Best chocolate taste test?

this was an interesting article. Can't say that I've tried the winner but I have tried the trader Joe's (which is fair) and many of the other brands in there. Can't believe that Valrhona is not in the mix as that is my favorite. Lindt is good but not great. Chocolove,Perugina,Devine, Whole Foods/365, Godiva, Green & Black's, Scharffen Berger are all good but not as good as Valrhona, not just due to taste but also texture.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/29/the-best-dark-chocolate_n_958823.html#s358082&title=1_Michel_Cluizel

Bon Appetit.

Paris ranked 30 in the world for quality of life by Mercer

Interesting survey, ranking Paris 30 and Vienna number one for 2011. Mercer considers safety, infrastructure, health and other factors:

http://www.mercer.com/press-releases/quality-of-living-report-2011

But nothing like Paris for joie de vivre, fashion, food, art and just walking the city and taking it all in.

Best food in the world?

Here's in interesting article. Can't say that D. and I agree with it for NYC as we have our own favorite spots but we do agree with one recommendation for Paris:

http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/ultimate-food-lovers-bucket-list-154200960.html

Laduree in Paris is a must for a nice afternoon treat at the Salon de the'. Not the one on the Champs Elysee which is newer and more commercial, but the original shop on Rue Royale in the VIII's arrondissement. that shop originates from 1862 and is oh so charming and cozy on a chilly Paris day. Worth the wait to indulge in tarte tatin (an amazing up-side down apple pie with caramelized apples), the classic macaroons, and the millefeuille (a pastry with thin crispy layers of pastry and light creme in between the layers).

You'll need to walk it off but those are some worthwhile calories.

J'Adore France is World-wide with readership

I wanted to share with those who are reading this blog (averaging more than 500 per month and growing) that we truly have a world-wide audience. In the last six months in addition to our European and North-American audience, we have added readers from South America, Asia, Australia, and now Africa. Thus, other than Antarctica, we have readers on every continent. Please contact me if there is specific information you are interested in that we haven't posted, research and article ideas and comments.

Thanks to everyone for making this blog a success. Don't forget to click on those adds and sign-up to follow the blog as we travel.

Marks and Spencer reopening in Paris

On the Champs Elysee:

http://www.france24.com/en/20111125-parisians-celebrate-return-marks-spencer-paris-british-store-champs-elysees

LV Bags Stolen in Paris

Sounds like an inside job to me:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/25/louis-vuitton-bags-stolen_n_1113044.html

items to be resold and also copied in China???

International Living ranks France for quality of Life

Interesting article placing New Zealand first, but France is in top 10, especially for raising a family:

http://internationalliving.com/2010/12/quality-of-life-2011/