We finished our book! Okay, I may not have mentioned that we were working on one, but we finished it!
There are a lot of Paris guide books to choose from and we wanted to create one that was different, that was focused on living in Paris as Parisian-like as possible. (Book available here.)
If you've been a reader for a while, maybe you followed us through Paris? We spent a month there late last year to celebrate our 20th anniversary. When we planned our trip, we knew that we wanted to: live in an apartment, shop the incredible markets of Paris to cook at home, get around on foot, bike and metro and discover as many little Paris gems as possible. In the process of planning and as we navigated our trip we learned so much that we decided to write a guide to streamline the process for others who want to explore Paris in a similar way - even if they just have a week or two.
We put together our best tips on preparing to go, what to pack, how to find a place to stay, how to explore the city on foot or bike and get around on the metro, language basics, day trips out of the city and simple recipes to make in your apartment. We also shared our thoughts on the best museums and how to really enjoy them, restaurants to try, hidden gems and even our pick for the best chocolate shop in Paris. If you're interested in learning more, click here for a more in-depth overview of the book.
One of the best parts about renting an apartment in Paris is being able to cook. For me, it would have been torture to explore all of those outdoor markets and specialty food shops and not be able to buy anything. Having a kitchen gave us the perfect excuse to wander along market stalls, seeking out the freshest eggs and herbs, the richest butter. And that's just for breakfast! Don't get me started about the market vegetable stands, the fromageries (cheese shops), bouchers (butchers), boulangeries (bakeries) and wine shops!
And it's not just about being able to cook. After a full day of exploring, we were often tired and it was wonderful to come back to our apartment, open a bottle of wine, prepare a simple meal and relax at 'home' - a taste of Joie de vivre 5,168 miles from our actual home.
The photo of the meal above is authentic, taken at the dining table of our apartment in Paris with my iPhone. It was a common scene as the Fines Herbes Omelet recipe I'm sharing with you today is something that we often cooked during our trip, pairing it with buttered toast with mirabelle plum jam (at home we often pair it with this Belgian Waffle Recipe, Sweet Potato Hash Browns, Cheesy Potatoes, Skillet Potatoes, Breakfast Potatoes or Sweet Potato Hash). It's a classic French dish (like French Onion Soup, Baked Eggs, Savory Crepes, and Nicoise Salad) that is simple to prepare and incredibly delicious, exactly the kind of meal that's perfect to prepare in your Paris apartment. Are you ready to plan your trip!?
Fines Herbes Omelet
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh flat leaf parsley chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chervil chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh tarragon chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh chives chopped
- 2 tbsp butter divided
Instructions
- Crack eggs into a medium bowl and add salt and pepper; beat eggs with a fork until white and yolk are completely combined. Stir in chopped parsley, chervil, tarragon and chives.
- Heat one tablespoon of butter in an 8-inch skillet over medium-high heat. When butter is melted and bubbling, add half of egg mixture and tilt pan in a circular motion, letting the eggs flow to the edges of the pan. Let set for a few seconds then gently push eggs from the outside edges to the center, letting the uncooked egg flow to the sides. Continue this process for another minute, until the eggs are set on the bottom but slightly liquid on top. Carefully flip the omelet and then slide onto a plate, tipping the pan up as it slides out to fold the omelet in half.
- Repeat process with remaining egg mixture.
I literally cannot wait to read your book! I have my ipad charging as we speak! 😉 Living like a Parisian includes eating like one, and you've captured that beautifully here with your omelet. An omelet seems like a seemingly simple meal, but its those fresh herbs and air of Je ne sais quoi that go into it that make it so special <3
Beautifully said, Beeta! I hope we end up in Paris at the same time one day...xo
Hi Marissa! You are such an incredibly talented lady! Wishing you and Keith a wonderful Christmas!!
Thank you so much, my friend! xo
What a great thing to do, Marissa!
Guess which book I'm grabbing next time we pop over to Paris?!
Last time we went there, we found the restaurant food expensive, and although there's so much great food there it isn't always easy to pinpoint exactly where it is.
So your idea of staying in an apartment and cooking up some of that amazing market produce is fabulous.
Congrats on the publishing of the book, and... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Thank you so much, Helen! ut
Omelet looks perfect and congratulations on your book, Marissa! Your guide sounds so interesting. It must've been amazing to spend your anniversary in Paris for a month!
Thank you, Sabrina. We felt so lucky! It was truly a wonderful experience...
CONGRATULATIONS! This looks like such a wonderful resource. Paris is on our shortlist of future travel destinations so I will definitely be buying this when the time comes. For now, I'll be sure to refer my friends and family here when the need arises. Good luck!
So kind of you, Sonali! Thank you.