Study Abroad Blog: Champagne and macaroons, a perfect combination

After the week I've had, I now understand what David Lebovitz considers living the sweet life in Paris. David writes all about how he "adjusted to life in a city that sometimes left him scratching his head, but ultimately won him over." If you have never read his blog, check it out here: http://www.davidlebovitz.com (trust me, you won't be disappointed).

I started my internship Tuesday at École Fénelon in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. I am teaching English to a class of about 25 sixteen and seventeen year old French students, and I already LOVE it. The kids are hilarious and seem really interested what we have to say. The teaching style is so different here in France, I have noticed it both in my own classes and in the class I teach as well- there are no lectures, it's all conversation between teacher and student. Students have no problem being put on the stop when a teacher calls on them to repeat what we have just said to them in English (a feat American students would cower away from). I can already tell I have a lot to learn to my high school students!

On Thursday, I was given the opportunity to go to a fashion présentation of a Parisian design label called Innamorato and view their upcoming Fall 2011 collection! A friend and I are guest blogging for our API resident director on 2 different presentations (I'm going to another tomorrow!), and giving our opinions on fashion in Paris. It was completely surreal being in room full of French fashion experts, I felt like I was in a real life Devil Wears Prada scene! I'll be sure to post a link to our blog post once it's online!

We spent all day Saturday east of Paris in the Champagne region of France. We visited 2 different champagne "caves" where we were able to tour the cellars where the champagne is both fermented and produced, as well as taste the champagne! The first vineyard, Taittinger, is in the town of Reims. We literally walked into the ground via a spiral staircase to get to the caves. The temperature is about 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) in the caves, which I learned is done to perfectly ferment the champagne. After the first tasting, we went into town for lunch and found the most unique café/restaurant I have ever been to. We discovered La Route du Vin on a side street (the best places are always off the beaten path), and it probably holds 15 people at most. The waiter triples as owner AND chef, and his kitchen is literally open to the patrons- it's as if a friend is cooking you dinner at their apartment. I ordered the vegetable omelette, and it was the most fresh meal I have ever had-stuffed with zucchini, carrots, and leeks. So delicious that I could barely wait to take a photo!
After lunch, we traveled to Épernay, the capital of Champagne, for a tour and tasting at La Maison de Mercier. One of the oldest champagne houses in the world, the founder Eugène Mercier began making champagne in 1858. At this particular tasting, a Mercier sommelier told us all about their special cuvée brut. The Mercier cuvée champagne is actually made of 3 different types of wine grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. I'd have to say that after this trip, I am a champagne connoisseur and definitely did not go home empty handed :)

After spending all of Sunday morning wandering through produce markets in Montmartre, and the afternoon eating a jambon, fromage, et champignon crêpe (ham, cheese, and mushrooms) on the steps of Sacre Coeur, my return to Paris was welcomed by le Jour du Macaron (Macroon Day)! Free Macaroon Day was started 6 years ago by the Pierre Hermé macaroon boutique in support of children's charities, and several patisseries throughout the city have now caught on! At each Pierre Hermé shop (there are 7 total), you get 3 free macaroons of your choice. The flavors are extremely unique, including vanilla and olive oil, chocolate and foie gras, and mint and peas...Bernie Bots Every Flavor Macaroons anyone? I wasn't adventurous enough to go with those flavors, but after trips to 2 different stores, I ordered rose, Arabella (milk chocolate, banana, passionfruit, and candied ginger), licorice and violet, Arabesque (apricot and pistachio), white truffle and hazlenut, and salted caramel!! It's has been nearly impossible to not devour them all today!

Cheers to champagne in Champagne!