While the South-West of France, as well as Corsica, have seen a sudden drop in temperatures as well as impressive amounts of snow, Paris is doing ok with normal weather…

(Ok, this is not from Paris but from where I am at the moment: picture taken on Monday morning in Montpellier…)

• Join in the macaron debate. I’d just like to say that PH and La Durée have never been the sole purveyors of macarons in Paris. A number of bakeries, local or from other chains, sell them as well.
• Another temporary restaurant? Fancy new eatery in the Palais de Tokyo
• Free museums in Paris? Here is a helpful list
• Go on Google to follow the results of Sunday’s elections… Impressive I think.
• Yves Saint Laurent Rétrospectives exhibition at the Petit Palais started yesterday. Seems like it’s going to have a lot of success, beware of the queues!
• At the Musée d’Orsay, Crime et châtiments will start next week. Beware that some of the items might hurt visitors’ “sensitivity”…
• Ok, just one other exhibition: Du Greco à Dalí at the Musée Jacquemart-André
• I keep meaning to do a series of posts about day trips from Paris… Well, here’s one about Chartres!
• IKEA furniture in the métro? Is that a joke? Check it out for yourselves
• More strikes for RER B…

Kitchen Chinese is the debut novel by Ann Mah, an author and a journalist from California who’s currently residing in Paris. It recounts the story of Isabelle, a Chinese-American who moved to Beijing in an attempt to turn her life around. Outwardly Chinese but brought up in non-Asian environment, her adventure brought her to unexpected places, new experiences, awkward interactions (especially when compounded with expectation for fluency in the local language) and cuisine discovery but ultimately, love can also be found in a foreign land.

The novel is detailed and descriptive while successfully remain light-hearted and humorous at the same time. Like a feast, it is infused with just about everything that gives you a perfect insight into the life of an expat in a culture that perhaps belongs more to his/her ancestors.

We caught up with Ann to discuss about the book and to get to know her better.

1. How much of yourself do you identify with Isabelle, the protagonist in Kitchen Chinese?
   The book was inspired by my own experiences as a young Chinese-American woman in China, so Isabelle and I do share some similarities. But, ultimately, I chose to write fiction for two reasons. First, I think it’s difficult for someone in their twenties or thirties to write a memoir, when they don’t have a large breadth of experience behind them. Secondly, writing fiction allowed me to explore different angles outside of my own life — for example, romantic relationships. I was happily married when I lived in Beijing, but Isabelle is single and must navigate the dating scene in a foreign country and language. These experiences give her a greater understanding and acceptance of her cultural identity.
2. What inspired you to write this novel?
   I lived in Beijing for two years before I started writing Kitchen Chinese. At first it seemed so cliche to think that, as a Chinese American, I would have an epiphany about my cultural roots and want to write about it. But life as an expat made me start thinking about cultural vs ethnic identity and the experience of being a fish out of water. The need to process these thoughts was the seed that gave root to this book.
3. Who provide you with food inspirations?
   I worked as a restaurant critic and dining editor for a Beijing expat magazine and some of my fondest memories are of eating lunch with my colleagues. They introduced me to “jiachangcai” or homestyle dishes and were an endless source of information. Through them, I also started to learn more about Chinese regional cuisine, which fascinates me still. China is a huge country — about the size of the United States — and each region has its own diverse style of cooking.
4. How do you view Chinese style dessert (tong sui) from what is norm in western world (pastries, cakes, pies etc)? (A friend once remarked any country east of Turkey doesn’t do good dessert!)
   I’m not a big fan of dessert in any form. And Chinese desserts can be very sweet and sticky, filled with things like red bean or lotus paste that are definitely an acquired taste. However, meals in China usually end with fruit — it’s not unusual to finish a fancy meal with a plate of watermelon and cherry tomatoes (remember, tomatoes are a fruit!) even in the dead of winter!
5. Which do you prefer and why: eating or cooking? Chinese or French cuisine?
   Eating and cooking are twin passions of mine. But what I love most about them is the sharing. I don’t like eating by myself, nor do I like cooking for myself. But I do love the process of creating something and offering it to others — whether it be food or writing. As for Chinese vs French cuisine — I love them both. It’s like choosing between children!
6. What is your favourite city and what do you love most about it?
   My husband is a diplomat so we move often. As a result, I’ve had the chance to develop many favorite cities. For now, my favorite is Paris. I’d always dreamed of living here and it hasn’t disappointed me yet. I love the sweeping boulevards, the patina of history, the elegant Hausmannian facades, the passion for fine dining, and the unlimited access to unpasteurized cheese.
7. Where do you hang out regularly in Paris?
   The market on Boulevard Raspail (not the fancy Sunday marché bio, but the more humble Tuesday/Friday market). The wine section of La Grande Epicerie. A corner of the Luxembourg Gardens, where I like to sun myself and read the newspaper. The American Library in Paris for research and quiet concentration. La Laiterie, a restaurant in the 7th where I love their chalkboard menu, simple fresh food and casual atmosphere. Le Mistral, a cafe in the 20th, for coffee and friendship — my husband has been friends with the owners since he was an exchange student in college.
8. What’s next?
   I would love to write something set in Paris, perhaps about wine and a female sommelier. At least, the research would be fun!

