From Sydney to Paris, again…

Welcome Back to My Blog!

It’s been a while since I last shared an update with you all – a whopping 4+ years, to be exact! My last blog post was way back on April 10, 2021, and I’ve been meaning to get writing again for ages. Life gets busy, and sometimes the blog gets pushed to the side, but I’m back now, and I’m excited to share what’s been going on in my world. In this post, I’ll be catching you up on my current adventures, in France, where I’ve been indulging in delicious food, exploring new places, and (attempting) to speak French. So grab a stiff drink, get comfortable, and let’s dive in!

It’s hard to believe it’s already been 14 years since we first started visiting France. My partner Andrew and I have made it a point to visit at least once or twice a year, and this year is no exception. With Andrew working on his interior design business in France for half the year, I’m always excited to join him and experience all that France has to offer.

The perils of learning a new language! My French language continues to be a work in progress. I still chuckle thinking about the time I called hotel reception in Paris after a long drive from Cognac, desperate for a glass of champagne to unwind.

In my exhausted state, I managed to ask for “un seau de garçons” (a bucket of boys) instead of “un seau à glace” (an ice bucket). The poor receptionist must have thought I’d had one too many glasses of champagne already, because he kept hanging up on me! I had to go down to the front desk to sort out the mix-up, thankfully the receptionist had a good sense of humour.

My journey began just over a week ago, when I flew out of Sydney on the early Emirates flight at 6am. After a smooth check-in and a relaxing morning in the lounge, I was treated to a Bloody Mary and a good night’s sleep on the flight. I even managed to help the Emirates staff make a cocktail in the onboard bar, and as always, I was blown away by the exceptional service.

With a longer-than-usual layover in Dubai, I was whisked away to the Le Meridien Hotel for a few hours of relaxation. I took advantage of the complimentary pool, drinks, and dinner, courtesy of Emirates’ Connect Dubai experience. After a short nap and a shower, I was off to Paris, where I always feel a sense of connection and homecoming.

Touching down at Charles de Gaulle airport, I was met with the familiar sights and sounds. I always love landing in Paris, always a sense of coming home and it always brings a smile to my face. Andrew and I met up in Montparnasse, and we headed to our hotel in Bercy, which was conveniently located next to the Accor Arena, where Kylie Minogue was performing as part of her Tension tour. While Bercy wasn’t my first choice of neighborhood, we discovered that Bercy Village was pretty cool, with plenty of restaurants and a fascinating history. We had dinner at Roberta, and enjoyed the park, which was full of interesting history about the wine warehouses and distribution facilities on the Seine River. 

The highlight of our time in Paris was undoubtedly Kylie Minogue’s concert. She’s always an amazing performer, and it was great to see an Australian artist doing so well in another country. I even managed to score an exclusive Paris tee shirt and program, which was a nice bonus.

After the concert, we headed back to the hotel and prepared for our journey to Angouleme and Cognac. We decided to stay in Angouleme last minute, due to the Uber situation, and ended up at the newly renovated Mercure hotel, which was located in a beautiful historic building. Dinner at the restaurant “Bardy” was superb, with a focus on bringing people together for great food, wine, and good times.

Now that we’re settled in Cognac, I’m enjoying the laid-back atmosphere and the opportunity to cook and relax. We’ve been having a heatwave, but it’s been lovely to spend time at the farm, about 90 minutes north of Cognac, where I’ve been cooking up a storm and enjoying the peaceful surroundings. I’m looking forward to visiting Brasserie “La Distillerie” at the 5 Star Hôtel Chais Monnet with our friends Kaye and Tony this week.

Stay tuned for more updates from our adventures in France, and I’ll be sure to share some of my favourite recipes, including the terrine I made at the farm. You can follow my Facebook or Instagram for updates. More later this week.

Mike X