Menkicchi Ramen - considered one of the best ramens in Paris.

Menkicchi is located on Rue St Anne not far from the Opera in Paris. 

Here in this small ramen restaurant with a pop decor made in Japan made out of manga and were you sit on Kirin beer barrels at small tables you find some of the best Ramen in Paris. 

Their miso ramen with home made noodles and some gyozas with that has reached some of the most famous food guides in France as the Gault & Millau guide. The meat is deliciously made, the broth is nice and thick and the noodles have a nice homemade texture. 

The staff is multilingual, nice and accomodating so you really feel welcome here.

Be early as the line can get long in the evening, like most restaurants on the Rue St Anne with all the Japanese and Corean restaurants here does. 

Menkicchi

41 Rue Sainte Anne

75001 Paris

https://www.bigpicky.com/menkicchi

The meal on the picture will cost you 21 Euros. 

 

La Palette - A real Parisian Café in St Germain des Près, Paris

La Palette is an institution in Paris. In St Germain close to the School of Arts you find this wonderful café. When you enter and sit down to have a coffee or a light meal you are surrounded by pieces of art offered by clients long time ago. The tables and chairs have been there "forever".

People come here to have breakfasts, lunch, coffee break, apero, dinner and then a drink late at night. 

I have been coming here since I was a student in Paris in the 1980s. Now I come to sit and read a book, enjoy an evening out with friends and sometimes to just sit down and do some work when needed. 

The terrace on the small square outside is wonderful on a sunny day!

A place not to miss when in Paris. 

And it does get very crowded!

La Palette

43 rue de la Seine - 75006 PARIS

Tel : +33 1 43 26 68 15

https://www.lapalette-paris.com/

 

 

The blog is back again!

After some busy years and then Covid-19 this blog has not been updated. It has been difficult to travel and places have been closed and the time has been used to get the company to work. Thanks to great clients we are still doing good and travelling is slowly getting back.

People still askes me about advices for their travels, nice restaurants to visit, hidden places and cool local activities. Therefor I have decided to restart this blog. 

When you scroll down you will find the old suggestions. I have decided to keep them so I kindly as you to double check the information about the places, as that information is kind of old. However they can be a nice inspiration. 

Let's all hope that Covid-19 will soon be a memory and we can start to explore the world again. 

Picture taken in the Peruvian Amazon Dec 2021.

 

Ghibli Museum in Tokyo

Picture by: Tomi Mäkitalo

Ghibli studios are the creators of some of Japan's most amazing animated films, such as Totoro, Spirited Away and Kiki. The studio has won several awards for its beautiful films. In 2001, the Ghibli Museum, located a bit outside Tokyo, was opened dedicated to the studios movies.. The museum is influenced by European architecture and the building itself is part of the exhibition. Already a bit from the museum you can see the big robot from "Laputa Castle in the Sky", which is the museum's own guardian. At the entrance you are warmly greeted to this imaginative museum by Totoro. Once inside the museum there are both permanent exhibitions based on their own films, but there are also several temporary exhibitions during the year. The motto of the museum is "Let's become a child again", which has influenced the entire exhibition to have a child-friendly and playful impression. Tickets for the Ghibli Museum must be booked one month in advance.

 Please visit their website for more information,
http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/welcome/

Molise - the best kept secret in Italy

 

  

If you want to discover a still unexplored part of Italy, travel to Molise!

Molise is one of Italy's smallest and most authentic regions. You find Molise on the Italian east coast and borders to Abruzzo in the north and Puglia in the south. Even though the area is small, there is a lot to explore, medieval villages, archeological sites, the Matese mountains, where you can ski in the winter, and of course the Adriatic Sea and it’s clear water.

My friend Karin Bergqvist lives in the medieval village Ripabottoni where she runs a small and very nice B&B with a beautiful garden. The village is quiet with breathtaking views, people are warm, friendly, curious and eager to help.

In the village you find a couple of grocery stores, a pharmacy, a butcher, a post office and a couple of nice bars, one with a small trattoria. Almost every day farmers come to the village to sell their vegetables and fruits and once a week the fishermen come from the coast to sell their fish.

Karin wants her guests to explore and get a feel of the region, it’s rich history, culture and traditions, food and wine. She gladly gives you advice on where to go and what to see and she organizes cooking classes, wine tastings and visits to farms to taste the locally produced cheese, salsiccia, olive oil and truffle products and much more.

Please visit www.artandbreakfast.it for more information or contact Karin directly on Karin@artandbreakfast.it

Art & Breakfast B&B

Corso Vittorio Emanuele 50

860 40 Ripabottoni (CB)

Tel. +39 377 954 69 55

Soup Stock Tokyo - A great healthy & good priced meal

SOUP STOCK TOKYO has since it's opening 1999 in Odaiba, Tokyo is constantly expanding in Japan. It is a great way to eat a light lunch or dinner in Japan. Here you get a soup, a curry with rice and a drink for 1290 Yen ( 11 US  dollars)  and that is their most pricy meal. You can chose from many different soups. On the picture you can see a lobster bisque. a chicken & tomato curry with a fresh ginger drink.
The decoration is simple lines with concrete with light wood.
One place to visit Soup Stock Tokyo is a the Shinjuku station South Exit next to Flags shopping building.

http://www.soup-stock-tokyo.com/

Were to eat ice cream in Firenze - Italy?