Ann Mah will be speaking at the American Library (10 rue du Général Camou, 75007 Paris) on Wednesday 10 March 2010 (that’s today!!), at 7.30pm. She also blogs regularly and can be found tweeting at @AnnMahnet.

Here are some totally random tidbits about stuff going on over here. Have fun exploring!

• This week, the Salon de l’Agriculture was taking place, a great outing for the family. Just make sure the kids know it’s normal for cows not to be purple!
• People have been talking quite a bit about Sarkozy not showing up…
• A summary of the storm in Paris last Sunday. I did try to move about, the wind was really impressive and a number of fallen trees seemed to cause delays on various RER lines…
• The account of a visitor to our city, see how they saw it!
• Lots of papers have been saying that Parisian nightlife is dead. Here are some nightlife news from “Secrets of Paris”.
• Next week-end will be election time. Make sure you’re available or make your “procuration”!
• The student artistic show has begun. “Ici et demain” festival is a lot of shows, concerts and exhibitions for free, so make sure to check out the program!
• As every year, the best baguette in Paris will be decided. Want to be part of the jury? You can give it a go until 15th of March…
• Recommendation for a place with nice “assiettes” (plates stashed with cheese, “charcuteries” and other goodies)…
• Intersting post at the Paris Magasine on why it’s so hard to find a taxi in the city. Might be symptomatic but I never try to use taxi in Paris, never…

As February draws to an end, I’m getting excited with a feel for spring in the air. The days are also getting longer, and there are signs of budding blooms in small doses. In the mean time, with the French 6 Nations campaign going smoothly, there are lots to look forward to in March.

Weather Notice

• Despite the arrival of spring, a weather alert is in place for this Sunday 28 February, for a significant storm/tempest in Île-de-France, with strength of up to 120km/h! Be safe.

Events

• Musée du Quai Branly is hosting a series of Brazilian themed events this week, including workshops of capoeira and barbatuques. Check the listing here, and please note that some has limited places.
• Chopin made Paris his home for 18 years, and for the bicentenary celebration of the birth of this great composer, a number of events have been organised, including free concerts, exhibition and walking tour of Chopin’s Paris.
• Children Everyone should be taught all above food and healthy eating. For the curious, heads over to the exhibition of Bon Appétit at Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie – La Villette.

Browse The Web

• Think you’re having a bad day? Reconsider after you read the snippets from Vie de Merde.
• If you’re a student working on your thesis, you’re not alone. Things go wrong all the time, and Thèse de Merde is your alternative venting space.
• English song lyrics translated word by word into French? Check out Pardon My French which will keep you amuse for a bit.

Miscellaneous

• Finally, a decision is made over the currently closed Paris Zoo. It’s going to be another 4 years before it reopens though…
• Do you know that 2010 is the year of France-Russia in both countries, and there are tons of events hosted countrywide that put emphasis on Franco-Russian relationship.
• Are you aware of Hidden Kitchen? It’s currently on my wishlist, but it’s not stopping me from wanting to share it with you either!

As we enter the period of Lent this week, many of my friends over in UK/Ireland are giving up things as penance. They range from chocolates to sweets to, gasp, internet usage off-work hours! Once, for a completely different reason, I stopped eating chocolates for 2 years. I know, crazy talk, but I persevered…

Exhibitions

• Musée du Quai Branly is currently hosting The Making of Images which explores the ontologies of living and imagery to represent the anthropology of human societies. Runs until 17 July 2011.
• Meanwhile, the Pinacothèque de Paris is showing Edvard Munch ou l’Anti-Cri (unfortunately the official website is currently not available) until 18 July 2010, and the exhibition brings you a different side of Munch from the infamous The Scream.
• Another highly anticipated exhibition will open next Thursday 24 February at the Grand Palais – Turner and the Masters. This 3-months showcase enables visitors to see some of his best works alongside with masterpieces which inspired him. Definitely not to be missed!
• Across the street at the Petit Palais, Eloge du Négatif takes a look into print photography in Italy when it all first started back in mid-19th century. Exhibition runs until 2 May 2010.

