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Travel

W Hotel Opera in Paris Conversation with Insider Johanna

If you need to be in the know while visiting Paris there is no better person to ask than Johanna from the W Hotel.  After hours shopping,  dinner on a roof top with a view of the city, or a private garden tour, she will make it happen.

Johanna W Insider Paris Opera

Johanna W Hotel Insider

What makes Paris a special city?

Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. Everybody wants to come to Paris to discover its special atmosphere. There is always something to do, to see, to discover, it does not matter the season. I love all the cliché things that make Paris on the most visited cities in the world. The old bistros, the small cobbled streets making you feel like you are in a village, the fresh markets, and the different architectural styles. And of course Paris is the fashion capital. The way people dress.   A person can never get enough of this city.

Can you name your favorite eating spot?

I am wine lover, so Les Climats. It is a French restaurant established in an old house built by a woman who worked in a post office in Paris. I love the décor, the service and food. They only have wine from Burgundy.   Les Climats just got a Michelin Star but it is still affordable.

The W Hotel has Coquette, a good place to have lunch or dinner in a friendly way.   The whole menu is made in a health way. I really love the veggie burger with its pumpkin seeds bun and its mushroom steak. All the desserts are wonderful too!

Why do guests like the W hotel in Paris?

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Guests come here because they like the design and atmosphere. We are in a historical building so we mixed the modern with the classic. As well, we are in central Paris, next to the famous department stores and across from the Opera House. The views from the rooms are great!
The hotel makes every guest feel like they are home. We have a Whenever/Where ever team. It means you ask for whatever you want, whenever you want and we will do our best to get it or arrange it.

Describe the shopping experience?

It depends on what the guest is looking for it. If we have a client who is an absolute fan of shoes I can provide exclusive access to the Louboutin store. The guest will have VIP access, a private room, a stylist to help with all they want.

What would you do if you were a tourist in Paris?

I would visit the Opera Garnier, a great monument. I would explore. There are many hidden gardens, roof tops, passages, and ornate door entrances.

The W Hotel is located in the center of Paris across from the Opera.

For images of the W Hotel and our video interview with Johanna go to our Google+ and Pinterest Sites.

For more information on W Hotel Opera Paris go to:  www.wparisopera.com

Categories
Fashion Travel

Chocolat from Alain Ducasse

Le Chocolat from Alain Ducasse in Galeries Lafayette

Ducasse’s Chocolates are available in three families: praline, truffles, and ganaches. Each has their own texture and taste.

We sampled the different chocolates while learning the narrative of how chocolate is made including the six step from bean selection to molding. Beans from a particular location or certain climatic conditions have different flavors. Chocolate bean origins and their taste aromas:

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Brazil A noted woody flavor, slightly bitter

Cameroon A tarty flavor

Colombia Floral taste, dried fruits and caramel

Cuba Dried fruit

Grenada Fruity and woody

Java Smoky

Madagascar fruity red acidic

Peru Floral Cherry

Trinidad Notes of Vanilla

Vietnam spicy notes with anise

For more information go to: www.lechocolat-alainducasse.com

Categories
Fashion

Art de Vivre

Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann is famous the world over for offering unique experiences to shoppers. The 65.000 square meter department store located in the center of Paris is a delight for the fashion senses with selections ranging from luxury to affordable.

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The Christmas tree has a Star Wars theme. The round ornaments represent planets.

Black and Paper received a guided tour of the store before the Christmas Rush. The store decorations are inspired by Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The Five Story tall Christmas Tree in the main hall is decorated with round shaped colored ornaments in different sizes symbolizing planets with lights and displays representing the galaxy.

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The famous Glass Dome decorated for Christmas. The Star Wars themed decorations representing planets and galaxies.

France is a country known for world class cuisine. Galeries Lafayette Maison and Gourmet is designed for living with delicacies from all over the world spread over 5 themed floors.

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The First Floor is home to La Cave with 20.000 bottles of wine along-side 300 brands of Champagne.   The Bordeauxtheque houses nine of the greatest wines from the region: Margaux, Latour, Lafite and Mouton Rothchild, La Mission, Cheval Blanc, Petrus, Yquem, and Haut-Brion.

There are 14 food outlets serving everything from Pizza to Vegetarian cuisine. The second floor is the setting for a Chic dinning engagement from Alain Ducasse’s Ecole De Cuisine. A cooking school where guests to experiment and try recipes from the famed chef.

On the second floor are kitchen and tableware settings for the perfect home dinning affair

The third floor is for revitalizing the body with items for the bedroom, bathroom and tea infusions from Bar a Tisanes.

Customer service was good.  I spoke to a number of sales people in the different areas, all responded with enthusiasm along with a passion for their products.

For more information go to: www.http://www.galerieslafayette.com/