When in Italy you just cant stop to eat ice cream, can you?
In Firenze the 2 best places to enjoy Italian ice cream are the following;

Gelateria S. Trinita, Piazza Frescobaldi, 50125 Firenze
This place is in my opinion number 1. Located by the Arno river this place is always full of people.

Grom, V.d Campanile An V d Ocho
This is a chain but has fantastic ice cream as well. Can be found all over Italy and in Paris as well.

This is original ice creams that are not full of artificial things and just full of sugar that so many of the ice cream places are in Italy now Enjoy!

Japan Rail Pass - The best and cheapest way to travel in Japan!

The best way to travel in Japan is to travel with a Rail Pass. There are many regional passes to chose from but if you want to travel all over Japan the best way is to buy a JR Japan Rail Pass. This pass can be bought for 7,14 or 21 days both in ordinary and green car (first class) A 7 day pass has the same price as a round trip from Tokyo Narita Airport to the city of Kyoto. The rest is just a bonus. This pass has to be bought outside Japan. When you enter to Japan you will get a stamp in your passport that shows that you are a tourist and permits you to exchange the voucher to the actual Railpass. You can travel on most trains but be careful check if the Railpass is working on the train that you wish to take. When you have your Railpass in Japan you can make your seat reservations at any station for free. It's a great way to travel Japan. A good thing to do is to use the Railpass in the middle of a longer trip to Japan.

For more information about Japan use the search engine in the left corner.

Gérard Mulot - My favorite bakery in Paris since many years!

The Gérard Mulot bakery in St Germain has been my favorite for many years. They make great cakes! Try the lemon tarts, the fruit cakes. the eclaires and now the coolest of the coolest - The kougloff!

Here you can eat in or do take out! Not to much to talk about, just make a visit!
Metro station - Odeon
2, Rue Lobineau, 75006 Paris

Bassin de l'Arsenal - The small boat harbour and park at La Bastille in Paris

Most people do not know that there is a small boat harbour right downtown in Paris at La Bastille. Here the Canal St Martin starts from the river Seine and goes up north to La Villette and further outside the city. At parts it is under the ground like here at the Bastille. So right next to the Marais, The Opera de Paris and the Bastille you can actually sit down ether at the Cafe de Grand Bleu that is seen to the right in the picture or to bring some picnic and sit down on the grass in the park or by the boats. It is really nice to do on a sunny day. On Thursdays and Sundays you can buy your picnic at the local foodmarket at the Bastille as well.  

Enjoy!

Udon Yubei - A great Japanese noodle restaurant in the "Japanese" street of Paris

Looking at the picture and you think you are in Japan but this is actually right downtown Paris next to the Opera!
This is an area were many Japanese businessmen come to do business so around the Opera is were you can find some of the best Japanese restaurants in Paris. The Rue Sainte-Anne is the street were you can find both the simple places and the very good one. It has become the Japanese street of Paris.
The Udon Yubei is a small restaurant with a sitting area around the counter on the ground floor and then you find a sitting area in the basement as well. The food is just like in Japan. The spices on the tables that you can choose from to put on you udon noodles are from Japan and not the regular simple stuff you can find at other places.
The shrimp tempura udon noodles are great and the broth is clear and not greasy at all.
The place is easy to find - just look at the restaurant with the long queue outside the door. It is worth the wait! The price for a bowl of noodles is around 16 Euros that makes it the double price of Japan!
39 Rue Sainte-Anne, 75001, Paris

For more information about Paris simply use the search button on the top to the left

Stéphane Vandermeersch - Baker of the Year in Paris by Pudlo Guide, 2015

Each year the Gourmet Guide of Paris, Pudlo select the best baker in Paris. 2015 it was Stéphane Vandermeersch the previously worked for the great Pierre Hermé. At his small shop in the outskirts of central Paris he creates not only the best bread but fantastic pastry as well at half the price of the big and famous shops.
People travel from all over Paris to his shop to buy the new trendy thing after the macarons - The Kouglofs. You can have them both salty or sweet. They are to die for!!
The eclairs, the millefeulles and the flans are so tempting as well but do not forget the regular bread. The huge Pain Campagnard cut in pieces as you want it is his masterpiece.
Metrostation: Port Dorée,
278 Avenue Daumesnil, 75012 Paris
01-43 47 21 66
Open 7-20 Wednesday to Saturday and 7-16 on Sundays

Recharge your phone or computer at the new bus stop facilities in Paris

In Paris the are changing to new bus stops facilities and I find it amazing that you can now charge your phone or computer at all of them while waiting for the bus! What an innovation!