Faits Divers

• Arguably this would be the biggest among the different Chinese New Year parades in the city, organised in the main “Chinatown” of Paris – the 13th arrondissement – on the Sunday 21 February from 1.30pm onwards.
• Adam over the Invisible Blog recommends heading to French K-Wa for an afternoon of Sunday Tea Dance. It sounds intriguing and I would have tried to make it except I’m away at the moment.
• The beautiful and talented Corinne Bailey Rae is back with a new album and in it, the song Paris Nights/New York Mornings. Check out the video music which was filmed in Paris.

Other News

• The daughter of the mayor of Kiev was robbed en route to Paris from CDG airport earlier this week. What’s mind boggling is, who carry that much jewellery with them? And were the doors of the car not locked?
• Parisian taxi drivers are planning on a go-slow protest next week on Thursday 25 Feb?
• The bouquinistes along the river Seine has been ordered to sell at least 75% books and less of souvenir items. How will this affect the livelihood of the sellers in this increasingly tough operating economic climate?

We apologise for this slightly late edition of Metlinks due to travelling commitment. And without further ado, here are links to things that caught our eyes, and we hope they’ll pique your interest too.

The 14th February Non-Valentine Specials

• If you can make it to the Carnaval in Rio, let the Carnaval comes to you in Paris. Sort of. Carnaval de Paris will be samba-ing their way from Place Gambetta, reaching Belleville at estimated 4pm, followed by Place de la République at 5.15pm, before winding up at the Hôtel de Ville at 7pm.
• For Chinese New Year festivity nearby, Cérémonie de l’Oeil et Défilé du Dragon of the 3rd arrondissement begins at Hôtel de Ville at 2pm, and follow the route towards rue du Temple, rue Turbigo, place des Arts et Métiers, rue Beaubourg, rue du Renard and finally back at place de l’Hôtel de Ville.
• To add on to the confusion of street parties and parades, the quarter of Belleville will see another Chinese New Year procession, leaving place Fréhel at 2pm, going along rue de Belleville until rue Jules Romain, then rue Rébeval until boulevard de la Villette before turning into boulevard de Belleville. At around 4pm, the party will be meeting the Carnaval de Paris!

Love and Passion

• If you’re wondering why there are locks at bridges of Paris, here’s a video to tell you their origin and the reason why they’re there.
• Declare your love, in 160 characters (that’s 20 more than Twitter!) across the city via 173 electronic public information board.
• Romanticism is often linked to the exotic and unusual, so why not drop over to the Senate’s orangerie at the Luxembourg Garden? The orchid exhibition is a special event that runs only until this Sunday!
• Everything food related gets a love of love from the Paris Metbloggers, and we have a decent collection of cookbooks between us. Still, if we want more, there’s one place for it this weekend – the Paris Cookbook Festival at Le 104.

Little Things To Read (And Enjoy)

• Out of the mouth of babe! Kids do make most wonderful art historians, and here’s American mom MJ to tell you of the adventure of Loosh at the Louvre.
• Pecan mudslide cookies. Miam miam!

Final Sad News

• We are no fashionistas around here but even we recognise the genius of Alexander McQueen. His work shown in Paris last autumn for Spring 2010, entitled Plato’s Atlantis, was a beautiful collection that brings fashion, nature and evolution together, even if the shoes were more precarious than practical for wear. So it is sad to read his obituary…

Another week, oh how time flies. January went by in no time, and there are signs of spring in the air. Maybe a tad too much red and pink for the upcoming Valentine’s Day, maybe a combination of red from the festivities of upcoming Chinese New Year. Do you know, this year, both these days are on 14 February?

February’s Special

• Dana Boulé pays hommage to Paris in February.
• Chinese New Year festivities in Paris begins today with an exhibition at the Centre Culturel de Chine until the end of the month. There will also be other events including parades to look out for. We’ll also keep you posted.
• The Freemasons Museum is reopening next week on Thursday 11 February. This museum is bound to be fascinating, if my visit to a Masonic Lodge in Dublin was any indication.

