Christian Boltanski

At the Grand Palais.

50 Tons of Clothes accompanied by the sound of 15000 heartbeats in a concrete space.

Happy Nouilles!

It's about that time. Yes, I've gone a month without Asian food, and happy noodles were in order. Yum.

Relais de L'Éntrecôte

Steak. Fries. Sauce.

Oh and Chocolate Cake I guess, too.

In case you didn't know, this place only serves steak and fries. Don't even think about coming here if you're vegetarian or not an avid carnivore.

The place is an establishment. They have been around for over twenty years, and everyone loves the concept and the food of Relais de L'Entrecôte.

If you get there at 7:30 you don't need reservations, since the French don't really eat dinner until 8:30 - 9:00pm. Although, there was a line out the door as soon as we sat down. The decor is simple: primary colors with an emphasis on the red. Red means meat, and red also has been studied to enhance hunger pangs in the brain.

The first thing they ask you when you sit down is not what you'd like to drink, but how you want your steak done. Bleu, Sagnant, A Point, or Bien Cuit. Never order bien cuit (well done).

Then they come to you with the steak cut perfectly along the grain and a pile of fries on the side -- everything doused with their special green butter sauce. I think it's a combination of herbs (tarragon definitely), mustard because you can feel the grains, and definitely a bit of vinegar since there is a tang that cuts the meat nicely.

Ah, it's so delicious.

Then they come back to you for seconds...

La Dame Aux Camélias

As part of Bing Trip, we went to go see La Dame Aux Camélias last night at Opéra Garnier. It was my first ballet and it's now a regret that I haven't seen more. A ballet is so moving in ways that other theatrical performances like dramatic theater, opera, etc. have not been able to evoke -- The pure physicality of it, the raw emotion that is displayed in such grace. I can't really put into words how beautiful and striking every second of it was for me.

If you haven't seen the movie version yet, there's one with Greta Garbo. The story is very similar if not the same as Moulin Rouge. There is a young woman of easy virtue, Marguerite, who is dying of tuberculosis, and she ends up falling in love with this innocent nobody, Armand whilst having to carry on her diamond-studded life of flirting with rich dukes. Marguerite eventually gives that life up to be with Armand, but then his father does not approve. The father implores her to please give up his son so that Armand's sister can have a proper marriage without Marguerite tainting the family name. Since Marguerite is the type of heroine with a heart of gold, she lies to Armand that she wants her diamonds back and leaves him. Armand believes her and even though they are reunited for one last time, she has to leave him. The next time he sees her he throws money at her for "services rendered." And then she dies alone.

Sigh. Impossible love.

Anyway, bottom line: go see a ballet!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb8ZsnfE9Sg&feature=related