Tag Archives: Paris

Pink Flamingo Pizzeria, Paris

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I was instantly attracted to the Pink Flamingo brand: fun, fabulous, a must for foodie fanatics. This trendy Parisian pizza parlour could easily be overlooked as just a quirky fast food outlet but it offers something quite unique and totally addictive. Luckily, anything pink always catches my eye and I grabbed the opportunity to try this Parisian outlet while spending a weekend in the French capital. With limited seating area, the flamingo fans often spill out onto the street, and often you will see hungry couples gorging by the edge of the canal: a pink balloon in one hand, a slice of pizza in the other, all part of the jolly summer ‘pink-nik’.

Entrepreneurial gastronomic couple Jamie Young and Marie Ravel opened the original pizza joint on rue Bichat, keen to offer wacky pizzas using organic ingredients and inventive combinations. The huge popularity of this concept has led to outlets opening up in all the hip areas of Paris (Marais, Aligre, Montmatre) as well as Bordeaux, Valencia, downtown Berlin and now a new branch in Amsterdam. Walking through Paris in 36 degree heat, we were hungry and tired by the time we reached rue Bichat. Jamie and Marie were waiting smiling outside the restaurant, and enthusiastically explained the Pink Flamingo pizza revolution to us while we enjoyed a bottle of the PF branded beer.

The interior of the tiny restaurant is decorated with cool pictures and posters, neon pink lighting and vintage Grease-like leather stools. The scorching weather encouraged us to sit outside on the seats at the front, we could watch the world go by while munching.

Don’t expect to eat a standard Margarita at Pink Flamingo… the team here present weird and wonderful combinations, totally unconventional but utterly delicious. We tried two of the recommended favourites from the menu:

–          La Basquiat: gorgonzola, figs and parma ham (13 euros). This was an explosion of flavours, the tangy blue cheese, sweet figs and smoky ham working miraculously well together. I found the flavours rather rich and overpowering but my guest loved it.
–          L’Almodovar: ‘Pizza Paella’, chicken, shrimps, chorizo and peas. I chose this sans shrimps; it was absolutely delicious, a glorious mix of meats, the peas were a particularly innovative and successful addition.

Funnily enough the pizzas don’t taste as bizarre as they sound, the combinations work exceptionally well. Jamie also presents a pizza of the moment, using seasonal ingredients of the week. I was also very tempted to try the La Cantona which involves a staggering eight different cheeses. Bases are crisp and thin, but substantial and cheese is gooey and on the generous side. The smells that waft from this pizzeria must attract diners from streets away.

We wandered away from the Pink Flamingo, branded t-shirt and balloon in hand, with our tummies totally satisfied and minds captured by this characterful little eatery. I’m trying to persuade this pizza pair to bring the Pink Flamingo in London, where I know it would be a hit. Fingers crossed.

Pink Flamingo, 67 rue Bichat, Canal St-Martin, 75010 Paris.

More information here: http://www.pinkflamingopizza.com/

Hot on the Highstreet Week 119

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Paris’ Les Salons du Palais Royal is worth visiting just to enjoy a stroll around the lavish green garden. Venture further into the echoey cloisters and you will discover luxurious little shops filled with treats and trinkets. I purposivey took a trip to this square to see the Serge Lutens Perfumeries, despite worrying that it would be shut in muggy August.

Serge Lutens made Christian Dior cosmetics famous before boosting Shiseido as a legendary label, through his powerful creations they have made an indelible visual impact. After having revolutionised and beautified the makeup world for over thirty years, he is now breathing new life into the world of scents, composing for the Japanese institution a new designer perfume collection with bewitching aromas. Serge Luten’s special fragrance creations are available exclusively in the unique boutique in Paris. Some perfumes from the range are available at selected department stores nationwide with the key retailers being Liberty (0207 734 1234) and Harrods (0207 730 1234).

Moody and mysterious, the Serge Lutens emporium is a magical chamber of potions. A spiral staircase leads up to unknown territory, downstairs the room is dimly lit and arranged in a minimalist fashion. Subtly hued liquids fill medicinal style glass vessels.

