My Paris adventure

My Paris Adventure

My Paris Adventure

Much excitement at Tipple Tails HQ this February, which saw me going on a Paris Adventure! Working with Emma Bernabeu of Emma’s Corner and her lovely team in collaboration with DIT France, Tipple Tails fruit cakes were part of a Pop-up of delicious British craft food at the prestigious Galeries Lafayette Maison-Gourmet in the centre of Paris.

Emma specialises in taking high quality British ‘epicerie’ to the French market and invited me to be part of the Pop-up British Foodie Emporium at Galeries Lafayette, taking my Mini Fruit Cake Collection in its brand new packaging!

To support the Pop-up, I travelled across to Paris to give the French, renowned for their enjoyment of really good food, a chance to taste my yummy fruit cakes –  what’s not to like!

Our French friends certainly know how to do food – Galeries Lafayette is overflowing with top quality products and gorgeous themed bars at which to stop and eat. Pierre Hermé macarons, Maison Dandoy Speculoos … eclairs, patisserie, spices … all beautifully presented – almost too beautiful to eat!

The Galeries Lafayette customers were enthusiastic tasters and already knew and enjoyed English fruit cake and often mentioned with delight our Christmas pudding too, so they were very interested to try a fruit cake with a contemporary twist. They most certainly seemed to enjoy them – we sold half of Emma’s stock in two days! Customers were drawn to the pretty packaging and, with much help from Tomas, Marc, Hannah and Emma in translation, told us that they were buying them as gifts and treats for friends and family.

Paris in the spring (ok it wasn’t quite spring 😉)

My lovely friend and wine aficionado, Jane from Olive and Vine Wines ‘volunteered’ to come with me. Jane is a natural organiser and quickly found us a B&B, just a 10-minute walk from Galeries Lafayette.

We travelled to Paris on Eurostar so our adventure started at St Pancras Station and quickly picked up speed when Jane managed to secure us an upgrade to business class, where we were spoilt rotten by the attentive staff.

Once settled in Paris, our host gave us a selection of great recommendations and we were keen to ‘live like locals’ so we decided on a Bistrot just down the road, where we were treated to the most delicious Beouf Bourguignon served with the most exquisite potato purée, followed by a selection of French cheeses, not surprisingly paired with a delicious red wine chosen by Jane.

The evening was a fabulous introduction to French ‘café culture’ in which (in between working in the Pop-up of course) we indulged with gusto! We drank wine or coffee, sat on the terraces of French café’s, enjoyed a cheese and meat platter with Cornichons for lunch in PrintempsDuGoût (2 new floors dedicated to French Gourmet Food and most definitely worth a visit) and indulged in delicious patisserie in the afternoon.

My French, learnt at school, was very rusty so I was delighted that Jane was fluent in the French that she had learnt whilst living in France and learning all about wine.

 

‘Living Like Locals’

We stayed at 52 Rue de Clichy, hidden behind a huge Red door on the street, and into a courtyard, surrounded by stylish apartments – an oasis of calm, from where we could step out to reach the shops, restaurants, café’s and bars with ease. Our apartment was on the top floor with huge windows and a pretty balcony, giving us great views of hidden Paris.

Our host Rosemary gave us a warm, friendly welcome to her lovely apartment; we had a very comfortable room and bathroom, and a delicious French breakfast, with fresh bread and pastries from the bakery just a few doors down each day. It was like being home from home and a great spot to explore Paris.

2 thoughts on “My Paris Adventure”

    1. It was Elaine! France really do love food – and they loved my little fruit cakes! So glad you like them, I’m very proud of the new packaging. xxx

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