Café De La Paix

On a recent Friday, sweetheart and I decided to test this brasserie, which had taken my eye some time ago.

It exceeded our expectations: we were literally conquered, as you will be when you finish reading this.

It is situated between the Bains and Jonction neighbourhoods, not far from the banking quarter. This is reflected in its clientele, made up of people from the nearby TV studios and university and bank executives. There is a great relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

We loved the decor: made from salvaged and recycled objects that have been rendered pretty and functional: very original. A few days later I went back to take more pictures of the decor, without disturbing the customers.

Upon our arrival we were placed at a table by the large glass windows overlooking the main street.

The menu is small and changes according the seasons and the creativity of the chef. We opted for the “Menu of the day” at a very reasonable CHF 34 for a starter, main course and dessert.

Menu

We ordered 5 dl of "Yo no puedo mas", a very pleasant red wine from Languedoc.

Starter: French toast with mushrooms and crayfish sauce.

Main dish: Roast beef hanger steak, fried potatoes, mustardy carrot purée.

Sweetheart’s dessert: Pear poached in red wine.

I chose an à la carte dessert: Runny dark chocolate fondant and white Toblerone, pear sorbet.

The dishes we tasted were worthy of a Michelin restaurant. My darling, who is accustomed to business lunches in prestigious restaurants, agreed on this point. The bill came to CHF 112,00 (5 dl of wine and coffee included).

If you visit Geneva, or live here, this is a fabulous venue for its service, dishes, atmosphere, price and neighbourhood.

Sculptures on the path by the river, near the restaurant.

Café de la Paix

Bd Carl Vogt 61

1205 Genève

Tel.: +41 22 301 11 88

The restaurant is open Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner.

The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman by Denis Thériault (2004)

Bilodo had been intercepting her letters for two years now, and whenever he spotted one while sorting his post, he always experienced the same shock, the same shiver of awe. He would quietly slip that letter inside his jacket and only allow himself to show any emotion once he was alone on the road, turning the envelope over and over, fingering the exciting promise.

Secretly steaming open envelopes and reading the letters inside, Bilodo has found an escape from his lonely and routine life as a postman. When one day he comes across a mysterious letter containing only a single haiku, he finds himself avidly caught up in the relationship between a long-distance couple, who write to each other using only beautiful poetry. He feasts on their words, vicariously living a life for which he longs. But it will only be a matter of time before his world comes crashing down around him…

Author: Denis Thériault is a writer born on August 24, 1959 on the north shore of the Gulf of St Lawrence, near Sept-Iles, Quebec. Denis Thériault has a degree in psychology and is an award-winning screenwriter who lives with his family in Montreal. Denis Thériaul’s first novel, L’iguagne (The Iguana), was published to great critical acclaim and won three major literary prizes. The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman is his second novel.

My thoughts: I read this book last June but restarted in February and read it in a couple of days. This is going to sound silly, but I’ve always been fascinated by letters and enjoy thinking about the bits of life and news they carry. I loved The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman, a beautiful, tragic and touching book. I found the characters delightful and Bilodo very touching. Although the book only has a hundred pages, it is not simple to read. It is brilliantly written, but requires concentration to immerse yourself in the text.
This is a story of obsession and love. The central character is Bilodo, a twenty-seven years old postman, a loner, who escapes from his monotonous life by creating a parallel reality. Bilodo has taken to stealing people's mail, steaming open the envelopes and reading the letters inside. Thus it is that he comes across Ségolène's letters. She is corresponding with Grandpré, a master poet, and each of their letters is composed of haikus. The simplicity and elegance of their poems move Bilodo and he begins to fall in love with Ségolène. By a stroke of fate, in the form of Grandpré’s death, Bilodo takes huge risks to stay in contact with Ségolène, a Guadeloupean teacher. He takes over her deceased correspondent’s apartment, immersing himself in Grandpré’s personality and learning the art of Japanese haiku poetry.

