Out of the four novels selected in the finals of the Goncourt Prize (the equivalent of the Booker Prize in France), only one appealed to me and the good surprise was that “Les Impatientes” was quite short, 240 pages, and completely mind grabbing. Now 45, the author, Djaïli Amadou Amal is a Peule from North Cameroon, the French speaking part … Read More
Elegant presents for all ages
If you can’t afford a painting by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring or Alex Katz, Ligne Blanche has a solution for you. Buy a plate, a coffee cup or a candle designed by them. This smart company started working with famous artists or their estates to reproduce their art on Limoges porcelain plates. And the result is great fun. I was … Read More
Two very Parisian Christmas tables
Isabelle Baer is a very special person. She worked for many years as Pierre Celeyron’s good fairy organizing weddings and eccentric evenings at Versailles and has three brilliant children. Julien who is a talented singer and musician who also writes poetry, a daughter Pauline, who just published a book “La collection disparue” on her family’s painting collections which were looted … Read More
Christmas will be small but super chic
Since everyone has time at the moment, I asked a few friends to create their Christmas table for Parisdiary and here is the first one by Anne de Caumont la Force, a writer and member of the Femina prize. Don’t hesitate to mix bamboo chairs with precious Herend porcelain and a home made gold tablecloth. My most precious presents come … Read More
Dreaming about festive times
Guendalina Litta specializes in the planning of grand weddings and balls so now is not exactly the time to launch her new book, but if you look at it, we need more than ever to dream about future happy moments and you might want to read it for simple ideas like matching the food to colored plates or using lights … Read More
Champagne sales have gone up on Saturday!
Is this a good sign for French American future trade relations? I have received so many messages from American friends drinking champagne on Saturday at 6 pm French time, that I hope wine will not be taxed anymore when entering the US. To celebrate the President Elect Joe Biden, my friends have all opened a bottle of Pol Roger, Veuve … Read More
Touring around Bordeaux vineyards is very uplifting!
For a few years, I had wanted to try the new golf course of Grand Saint-Emilionnais, designed by Tom Doak for the Mourgue d’Algue, a famous family of golf champions. Gaëtan used to run the Lancôme Trophy, one of the most memorable French Professional golf tournaments and his wife Cecilia and daughter Crystel were both great amateur players. Late … Read More
Precious stones glitter at Museum of Natural history
“Pierres Précieuses” is an unusual exhibition for a Museum of natural history and this is due to the dialogue between the collections of the institution founded in 1793 and the creations by Van Cleef & Arpels jewelers. And it is spectacular, probably the most exciting and intriguing show at the moment in Paris. Located in the Grande Galerie de l’Evolution’s lower … Read More