After the heavy Easter brunch at Mama Shelter I felt a long walk would be appropriate given the fact I was filled up as a balloon. It has been quite a long time since I went to the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont so the choice of park was given. It’s location on rocky hill is quite amazing, here you can find a waterfall, lake and also a beautiful Sybille temple you definately should visit for taking a break and enjoying the breathtaking view over Sacre Coeur, totally worth climbing up the hill ;-)
It was Napoleon III that decided to have this amazing park created in Paris. In fact he demanded the baron Haussmann (that is behind the architecture of all the haussmannien buildings I love in Paris) that together with the landscape architect Adolphe Alphand designed this park that opened in 1867.
Perfect place for having a stroll or a picnic away from the buzzy streets of Paris…This is also where you find Rosa Bonheur, charming guinguette that I’ve yet not visited but have seen long lines of people waiting to get a chance to get in. A good sign, should try to go there next time ;-)
Parc des Buttes Chaumont – 1 Rue Botzaris, 75019 Paris
Photos taken with my Fuji Finepix x100s
Can you spot the Sybille temple ?
Suspension bridge made of oak
The romantic sybille on the top of the hill…
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
One of the two bridges
The waterfall
Yesterday we enjoyed yet another amazing brunch at Mama Shelter. Must say that this time was even better than last time we were there, a giant Easter egg was waiting with lots of chocolate and a cute Easter bunny hiding Easter eggs since it was Easter…and also a yummie chocolate fountain with bowls around filled with tagada candies (my favourite bon bon in France), strawberries, giant marshmallows, sliced pineapples etc ready to be dipped in the chocolate. Knowing all that was waiting + the dessert table buffet I did not eat much of the cold or warm buffet. But on my first plate I took some salmon, endive salad, fresh potato salad, peasoup with fresh cheese, mozzarelle, tomatoes with pesto and lentilles salad.
To drink I had a cup of hot chocolate, their own homemade with lots of chocolate and not a simple powder cocoa hot chocolate (which can be the case at other places) and fresh grapefruit juice. And for dessert I guess the photos below will speak by themselves ;-)
Our waiter was, as they usually are at Mama Shelter, very service minded, always came by our table to remove our finished plates, filled up our glasses with the drinks we had chosen as soon as they were empty etc
After four hours of eating this delicious brunch it was time to leave but I must say I can’t wait to have their brucnh very soon again ;-)
Brunch at Mama Shelter – 109 Rue de Bagnolet, 75020 Paris
Photos taken with my Fuji Finepix x100s
Salmon, endive salad, peasoup with fresh cheese..
Salade de lentilles, potato salad, mozzarelle cheese with tomatoes and pesto
My favourite corner with the chocolate fountain..and the bow filled with tagade candies :-)
Yummie hot chocolate
The giant Easter egg in chocolate
Lemon merengue pie and a caramel pie
Millefeuille with red fruits
Paris brest with pineapple
Giant marshmallows dipped in chocolate..
Mama Shelter in Paris
Mama Shelter in Paris
Mama Shelter in Paris
This photo can’t even measure itself with what I saw in reality, the magical sunset view I had over Paris from the top of Parc de Belleville yesterday. Had one of those pinch-me-in-the-arm moment while soaking up this view. The shifting colors in the sky…fluffy clouds in motion…perfect backdrop to the parks green tree’s, bushes and lawn of the Parc de Belleville.
Parc de Belleville – 47 Rue des Couronnes, 75020 Paris
Very late, one night, the fishermen had called my host telling her they had caught a big tuna. She told me she had jumped on her scooter and left to the other side of the coast to buy it and that she later conserved it gently at home. When I visited her last year in July she made the most delicious spaghetti alla puttanesca that I’ve ever tasted in my life…where she had used that tuna. Mindblowing…just mindblowing…if that was tuna, I realized I had never had “real” tuna. Perhaps it had been conserved with much love that made it taste so good? I don’t know…but this lunch out on the terrace one sunny day in July in Massa Lubrense will always be rememberred.
For those of you who are not familiar with this simple, yet delicious Italian dish is spaghetti cooked al dente with chopped tomatoes, olive oil, olives, capers, garlic, anchovies…my host had added tuna..and then topped with fresh parsley.
Photos taken with my Fuji Finepix x100s (July 2013)
Spaghetti alla puttanesca
View from the terrace
Prima colazione, breakfast in Italian and my host literally spoiled us with delicious breakfast every morning on her terrace. Fresh fruits, her homemade yoghurt, fresh baked bread from the bakery, her homemade jams made on different fruits and berries…warming tea and fresh juice. Could not start my days in a better way in Italy ;-)
Photos taken with my Fuji Finepix x100s (July2013)
Different homemade jams
Fresh fruitsalad
Prima colazione in Italy!
Enjoying the breakfast on the terrace
View from the livingroom