Experts are on hand to assist you, thank god as I felt completely lost and overwhelmed by the choice of scents. Each has an entirely distinct and indosyncratic smell. The Eau de Parfums are delicate but have character, and a plethora of individual ingredients. They leave a lasting impression on the skin, seasoning that stays for a whole day.

All the scents are unisex though some seem to be more of an acquired taste, suited to a more feminine or masculine wearer. I was attracted to a variety of different perfumes:

Fleurs d’oranger – a sweet fruity scent, light and playful, sensual and fun

Douce amere (Bitter sweet) – a more grown up and mysterious perfume, a hint of absinthe gives a spicy sophisticated feel

Un bois sepia (After the rain in the forest) – a magical and unusual scent, thoughtful and provocative, fresh and powerful

The aromas take fifteen minutes to develop on the skin, so after extensive testing I had shortlisted three, marked on different areas of my wrists and arms. I wandered to the nearby fountain to wait – even in those few minutes the scents changed and deepened adapting to my skin. Eventually we both agreed on Un bois sepia, by far the most distinctive and exquisite of the three, and delicious to have around you.

Extraordinarily exciting and enticing, you emerge smelling of subtle sophistication, a desirable rarity. Enter the world of Serge Lutens and you will never want to spritz Chanel No.5 again.

Visit the website here.

http://www.sergelutens.com/

Le Castiglione, Paris

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My hunt for the best burger continued on my recent trip to Paris. Asking around my trusted sources and scouring the web, I found that Le Castiglione was a very popular option with tourists, locals and celebrities alike. It was expert burger man Nick Andrews’ (of ‘Burger Me’) final recommendation on twitter that sealed the deal for me.

August is a month of quiet and calm in Paris, while everyone migrates south to Provence and the seaside; the shops shut, cafés close and restaurants remain eerily empty. Le Castiglione is an exception to the rule and continues to thrive in the summer months, testament to the quality and success of the food. This charming restaurant is located in the 1st district near Place Vendome and among designer outlets galore.

The cosy carpeted top floor is closed during August, I can imagine it would just be too stuffy in the summer heat. The more casual ground floor has a lovely ambience and excellent speedy service. With the outdoor seating, it is ideal for light lunches in the sunshine. We went along with one mission in mind… to investigate the famed Casti burger.

Before we could gorge ourselves, we were treated to cold drinks and delicious crusty artisan bread. Ravenous and tired from trekking around the city, I gobbled far too much of the bread and butter, forgetting my rule number one, “avoid bread, at all costs”, it was just too good to resist. Next light but generous sized starters arrived: a very fresh and flavoursome tomato and mozzarella salad for me and homemade crispy chicken dumplings for my guest.

There wasn’t much of a break before the burgers… we didn’t have a chance to even anticipate the epic feast that was imminently arriving. I noticed onlookers drooling as our giant Casti burgers were placed on the small table. There’s no time, space or necessity for salad in these burgers – instead the bun is packed full of a huge soft crumbly meaty burger, soft and juicy but not bloody (much too my relief), there is oozing cheese and a decent helping of caramelised crispy bacon (very moreish and utterly yummy) and then the overflowing creamy orange magic sauce, of which the ingredients and recipe remain a secret for all to ponder and debate.  We were so stunned by the scrumptious meal, there was no time to discover what made this sauce so special and why exactly the combination worked together so well. One thing is for sure, it is not a burger for the weak hearted, rich and calorific this burger requires a big appetite. Priced at 23 Euros it is not cheap, but for burger lovers it will be worth the cost. The burgers arrive with portions of soft and crispy frites, salty and delicious and perfect for dunking into the excess sauce. I was glad I’d had salad to start, as I feel this meat feast could definitely leave you in need of greenery.

Devastatingly we were just too full for dessert, instead I ordered a macchiato to revive my food induced weariness before returning to the streets of Paris. I’ve heard the puddings are magnificent at Le Castiglione and will definitely be returning to try out a selection of sweets.

Le Castiglione is your classic Parisian restaurant, all the food looks and tastes divine, but the secret of this café’s success lies with the juicy burgers which are rated among the best in this food obsessed city.

Visit the website for more information here.

http://www.lecastiglione.com/