Events in Paris

• Daniel Rose has got everyone – well, at least the foodies – excited with the opening of Spring Boutique and according to their blog, happy hour Little Saturday runs every Thursday from 5.00pm to 9.00pm. And as a bonus, there’s free event Voyage en Saveurs this Saturday 6 February, from 11.30am to 8.00pm.
• Something fun, especially for kids, and a chance to get to know the sharks better. Dans le sillage de requins is running at the Porte Dorée Aquarium until 6 March 2011, so plenty of chance to get there.
• Big into manga? Here’s a trade show that’s just for you this weekend!

Other Interesting Tit-Bits

• TEDx Paris 2010 took place at the end of last month but you can catch the videos online now.
• Do you know there is a fish spa in the city now? You know, where you sit there and let little fish gnom their way through dead skin. I was told it’d be a wee bit ticklish.
• Oh, there’s also brand new Brunch Bazar which seems fun-packed, with food, lessons and workshops.
• Ann Mah’s first novel, Kitchen Chinese, will be released next week on Tuesday 9 February and this honorary Parisian is embarking on a book tour which will come along to Paris by Wednesday 10 March 2010.

Ok, I have to grant you this picture was definitely not taken this week: such clear blue skies… Also, when would I have had the time to go to La Vilette? Still I thought it was a nice picture.

Last week

• A recap of Fashion Week on Mademoiselle’s blog

This week

• Ponies running wild along the motorway and the périphérique? It happened last Saturday! Fortunately, there were no casualties, just an impressive scene.
• A short recap of the President’s show on TF1 on Monday
• Last days to enjoy a special deduction for Versailles: 2 “passports” for 1! Until the end of the month, for visits in Frebruary
• This week is also the stage debut of Eric Cantona, with “Face au Paradis” at the Marigny theater co-starring Laurent Deutsch!
• Towards a ban of the niqab/burqa in public service areas? At least that’s what came out of the Parliamentary Commission on the topic

Next week

• Some Chandeleur guidelines! Happy crêpes day next Tuesday…

Later on

• Calais wants to be British? Well, at least they’re trying to profit from the 2012 Olympics in London… I hope it works out for them. Paris is not the only worthy place in France! (Even though I’m personally o so happy the JO are not in Paris, phwew!)

Random

• A NY Times paper on 2 famous Parisian “family” restaurants: La Tour d’Argent and Taillevent, both led by a third-generation family member.
• A very moving paper about Haitians in Paris trying to cope with the earthquake from afar.

Doesn’t this concept seem odd? I’ve always knows people riding bikes as having to follow the regular “code de la route“. Which meant, among other things: riding only one way on one-way streets and no riding on sidewalks. This could be very frustrating for those rinding on bicyles as it would mean a number of detours instead of taking the shortest route. (Not all were deterred though and I’ve often seen both people riding their bycicle in the wrong way on one-way streets and people riding their bycicle on the sidewalk… Some even assuming they should have priority on the pedestrians!)

Anyhow, it seems that, in order to favor bycicle use in Paris, one-way streets will become two-way by bicycles, thanks to an extra bicycle lane! All the info can be found here, where there is even an animation to illustrate how cars and bicycles will be moving along with these new paths. I’m sligthly worried about people not thinking to check BOTH WAYS before crossing such streets… But apparently, these lanes have already been in place in a few areas and things have been going well, with cars riding more slowly for example.

By the end of this year, almost all one-way streets where speed is limited to 30 kph should be equiped with the extra bicycle lane. I feel this could make quite a change for those using bicycles and encourage some who didn’t use bicycles before…

Wow, this is my first metlinks for 2010! Doesn’t it feel weird to write 2010? Well, I’ll get used to it soon enough I hope… Anyhow, here are some things that caught my attention this week, in a completely random order.

• For the past few months, a group has been living illegally in a luxurious mansion off place des Vosges as a way to demonstrate against the difficulties of students and others to find decent and affordable places to live in Paris. A sentence has recently been passed by justice that they will be forced out of the building. You can follow the whole story on the press review of this group’s website
• A lovely shot illustrating this week’s weather: Eiffel tower shrouded in mist…
• The possibility of a public transport strike on Feb. 3rd is looming…
• Watch for all the closing exhibits at the end of the week! Among others, Teotihuacan at Quai Branly will stay open every day until midnight before it ends on Sunday…
• But of course there are many more to come. Here is a proposed recap of upcoming exhibits!
• Three concerts are organised in Paris in order to support victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
• What about the soldes? Did you go crazy? Here’s the Figaro’s take on their success for this year.
• Neat post by David Lebovitz about mistakes onemight make while ordering in a Parisian restaurant.
• A funny mistake or maybe we should indeed make line 14 doubly automatic??

