shop or Christmas market chalet...Too much to try and too little time!
And what about your sister, best friend, mother, boss, neighbor....Wouldn't it be great if they could just taste this? Maybe then they'd believe you that it really and truly is better in Paris!So for those of you who are traveling to France over the holidays (you lucky guys and girls), even if you aren't traveling with Bliss Travels, here are some treats you can safely bring back to the US to share and extend that fabulous holiday experience (video)!1. That fabulous bottle or bottles of wine. Pick a bottle that gives you a great memory, or a small growth French wine you can't get in the US. Someone keeps spreading rumors that there's a two bottle limit. Not so. You can bring as much as you can carry yourself. 
You cannot ship wine into the US without a license (US regulations prohibit that), but you can carry it in your suitcase. You must check it though because it's a liquid over 3 to 4 ounces. Wrap the wine in your clothing and put it in the center of your suitcase. Have your case marked fragile.
2. Fabulous Artisan walnut bread or fig bread. Buy it the day of departure. Wrap it in wax or brown paper, and then wrap in plastic. Reheat gently in an oven when you return (it will make it feel and taste fresh) or freeze for another day! Serve it with goat cheeses or foie gras or just plain with butter.3. Cognac soaked candied chestnuts. Amazing amazing treat. If you can manage not to eat them all on the flight home, whoever you give these too will love you forever.4. A tin of pure goose foie gras (sold in the duty free). Chill before serving. Serve with a fig or cherry compote, brioche, Poilane bread (or the bread above), and coarse sea salt --And of course, one of those fabulous bottles of wine you brought home with you!5. For those of you who don't cook, pick up a tin of Pierre Herme Hot Chocolate "mix". It's decadent and worth the price --unless you know how to make real hot chocolate yourself. Then, of course, just bring back fine chocolate tablets and great spices!Of course, you could simply come with us. We provide all of that and have a few (dozen) more treats up our sleeves for our guests!
5 Tips on how to find a GOOD restaurant in France
Everyone likes to eat well. But, just like not everyone knows how to cook, not everyone knows how to find a restaurant or pick a dish that meets their expectations --especially when traveling to another country. Given that it's Thanksgiving weekend (gobble, gobble) and we are only 3 1/2 weeks away from our Christmas week in Paris, I thought a few pointers would be helpful. What I'm saying is particularly true in France --though in general, this could be applied in other countries.1. Get off the Beaten Track: While you may not be able to find the truly "off the beaten track" spots, you can, and should, avoid the huge boulevards in favor of smaller neighborhood streets. (Unless you've decided to eat in a very expensive world class gourmet restaurant, where the chef's reputation and the gastronomic offerings support that sort of "store front") Why? Because the big tourist streets come with "big" rent. That means that to survive, the typical restaurant must make a number of culinary concessions just to pay their rent. They have to turn tables, buy bargain "product", and, in general, crank out enough business to keep the lights on. So, don't be seduced by the big, bright restaurant with the large dining room. Find a more intimate setting. You're likely to have a better (and better priced) meal.
2. Read Menus: What is on the menu? Does it highlight a particular sort of cuisine? Do the dishes on the menu feature seasonal products? Do they have "blackboard" specials, or is everything special, every day? Other than the exceptional chef (who you are unlikely to "discover" as a tourist), most chefs have a particular cuisine that is their specialty, and a few signature dishes or techniques (cooking show video). I'm sure you've heard the expression, "Jack of all trades, master of none". Well, if the menu looks like it's a United Nations manifesto --you may be dealing with a master of nothing. Also, if the menu seems to be the same 12 months out of the year, providing the diner with the comfort of eating the very same things in December as they eat in June, then it probably relies on packaged, processed or frozen foods. Things simply aren't fresh year round! And fresh tastes better. Find a chef who knows what he likes to cook, is influenced and inspired by seasonal products and the food will be good. Look at the menu and see if you can identify the type of cuisine and that the products are seasonal. For example, this Christmas in Paris, our menus will have things like scallops, chestnuts, foie gras, lamb, oysters, and chocolate (not on the same plate of course)! Why? Because these things are winter specialties. In summer we see melon, tomato, peach, zucchini and similar produce dominate our meals.
3. Similarly, don't read "English" menus. If it's been translated, then they are telling you that tourism is their mainstay. You can have people cater to your "American" tastes when you're back at home, right? Why not try something that speaks to the French culture? Find a restaurant with a French menu, in French, that's market fresh, and ask them what their specialty is. Order the "prix fixe" (the set menu) even if you don't know what the dishes are. They will be the market fresh chef's specials of the day (not the left over meatloaf). Then, order the local wine to accompany the meal and sit back and relax.4. Look at the patrons. Walk around, especially if you're in Paris. If you're in the countryside, you will be able to tell who is dining where by talking to people as well as doing a bit of "sightseeing". As you stop and read the menus (all menus are posted outside the restaurant) look at and listen to the patrons. First, are there patrons? Second, are they local or tourists? What language are they speaking? If the answer is that the restaurant is full of people who look like a group you'd want to socialize with, and they are speaking French (for the most part), then it's a good bet that this restaurant has something wonderful to offer! However, it also might be full and require a reservation. The places we go require not just reservations, but relationships. They are popular local spots (or open for us) and they have creative chefs...
