Hanging out near the Paris Opéra for Fashion and Food

8/25/2024

Uniqlo Shopping After Class
Thursday after class, I met with a friend to check out the new artistic collaborations at Uniqlo Opéra. He wanted to check out a particular jacket from the KAWS + Warhol collection. There are also collaborations featuring art from Jean-Michel Basquiat and the Louvre. There was a queue to ensure everyone could have a moment with the collections from KAWS + Warhol and we saw some really cool pieces. Below are a few; you can find the rest on my IG @Tsahia. I had a good time with my French friend as I tried to explain who Cookie Monster is, as he is featured on some of the designs, with a banana. I wonder what drove that choice and why he wasn't featured with his beloved cookies?

Indulging my Eyes at Galleries Lafayette
I've posted pictures from the pastry section of The Gourmet Market at Galleries Lafayette (https://haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/en/the-gourmet-market/) before, and since I was just there on Thursday after class, I couldn't help but snap a few photos of the latest desserts. The eclairs are from Christophe Adam, who was crowned the best pastry chef in 2014 and 2015. He pays tribute with L'Eclair de Génie to his love at first sight (à son coup de foudre): the lightning (l'eclair). Eclairs aren't usually my first choice, but I'm definitely in love. Below are pastries from Pierre Hermé, "an architect of taste" who comes from four generations of Alsatian bakers and pastry chefs. He is incredibly creative, and according to his website, his inspiration comes from "his weakness for sweets, pleasure, sensations, encounters, fragrances and textures." I just blushed a little bit! Coming from the American healthcare industry, we wouldn't sit in the office talking about pastries, pleasure, luxuries, etc., especially when working around tough subjects such as how we can keep oncology patients well in their homes or how we make a strenuous process such as dialysis easier for patients. However, as much as I loved my work in healthcare, I am ecstatic to live in a city where I can speak with people about indulgent topics such as raspberry coulis, pistachio crème and whether or not I should have a rosé wine or champagne.

Descending to the lowest level in the Galleries Lafayette, you'll find a melange of the most beautiful fruit (mostly imported) at Maison Colom, the greengrocer. These fruits are pricier than what you'll find in the general markets around Paris, but the price stems from the import costs and the items' quality. Established by Rungis by Yoni Cohen in 2006, top chefs from around the city come here for the very best in produce. As I've been on my "Where's Jamaica in Paris?" journey, I've been lucky to find mangoes in a couple of places from Mexico and Brazil (below). I immediately put the mango in the fridge so it's a cool temperature and highly satisfying.

We continue our journey and stumble upon the Meunier bakery, Le Bourdonnec butcher, Fishmonger and Cheesemonger. There are also a number of restaurants at The Gourmet Market, and, on my list, is the restaurant adjacent to Fishmonger - where it seems you can choose your own piece of fish or other seafoods for your meal. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.