A Paris Christmas
Ok, so I am NOT actually in Paris for Christmas. I am home to spend quality time with family and friends. But my dream is to one day spend Christmas in this spectacular city! I hope you will hold me to that promise to myself.
Let’s say, however, that I was in Paris for Christmas.
Here are at least THREE things I would most certainly do.
Le Christmas Feast
First–I would find a cozy restaurant to go out to dinner on Christmas Eve.
I am thinking maybe at La Crémaillère 1900 in Montmartre which is decorated with Belle Epoque paintings and offers this Christmas menu. See how much of it you can understand and then see my translation at the bottom.
French people tend to have their main Christmas meal on Christmas eve| Le Réveillon. And often after midnight when they return from church. For some reason this appeals to me much more than having Christmas dinner on Christmas Day.
Like the menu above, a typical French Christmas dinner could include turkey, chicken or roast goose, often preceded with oysters and/or foie gras. I don’t eat dessert but there is also the traditional chocolate cake|Bûche de Noël and usually a variety of French cheeses as well.
Le Skating
Then on Christmas Day I would work off all that food and go skating at the Trocadero Rink opposite the Eiffel Tower. It is free and open late.
But did you know for 11 Euros, you can skate on the first level of the Eiffel Tower itself? A little unnerving to be up so high but an incredible experience I hear.
Le Stroll
Then, afterwards, as the light begins to fade, I would take a walk along the Seine probably on the Right Bank. I would stop in at a bistro for hot chocolate or maybe mulled wine|vin chaud. Sometimes, with the heat lamps they have now and the blankets they provide, I could even sit outside!
Yes, one year soon, that is how I am going to spend my Christmas in Paris!
In the meantime, wherever you are, have a very Merry Christmas! And thank you all for reading my blog!
Le Translation — Christmas Menu at La Crémaillère 1900
A Pre-Dinner Glass of Kir Royal – Dry White wine with a shot of Crème de Cassis
A Glass of a fine French Red or White Wine
Duck Liver Pate with Fig Relish
Scallops with Noilly Cream – Noilly is a French Vermouth
Roast Chicken with Chanterelles, which are the most delicate and delicious French mushrooms!
Scalloped Potatoes (but made with garlic, Gruyère cheese and cream. I am addicted to this dish.)
Trio of Cheeses with Salad Greens
Chocolate Cake in the Shape of a Log
Coffee
YUM!
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Diana Bishop the founder of The Success Story Program and A Woman of a Certain Age in Paris as well as a well-known correspondent with over 25 years working for CTV, CBC News, and NBC News. She loves travel, writing, and all things Parisienne.
Merry Christmas Diana! Shardie is coming to my home for a visit today along with our good friends Kate & Rob! It is so nice to be with friends during the Holidays.
It is wonderful you are back home for Christmas to be with family. Oh but that menu must have been difficult to give up! It sounds delish!
I understand your dilemma of going home to see family vs. staying where you live. When we moved several hundred miles from home 25 years ago, we promised my parents we would always come home for the holidays. I’m not sure how we fit 2 adults, 3 children, a dog and presents for nearly 20 people in our vehicle, but somehow we did! Surprisingly, when our children were young, they never even realized all those presents were in the car. It’s so much easier now with just the two of us driving north and our kids joining us there from various parts of the country. My active mom is in her 90’s now, so I don’t know how many more years we will make this drive, but I am grateful each year to all be together. When the time comes to stay home for Christmas for the first time, it will be bittersweet. Have a wonderful holiday at home, Diana.
It sounds so beautiful. I love Le skating lolll. I hope you make it to Paris at Christmas time and I know you will. Sounds lovely to experience a Christmas Eve dinner with all the festivities in a warm and cosy, but yet luxurious Paris bistro. Le skating though does sound fun up so high in Eifel Tower. Merry Christmas Diana, I enjoy reading your blog Women of a Certain Age in Paris, very (tres) entertaining, nice to gain insight about such a beautiful place. Love it! <3
Restaurant l’Express is a remarkable take on a Parisian bistro here in Montréal, and there are so many immigrants from France now that you may well feel you’ve crossed the pond: http://restaurantlexpress.com/
However, I very much doubt they are open on Christmas Day; perhaps on the 24th.
My meal will be Italian, though: fish or seafood.
I’ve been to Paris a few times over the year’s end holidays, but visiting friends or working.
Obviously no problem reading the menu. Joyeuses fêtes et bonne année 2019!
l’Express is in fact my favorite restaurants in Montreal. I have such great memories of dining there — often with my journalist colleagues after working on a big story together. The food is fabulous. And no, you would not need a translation of the menu but so many of my readers live outside of Canada.
Merry Christmas Lagatta and all the best in the New Year! Diana
Merry Christmas, my new friend! Maybe someday we will all met in Paris for Christmas!
Wouldn’t that be wonderful Bonnie?
Merry Christmas to you and yours and all the best in the New Year!
Diana