Bal des Pompiers - Dancing at the Fire Stations of France, 13th -14th of July every year!

Ever since 1937 the when the first party at the fire station in Montmartre, a tradition that then spread,  the people in France goes to the local fire station on the 13 or 14th of July to dance. This has now become one of the most popular ways to spend the National Day of 14th of July in France. The tradition is that the fire brigade turn the station into a nightclub with music and bar. They then work as bartenders and the money they make is for the fire stations extra money for the coming year! The party is all night long and you can find the place closest to you at the link below.
One of the most popular places in Paris is the one in the Marais at the Metro Station of St Paul, Rue de Sevigné. Be there early and be prepared for a long queue to get in. But when you do get in you can dance the night away into early morning. Everyone is welcome!
http://www.parisinfo.com/decouvrir-paris/les-grands-rendez-vous/paris-fete-le-14-juillet/bals-dans-les-casernes-de-pompiers/bals-dans-les-casernes-de-pompiers

Place des Vosges - One of the most beautiful squares of Europe!

Place des Vosges is in my opinion the most beautiful squares of Paris and one of the most beautiful in Europe.
It is located in the Marais district close to the Bastille which is also one of the closest Metro stations to get there. Saint-Paul is a bit more easy to get of at and the same distance.
This square was built in 1612 and has 36 residential houses built along the sides. It was meant to be for the Royal Family but no house was ever occupied by any of them. One of the most famous persons to live here though was Victor Hugo and you can still go to visit the house were he lived. In the summer people come her to relax on the grass and people bring their lunch or picnic in the evening. You can also visit the famous tearoom Carette or have a meal at any of the restaurants around the square.
Not to be missed when in Paris!

Bikini - Hot Dogs in Shanghai

When you have been in China for a while and just feel like eating a great old hot dog, this is the place to go. It is located in the French Concessions in the building that also houses The Apartment.
Here I am having a hot dog with avocado, onion and relish and it was just great!
Good place for a light meal or a snack after clubbing in the area.
It is open daily from 17.00-02.00.
The address is:  47 Yongfu Lu(near Fuxing Xi Lu) Shanghai.
021-6433 6511

Dean & Deluca Café & Restaurant, Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto is full of wonderful cafés to chose from. The Starbucks are always full of foreign people but this little New York gem is a place were you find high quality coffee and sweets. Price is the same but wow what a difference! This place is also a restaurant if you crave for some western food for lunch. 4 course lunch for 2200 Yen.
You find the Dean & Deluca store in an old bank building on Karasuma Dori not far from Shijo dori 200 meters up north.

Nowa Restaurant Building in Shinjuku, Tokyo

Many people coming to Japan find it difficult to find restaurant. Foreigners tend to look for restaurants on street levels were they would find them at home. Here restaurants are located in any part of a building. You can always find good restaurants on the top floor of department building or in the cellars (B1 Floor) or in special buildings that are made just for restaurants. As an example of this you have the Nowa Building in Shinjuku were you can find one restaurant on each floor of the building. So do as these people do. Look at the menu for each floors restaurant and then take the elevator up to the restaurant you have selected. At the Nowa Building at Shinjuku Station they are all very good.
Shinjuku East Exit

Picasso Museum in Paris - Now Open!

After 5 years of renovation the Picasso Museum opened it's door again in the end of 2014. When Picasso died in 1973 at the age of 92 he left 70.000 pieces of art behind him. 5.000 of these were given to the state of France ( also to pay some taxes) to make this beautiful collection. In the Marais the Hôtel Salé was arranged to show these masterpieces. Now it has been enlarged so they can show more of the collection. Unfortunately very little of the old building is left in the interior and it looks more of a modern museum that of a 350 year old Palace. However, the collection is great! I would suggest you to buy your tickets on line so you don't have to wait in the line for hours. Another great way to see the museum is to sign up for a guided tour in English or French. It cost you only 7 Euros extra and then you get 90 minutes of knowledge and no line to get in!
For more information visit
http://www.museepicassoparis.fr/en/
Hôtel Salé, 5 Rue de Thorigny, 75003 Paris
For more information on Paris just write Paris in the search engine to the left.

La Chambre aux Confitures - Best shop of marmalade, honey and chocolate spreads!

When in France I can not resist to try some of their wonderful sweet things. It might be some pastry or a simple thing as a warm baguette with some of the best marmalade in the world. I wish you could see the shops they have but I did not have the camera with me today. Here you find shelves full of the combinations of flavors of marmalade  you could not imagine. The raspberry with passion fruit was a dream! Here you also find great honeys and chocolate spreads. All of them gives you the feeling when you grandmother was making fresh jam and you put the finger in it as a child and tried it a bit to warm. These ones also makes great gifts!
My favorite store is on 9, Rue Vieille du Temple in the Marais.
http://lachambreauxconfitures.com/e-shop/fr/