Preparing for the Holidays

We're busy getting everything organized for the big family Christmas en Paris. Erik, Karina and I are trying to do our part by finding the perfect buche de Noel. We have tried two different ones so far, and figure we have four more days to sample before having to make a selection. So far we have tried the 'buchettes' from the bakery, and a delicious ice cream one from the frozen food store Picard. We'll let you know what the final verdict is. Other less glamorous tasks have included locating and purchasing fresh cranberries (or airelles, as they're called here), and buying frozen berries for fruit salad (mom, we've decided it's a go. The pineapples look delicious!). It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.


We have also been busy scouting out the stores of Paris. Our hands down favorite so far is the marche at Galleries Lafayette (which we have discovered carries cheddar cheese, white marshmallows and curry paste, to name a few hard to find delicacies, all at reasonable prices). We've been there three times in as many days, and I'm sure we'll find a reason to go tomorrow, too. We also went today to the Maille store. This was quite an adventure. After thinking that we had gotten off at the wrong metro station, we stumbled across this gem at place Madeleine. Yup, it's a mustard store. I can't really explain why we are so excited about this store, cause it really does sell just mustard, but it was great. Not only do they have cute little ceramic mustard pots, and varieties of mustard sold only at this one location (I picked up a blue cheese one. Delicious!), but you can buy fresh mustard in its own little crock. When I say fresh, I mean you stand there and watch them fill the pot from one of the three mustard 'taps' on the counter. So cool!

I'll also share this picture with you. Karina couldn't figure out why a store with chocolate in the name wouldn't sell chocolate! We crossed the street to go check it out, and were a little dissapointed by the baby clothes in the window!


Steve arrives tomorrow, and the fun will inevitably continue. I'll leave you with a picture of one of Erik's lunch receipts from Ecole Polytechnique. He'd like you to notice how much the beer cost. Yes, he had beer with his lunch. It is France, after all.


I will try and keep regular posts during the holidays, but as some of our most loyal readers will soon be joining us in this wonderful city, updates may become few and far between until the New Year.

Happy Holidays!