Street art: Jef Aerosol left his mark just off Rue Mouffetard, 5th arrodissement.

Dimanche, je marchais dans le jardin du Luxembourg et voilà que ma route est coupée : des cordons de sécurité bloquent l’accès à la partie centrale du jardin (toute la partie basse autour du grand bassin)…

La vue est originale : le centre est totalement désert, un fait rarissime, mais on peut voir les passants à droite dans la zone qui reste ouverte…

Je n’ai pas encore réussi à déterminer pourquoi cette zone était fermée, l’enquête est en cours.

———–
Part of the Luxembourg gardens was closed on Sunday, a mystery but also a rare moment of quiet.

Two weeks into the new year, and nearly a month since the blanket of white snow descended Europe-wide, the Arctic chill is finally going to ease off a little. We’re starting to see temperature around 1-3°C (yay it’s greater than 0) but there’s no telling exactly how long will this reprieve be. Brrr…

In The News

• Is the nightlife of Paris heading towards extinction? New York Times argues it is so.
• Pal Sarkozy (that’s the papa of Nicolas Sarkozy) has landed an one-man Surrealist art show in Espace Pierre Cardin in April. And the centrepiece of the show? A large canvas featuring his daughter-in-law, Carla.
• All the kerfuffle over Christmas attempted terrorist attack on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit has now seen rippling security tightening worldwide. The French civil aviation authority will begin implementing the body scanner in Paris at the end of the month on an experimental basis.

Lifestyle

• What is the favourite word used incessantly by Parisians? “Putain!“, claimed Olivier Magny.
• Are you a creature of habit when it comes to eating out? Or are you the adventurous kind who are constantly in search of some place new, you’re trying to challenge François Simon for his job?
• In the mean time, is wine bar the new trend for dining out? Here are a few of the best wine bars that you could check out next.
• Looking to pamper yourself a little in the new year with some Chinese foot massage session in your own home? At €40 an hour, it’s not too bad a deal and quite nicely, you have no need to go out in the cold!

Exhibitions

• Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson (not to be confused with Fondation Cartier) is hosting an exhibition of the works by the renowned photographer Robert Doisneau from 13 January to 18 April. Not to be missed!
• “Au détour de Jourdain” is a photography exhibition by Farida Hamak, and will be open to all (free of charge!) at the Centre Culturel Algérien. It runs from 13 January to 6 February.
• When children become the young models in which their parents try to capture their essence of lives in paintings – “Les Enfants Modèles, de Claude Renoir à Pierre Arditi” is currently on exhibit at Musée de l’Orangerie until 8 March.

Happy New Year! We trust you had had a good winter holiday, and tell us, did you become a king/queen yesterday? And how have your first week of the year pan out so far?

New Year

• Did you make any new year’s resolution(s) for 2010? Penelope felt hers look rather familiar…
• January means winter sales! Les soldes officially started yesterday, and if you need a little navigation help, check out its official website. By the way, there’s extraordinary opening hours until 9 January.
• Zeva of Paris BAO, featuring Sharon Bowman, introduces 10 great champagnes for the new year. Who says champagne is dead?

Special Requests

• Adam took on a special request from one of his readers, featuring photographs of a location dear to a New Hampshire man. Adam has also generously offered to research and feature similar requests.
• Don’t just chuck them – recycle your Christmas trees instead. There are 95 collection points around the city, and get them in before 24 January.

Culture

• A few days before Christmas, the catacombes of Paris have reopened after a few months of closure, to deal with the aftermath of vandalism. Hurrah for the reopening! That place is spooky but cool spooky.
• From 13 January to 21 February, the Monumenta Project at the Grand Palais will feature an exhibition of the works by Christian Boltanski.
• The 260 black and white columns by Buren at Palais Royal took approximately €1.5 million to install, and to restore them, another €4 million was put through! The restored columns will be inaugurated tomorrow, Friday 8 January.

In The News

• The folks from UK are chiming in on Sarkozy’s call for les grandes écoles to admit more students from low-income families.
• What defines “Frenchness”? The motto of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité? As the debate of French national identity continues, foreign press including BBC, The Guardian, LA Times, Huffington Post and Sydney Morning Herald publish their pieces on the issue. The most curious article, in my personal opinion, is that from The Independent, which admittedly is not all about the identity debate but touches on Sarkozy’s remark on the meaning of fraternité – then promptly blames Parisians of the ills of society in the form of rudeness.