Philippe Pascoët - Swiss Master Chocolate Maker

As you know, I love celebrating every occasion and for Valentine's Day I added these chocolates to the other presents I offered to sweetheart, simply because chocolate is all about celebration.  It is to be tasted and savoured, rather than eaten.

I know that the majority of you are chocolate addicts. So, when you visit Geneva, you will now know where to buy exquisite Swiss chocolates to offer to your loved ones and friends. In matters of chocolate, nothing is better than Pascoët. They pride themselves on the extremely high quality of their chocolate truffles and ganache, their motto being "the alliance of exquisite and surprising flavours".

The Philippe Pascoët dark chocolates are the perfect alliance of exquisite and surprising ganache flavours: rosemary, sage, basil, mint: so delicate, unexpected, surprising and captivating. The marriage of flavours (dark chocolate truffles and original ganache) is subtle and yet daring. Their chocolate truffles will seduce you.

Passage des Lions (Geneva Centre)

Rue Saint-Joseph 12, 1227 Carouge

Best Desserts in Geneva 2016 - 1st quarter

This post normally celebrates my favourite desserts from a cafe/bakery/pastry shop in Geneva. I have only documented delicacies here that I have tried personally (and many times).

For this quarter, however, it is done from home…I took great pleasure in reviewing two pastry shops last year, but that adventure stops here: the reason is simply a lack of time. Although, theses posts generated great traffic and I was invited to cover great pastry shops in Geneva, I have decided not to carry on – too much work and too little time.

At home we always have cakes for dessert or at tea time - delicious cakes to eat and cry for more!

Are you ready for the show???

Gallette des Rois - Le Fournil de Carouge

This is what we eat for Epiphany (the celebration of the arrival of the Three Kings). I have tried many, but my favourite is still the one from Le Fournil de Carouge, a tiny and gorgeous family bakery/pastry shop. This is a torte of buttery puff pastry filled with almond cream, not too sweet and not too heavy either. There is a small gift inside the torte and a crown for the king or queen who is lucky enough to find it.

Chouquette - Le Fournil de Carouge

Sugar topped pastry puffs.

Tarte Tatin - Le Fournil de Carouge

Combines light golden puff pastry and soft, juicy, caramelised apples.

L’Opéra - Martel Chocolatier

This, for me, is the best opéra I have ever tasted in Geneva: a pure delight for those who love chocolate and coffee. Layers of almond sponge cake soaked in coffee syrup, alternating with ganache and coffee buttercream, and covered in a chocolate and coffee glaze.

Mille-Feuille aux Marrons - Martel Chocolatier

This mille-feuille is out of this world, if you love chestnut cream, chantilly and crusty fluffy pastry.

Rum Baba - Martel Chocolatier

Sponge cake soaked in rum syrup topped with whipped cream and a strawberry.

Pistachio with Raspberry and Passion Fruit Mousses Dacquoise - Martel Chocolatier

A base of pistachio cake topped with layers of raspberry and passion fruit mousses.

Chocolate, Coffee and Raspberry Mousse Dacquoise - Martel Chocolatier

A thin base of cake completed with layers of raspberry, chocolate and coffee mousses.

Torta de Chocolate - Manuel bakery

Portuguese chocolate roll.

Lychee and Raspberry Macaroon - Christopher Berger

Blackcurrant and Raspberry Mousse with Cream Cheese - Christopher Berger

Carrot Tartlet - Aimé Pouly

On a base of sweet shortcrust pastry there is a layer of carrot and hazelnut cake, covered with pink-tinted fondant icing.

Raspberry-Almond Financier - Albert Pougnier

Almond cake with raspberry coulis inside.

Caramel-Almond Financier - Albert Pougnier

Almond cake with caramel coulis inside.

Windsor cake - Chocolats Rohr

Rum soaked sponge cake with raisins.

These are my genuine personal opinions and favourites, otherwise I would not have written about these cakes. As always with all my posts, this is not sponsored.