And if you want that, then you may have to plan in advance (or come with us)!!! If you're on your own, you'll need to know whether "dropping by" is the best way to get a table (counting on last minute cancellations or snagging a late or early table) OR whether making a reservation for the next night or lunch is better. Some of this requires more information than you are likely to have as a tourist, but give it a try. If they're too full, ask if coming back later or making a reservation for a different date or meal is a better idea.
5. Consider the Source! If you're choosing your restaurants based upon recommendations --in books, by reviews, or because "someone" recommended it (friend, concierge, person you meet while traveling), then it's very important not just to listen to what they are telling you, but to listen to who they are so you know what they know! I don't know about you, but I would consider a recommendation from a friend who lived in the area, and who was a chef or in the "food" world much more seriously than I would from someone I met while standing in line for a movie! But when people travel, all of a sudden, literally everyone they meet and everyone they chat with, has the "it" spot that they "must" go to! People blindly follow internet reviews or tourist guides, as does everyone else who's traveling. Sometimes, I think that Air France should offer a shuttle directly from the plane to the restaurant being profiled by the "big guides" and save me the trouble of booking the same old thing for people! Again, if you're not talking about the top few world renown Michelin chefs, who, of course, everybody knows, then seriously consider the source of your recommendation.
Nobody can guarantee a perfect meal, but find someone local, or in the food profession or with extensive travel experience in France to recommend the dining experience that you crave. You're more likely to have a "blissful" experience, than if just blindly follow your neighbors' brother's cousins' recommendation. Who knows what he considers "good"!And, then Bon Appetite! How apropos to discuss eating well on Thanksgiving weekend!
Black Friday Travel to Paris for Christmas Sale!!!
dFor Black Friday only, Bliss Travels is offering any of it's Paris trips for sale at 10% off the retail price, if a deposit is made by the end of Black Friday (anytime between now and the morning of Saturday November 26, 2011). The Ultimate Gift...Paris over Christmas at almost $1,000 off for two people!
That means $460 off for Paris over Christmas, per person! Must make deposit via paypal from the website by November 26th. Contact wendy@blisstravels.com with questions.Marketing never looked so good! Stroll with us, wine in hand.
Enjoy the holiday in a new way!
Discover Bliss Travels - a personal, small group experience.
French Olive Oils: Tips for How to Choose the Best
Olive oil is fabulous, and comes in a huge variety of flavors and prices. That seems to surprise people. To know the basics is important. What olives you use and the method of pressing them affects flavor. The way you store and use oils also affects flavor. Below are some tips for Olive Oil use that we teach at Bliss Travels when we do tastings in France.
1. Olive oil should be cold pressed. Why? Heat destroys the oil. The best quality oils are cold pressed, and will say so on the label. This brings up another point.2. Light and heat destroy Olive oil. So, store your oils in a cool place, in dark bottles or out of the sunlight.3. Olive oil has a low "smoking" point. This means it burns easily. So, if you cook with it, watch the temperature, and don't use an expensive oil for cooking.4. What are you using the oil for? A drizzle on veggies or fish? Pick a flavorful one --fruity or spicy depending upon the dish you are serving. Last year, we gave our clients this amazing meal in Provence, and the olive oil on this dish was from local trees, to complement the local produce!
A salad dressing? Pick one based on the other ingredients in the dressing. Using oil in your pan so food doesn't stick? Pick the least expensive, lightest flavored oil.In the below picnic we brought for clients on the TGV train to Provence, we have 3 oils being use. The first for the vinaigrette (notice the dark bottle), is mild, but fruity as it is mixed with vinegar, mustard, salt...and for the artichoke. The second is in the chicken presse, with zucchini --a strong spicy oil, to hold it's own with the ingredients. Last, there is a mild oil used in cooking the vegetable tians.
The best way to learn about the oils and to choose the ones you most like is to taste them plain or with a bit of bread. Visit an Olive Oil mill. (We do all the time on our trips) Plan different tastings --and then make spiced oils for breads. The more you try them, the more you'll figure out which oils work best for which of your dishes.5 Tips for Eating and Drinking in France Like a Local
Eating and drinking are different in France. Why? Because the culture is different. If you are going to travel to France --or anywhere, for that matter --why not try it "their way". If nothing else, it should provide you with an interesting experience and a better understanding of the culture. So, here are some tips for how to do both like the locals. I bet you'll have a few "ah ha" moments when you realize you may have misinterpreted things in the past!
