If you see me hanging out with Mick Jagger & a million records, its because I'm at Sylvie and Francois' B&B in Paris ❤️ There is Sooo much more to this incredible B&B than you think, other than the building being designed by Gustave Eiffel himself (a historic monument) your host Francois is so interesting (and famous hehe) - he was a French journalist, author and host of radio and television shows. He met all the artists who revolutionized song and popular music of the 20th century: on the Champs-Elysées with Elvis Presley, on a plane with the Beatles, in the dressing rooms of the Rolling Stones or Stevie Wonder, backstage with Jim Morrison or Jimi Hendrix, on tour with Bob Marley, etc. He was the privileged French interlocutor of Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger or John Lennon. His analyses, commentaries, interviews have been published in some thirty reference works. Also passionate about world music, producing numerous records in Southeast Asia. His entire lounge room wall is a tribute to this love and lifetime of music, and boy does he have some stories to share!! And I was given the BIGGEST gift of all by Francois, a secret trip to the underground caves that you only dream of visiting underneath these old haussmann buildings, I was like a kid in a candy shop, sooo exhilarated to explore the underground labyrinth of history and French soul. Behind door one, Francois' secret collection of wines and behind door two his secret stash of brilliant artworks as i quickly learnt that he was a painter before he became a journalist - I'm always learning more and more about him!! It was the best experience! There really is beauty in the things and people we know ❤️ And to end a perfect day Sylvie my beautiful generous hostess, threw a delicious dinner party of 8, where I got to meet their lovely international friends. Sylvie just as impressive and wonderful was a photographer specializing in Asia and author of several cookbooks. Merciiii Sylvie et Francois, J'adore staying w
This was the best christmas I'll never forget!! 🎄✨ My absolutely incredible guests Shellie & Dan - you guys are truly amazing. Long time guests of Petite, Shellie and Dan are from Boston and they have stayed in a few of my B&Bs over the years, B&B isabelle, B&B carol and this year, a very special year, they are loving Apartment Alvene in the 2eme. As Hospitality entertaining and cooking lovers, they generously hosted myself and Alvene for an exquisite decadent christmas feast in the apartment!! Alvene and I were blown away - and also loooved being hosted by our guests 🙏 what a treat! Though being the beautiful B&B host that he is Alvene was secretly also behind the scenes from the day before helping them with the cooking, running those stairs like a true frenchman between this apartment and Apartment Brian upstairs (where Shellie & Dans son and his wife Alexandra will be arriving to stay in just a few days). The detail was incredible, Shellie even brought her grandmothers napkins & table-runner all the way from Boston. The commitment to making this christmas in Paris so special for us all was so beautiful, thank you for being my christmas family this year guys. We had the most amazing time, sharing with eachother tid bits (and big bits) of our lives from the US to Australia to Paris; Shellie and Dan even shared Bob with us, bringing an old ghost from their old house in Nantuket who kept messing with the volume dial of the music. We were all thoroughly spooked but renamed him (in a french accent) 'rrrrrobert' - and he may have made himself very much at home in that apartment now hahaha dont blame him, its a fabulous home, with fabulous guests & company and fabulous food. I'd haunt/ home this space too hehe What did we eat? Oysters, prawns, canard frois gras, Beef off the bone in a port wine sauce, mash potatoes with shallots, salad with strawberries & roquefort cheese & so much more (shellie the foodie you need to give the menu rundown properly hehe) it was a
In case you all haven't all had enough food, merry boxing day everyone, here is a little stroll that Sylvie and Francois took me on to help pick up their Christmas gourmet goodies in some incredible local indoor and outdoor street markets, butchers, patisseries, just around the corner from their B&B in Paris!!! As usual Francois keeping me laughing the whole way through with his clever antics. Rue Poncelet is an especially great little foodie strip in this beautiful neighbourhood with all you could possibly want, plus beautiful bustle to watch, so many shops, and of course cafes to sit at, which is always where i love to wind up... And i just want to add something special that i saw on New Years Eve. As i was walking the Paris streets later that evening I passed a homeless man sleeping on the street, a Parisian couple stopped their car and got out to ask him what he wanted to eat, he looked confused at first and didnt know what was happening at first but then realised and said 'poulet' chicken! The couple got back in their car i presume to go buy him dinner. My heart and eyes were overflowing with joy. The true christmas spirit, remember while we have so much so many have none, and I think I just found my new Christmas tradition!!! Merci for showing me the way random Paris couple in the streets. Love to everyone, young, old, rich or poor, we all deserve a good warm meal ✨🙏✨🙏✨🙏
just to add to this petite tour of Sylvie and Francois' guest suite... I just want to add how incredible Sylvie et Francois as host. There are no words kind enough, loving enough to describe their hospitality and there's such interesting people too with so many stories, if you are someone who wants to connect with local parisians and have some interesting chats they are your people absolutely. Francois was a very well-known radio host on the French radio and has met all the great such as the Beatles. Mick Jagger Tina Turner and he has travelled the world for his work, and he has so many stories to share between that and all of his travels to Southeast Asia which he and Sylvie visits twice a year and he's just a hilarious character, full of cheekiness and quirky stories that will just keep you entertained. Sylvie is an artist and she has written many books and painted many paintings and she's a sweetheart as well, they are lovely, generous and very gracious couple that I've been working with since 2009. And PS we have availability for New Year's Eve so anyone wanting to be spontaneous and come to Paris and stay in this guest house while I am here as well. I would love to play cohost with Sylvie and Francoise and bring in the New Year together reach out to me if you're interested otherwise I get to use all of this space on my own whooohoooo! Home for the next 2 weeks! oh, and I ran out of real space, but this home is five minutes walk to see the Arc de Triomphe which is the start of the Chanps Elysees, which is only five minutes more to the Trocadero the main site to take photos of the Eiffel Tower, looming huge in front of you, and have a tram at your door taking you to the North Paris antique flea markets direct the Metro is around the corner. Take me to every other monument you could possibly want to visit in Paris and of course you are surrounded by all of the usual boulangerie patisserie's bars, restaurants, cafes, it's a little Paris in Paris and this area is n
