Dear Parler Paris Reader,

Set your eyes on the east this week in the City of Light.

PHILIPPINES CUISINE

It all started with last Wednesday evening when journalist Linda Hervieux and I took a cooking course of Philippine dishes with chef Victor Magsaysay at La Cuisine Paris. La Cuisine Paris is a "FrancoAmerican creation born between two people who, culturally from across both sides of the Atlantic, had the desire to share a common passion with others: the love for exchange, the love of contact with others, and evidently, the love for the most simple yet profound gift best for sharing: food."

American half of the team, Jane Bertch, is proud of their new facility across from the Luxembourg Gardens, rightly so, and already is filling the student seats with celebrities. At this the 'Philippines Fiesta' was the Philippine Ambassador in France, Madame Rora Navarro-Tolentino, along with Althea Karen P. Antonio and her team from the Philippine Trade and Investment Office.

Teresita Reyes' all natural food company, "Mama Sita's," sponsored the event, providing a full range of mixes, sauces and artisanal products to make the four dishes Victor demonstrated and in which we partook, both of cooking them and eating them!: Lumpiang Sariwa (Crepe with sauteed vegetables), Sinigang na Isda (soup with sour fruit from the Philippines), Pancit Canton (noodles with pork, shrimp, vegetables and ginger), Maha Blanca (coconut flan with corn and grilled peanuts). I demonstrated the 'art of chopping garlic' while Linda took lots of photos and we both totally chowed down on the delicious dishes.

 

GET A LOAD OF CAMBODIA

My photographer daughter left for Cambodia yesterday -- five weeks as a volunteer in an orphanage in a rural area just outside of Phnom Penh called A Greater Hope that hosts about 30 kids. She raised the money to pay for the trip through a Web site called Kickstarter.com and then off she went loaded with camera equipment, her trusty laptop and goodies for the kids. With just her first flight to Seoul, Korea behind her, during the lay over before flying on to Phnom Penh, she's written in her blog, keeping a journal throughout the adventure. To follow it along with her photo "reportage," visit http://projectkidsincambodia.blogspot.com/ and sign up to follow it.

TAKING ON THE CHINESE TIGER

Beginning tomorrow, the Chinese are celebrating their new year with festivities at the Mairie of the 3rd arrondissement all week long, at 2, rue Eugène Spuller. The Chinese represent the largest single ethnic community in this district, although the majority of Chinese in Paris live in the 13th. This is the year of the tiger, the third animal in the Chinese zodiac, characterized by its courage, impulsiveness and solidarity.

Tomorrow, take in the Cirque Chinois from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Salle Odette Pilpoul.

Wednesday try your hand (along with arms, legs and feet) at an Atelier d'arts martiaux at 5 p.m. also at the Salle Odette Pilpoul. Just following the demonstration of martial arts, Madame Chow Chinling, Présidente du Comité International de la Jeunesse, will be performing in concert beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, there will be a round table discussion with Véronique Poisson, a doctor in sociology and immigration, and Elisabeth Allès, a doctor of Anthropology at 3 p.m. at the Salle des Mariages. A cooking course will take place at 5 p.m. that day in the Salle Odette Pilpoul.

On Friday, another "Cirque pour tous" will be held at 2 p.m. and another at 5:30 p.m. in the Salle Odette Pilpoul.

Saturday, join the Atelier de danse sponsored by the
Association France Chine Culture at 2 p.m. in the Salle des mariages and that evening, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., the youth will dance and sing to our delight.

Sunday is when it all culminates! Bring your children for the Atelier Maquillage starting at 10 a.m. at 29 rue Michel Le Comte and then at 2 p.m. be at the Hôtel de Ville for the start of the annual parade beginning there and working its way up rue du Temple and into the Marais. Head back to the Mairie of the 3rd, for 6:30 p.m. when you can hear the voices of the Chinese community during the Spectacle du dragon, followed by a few words from city officials, a buffet of Chinese cuisine (Salle des mariages) and a dance and music performance at 8:30 p.m. at the Salle Odette Pilpoul.

Learn more by visiting http://www.mairie3.paris.fr/

MORE THAN AN ASIAN DIET -- A FAT SUNDAY

There's more in store for Parisians as the week moves toward Saint Valentine’s Day, when lovers celebrate their adoration for one another. It's the 13th edition of the Paris Carnival on "Dimanche Gras" (Fat Sunday) beginning with a parade from Place Gambetta at 2:30 p.m. passing by Belleville, Place de la République (around 5:30 p.m.) and by rue Beaubourg to finish at Place de l’Hôtel de Ville at 7 p.m., starring a cow called Pimprenelle. Tradition has it that this animal embodies the boeuf gras, or "fatted ox."

AND A FAT TUESDAY IN THE BIG EASY

With Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) in New Orleans coming up on February 16th, it's an addition to the revelry that the New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl yesterday! Expect the party to go on from now until then and you can be sure we're going to see a lot more Fleur de Lys on anything and everything!

BACK TO THE CITY OF LIGHT: SINGING PIAF

One time American performer in Paris, Gay Marshall, sings Piaf, naturally...but oh so brilliantly! EDGE National Style and Travel Editor, Jason Salzenstein, wrote: "Many singers have sung the songs of Edith Piaf, the legendary French songstress with the famously warbly voice and tiny stature. Then there's Gay Marshall. La Vie l'Amour is sure to be the favorite among Piaf fans, and deserves a prime spot in any music lover's library." To get your CD or learn more about Gay Marshall, visit http://www.gaymarshall.com

 

 

 

A la prochaine...

Adrian Leeds
Editor, Parler Paris

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