1. How to order Coffee! Seems simple enough, doesn't it? Well, I don't know about you but I think it's complicated wherever you are. In the US Starbucks has turned ordering coffee into a multi lingual tongue twister. In France, it's very simple --as long as you follow the custom! Cafe au lait (or any coffee served with milk or cream) is a breakfast drink, and not generally served after noon, or with meals. A "cafe normal" or "espresso" is just that --expresso in a small cup, served with a small cold glass of water. that's served during "coffee breaks", at cafes, and after meals. Can't take "expresso". Then order a "cafe Allonge" (literally "stretched out") or a "cafe Americaine" --both are watered down espressos --in other words, a typical strength coffee.
2. Dessert comes Before Coffee. Not with. You can't have it with. The waiter will say yes, but if the place is any good --or even remotely authentic-- this won't happen. Don't worry. It's better after! You finish your meal, and get the nice "pick me up" of the cup of coffee. Need something sweet? Never fear. Coffee comes with a little something sweet, always --a chocolate (in the basic cafes) or tiny pastries of some sort in the "nicer" restaurants.
3. Sauces in France won't make you fat, and don't come 'on the side'. "Hmmm", you say, "how is that possible?" Glad you asked. Because the meals are balanced, the portions, including sauces, are smaller, the food is very fresh, and we don't snack endlessly on things between meals because the meal itself is completely satisfying. If you order sauces on the side, you will (a) either ruin your meal, or (b) consume more of the delicious sauce than you would have had you let the chef dress the dish with what was probably a teaspoon to a tablespoon of sauce (rather than the 1/4 cup they might bring you).
Video of Provence, Mediterranean, Paris
Watch our Video:
Our October trip to Paris, Provence and the Mediterranean.
Just as the song in the video says: you can do anything. Why not follow your Bliss?
You only live once!
- Yours Truly, on a Bliss-ful trip
A Bientot,Wendy
Photography in France...Tips, Tricks & Techniques for our Trips
I just have to start by saying, our photographer, Anthony Bianciella is amazing! Everybody says so. It's not just that he captures the scene, or provides good advice, or even that he's generous with his time in a very relaxed and low key way. It's that he knows how to mix photography and fun. Some people come on our photo trips with no intention of doing any of the "photography" sessions or photo related options. And yet, they end up doing everything! They follow Anthony around, asking for advice and chatting about how to really capture the beauty that surrounds them. So, here he is! Our traveling photographer, in mid self portrait!
Of course we photographed monuments. But, Anthony also shows people how to make the typical original. See what you think!
And he always seems to be in the right place at the right time!
But, we don't just photograph monuments. It's also about local "color" and, sometimes, the best of local color is all about the light,
and sometimes it's best captured in Black and White! 
We capture all of what we do as well --the markets...
The hikes and the sights....
The wines and dining! My job is to pick superlative menus. But Anthony's job is harder --get the shot (or help someone else get the shot) before the food is eaten!
Most importantly to me though, he captures the fun! Don't believe me? Just check out our client testimonials!
If you want to learn more, contact Anthony or Wendy
Our Private Photo Sessions in Paris
Everyone already knows we do private photography sessions in Paris. I just wanted to show off our fabulous photographer, Anthony (who will be with us this December in Paris).
Ho hum...just another night in--now what's the name of that place again? 
OOh, that's right...The City of Light. Can't wait to see how our new Paris portrait sessions turn out. But, truth is, I just can't wait. So, I'm going to post our last Paris photos....Sorry, too good to wait!
Last May, at sunset. What can I say, it was Bliss (Travels)
Paris Postings...What's Up This Season in the City of Light!
Paris is always beautiful. Paris has an excitement that permeates the air. Whether we're strolling through the Luxembourg Gardens or visiting the Christmas Markets, there's just nothing that's better than a spin through this city.Where else can you find a 1000 year old church (in which an emperor was crowned) built on the site of a 2000 year old church, which was in turn, built on the site of a temple to Jupiter? Oh, and just to make things a bit better, just around the corner is a place that serves the best "n'importe quoi" (anything) for dinner served with a glass of absolutely marvelous wine....Enough said. A picture is worth at least a few words. So, let's post some from Anthony Bianciella, our favorite traveling photographer (and the one who will be chronicling our holiday trip, making DVD's of the highlights for everyone, and also offering one-on-one photography lessons, tips and help for people taking their own shots.)
Maybe just a little stroll before dark? Or if you're too tired, a bike ride!
From whatever angle, the Left Bank is pretty close to perfect.
But, what truly sparkles with beauty is Paris over the holidays. Not a lot of tourists. Lots and lots of lights. Christmas tree displays, mile long holiday marekts in every corner of town, decorations and different sorts of tress by every monument...
Even in the Chocolate shops! Look! It's true. This Left Bank shop is a real gem, and quite beautiful over the holidays in particular (when chocolates won't melt).
Next up...Gourmet treats ONLY served during the holidays!