Tag Archives: Plaza Athenee

Paris – Exclusive Librairie Galignani

Posted on by

Have you ever wanted to design your private library with a well-known curator? If you are ensconced in the exquisite Pompadour Suite at Le Meurice, do crawl out of those exquisite expensive linens and mosey to Librairie Galignani, an astonishing bookstore over two centuries old, opened in 1520, it is merely yards away.  Or even better, let us schedule a private consultation with Executive Director, Danielle Cillien Sabatier, and let the experts assist you in curating a personal library on your beloved pursuits. Architecture, gardens, wine, fashion; there are always impossible to find books on every avocation. Is your best friend a Chanel aficionado, you will discover slews of books on Coco for a beloved birthday gift. Something for everyone at Librairie Galignani, the casual reader or assistance with a sophisticated library collection.

With three departments, English, French and Fine Arts, Librairie Galignani offers a range of rare diversity and guarantees quality service, excellence and know-how provided by expert and bilingual booksellers. The bookstore offer is supplemented by a website allowing you to reserve or buy online and to ship or have your purchases delivered. In addition, many events (signings, conferences, meetings, exhibitions, round tables, debates or private parties) are regularly organized in the bookshop, do check the schedule before your next visit to The City of Light.  

The English department offers all the English and American classics. The latest publications in literature, biographies and essays rub shoulders with political and financial news. In addition to a large selection of history books, there is a strong specialization in Anglo-Saxon university publications,

The Fine Arts department, rich in all the latest news and a large collection of French books, also favors works (exhibition catalogs, various monographs) from abroad, mainly from the United States, England and Italy, as well as a small number of rare and out of print books on fashion, jewelry and the decorative arts.

Librairie Galignani, Paris

Faced with the abundance of publications, the French-language books section offers a selection likely to satisfy the most diverse curiosities in literature, history, essays, current affairs and youth. You can also discover or rediscover the great names of literature in the La Pléiade collection.

History: The Galignanis were among the first to use the recently invented printing press in order to distribute their books to a larger audience. Beginning in 1520, Simone Galignani published in Venice a Latin grammar (the oldest “Galignani” known).

However, their greatest success was the  Geografia  by PTOLEMAUS published in 1597, an incredible bestseller in both the 16th and 17th centuries. Galignani eventually reissued multiple editions.

At the end of the 17th century, Giovanni Antonio Galignani, born near Brescia, left an economically declining Venice for London, and shortly after, Paris, where he opened in 1801, on rue Vivienne, not only a bookshop, but also a reading room specialized in the English language, while continuing his publishing business. In addition, there was the creation of Galignani’s Messenger, a daily newspaper and reference point for the English-speaking community on the Continent. Some of the greatest English authors of the time contributed to the newspaper, and their books were also published by Galignani (Byron, Wordsworth, Thackeray, Scott …). Galignani then settled in 1856 at rue de Rivoli, which remains the current address.

Upon his death in 1882, William Galignani left the company to his nephew, Charles Jeancourt-Galignani, whose direct descendants still own it today. The newspaper and the publishing house were discontinued at the beginning of the 20th century, but the bookshop continued to thrive. Not allowed to stock English editions during the German occupation, André Jeancourt-Galignani opened a section devoted to art books. Since the post-war period, the Fine Arts Department has been an undeniable success.

Concerning libraries, the refined staff members work with all the museums for their curator’s libraries, the major luxury hotels like Ritz, Crillon, Le Meurice, Plaza Athénée, George, Prince de Galles, Pavillon de la Reine and lately Cheval Blanc and Bulgari. They have created libraries for Cartier, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and other luxury brands. Librairie Galigani also collaborates with famous decorators and have selected book assortments for private clients either through their decorators or directly. 

Highly Recommend!

https://www.galignani.fr/notre-librairie-presentation/ssh-5463

Le Dalí Le Meurice Paris

Posted on by

My first professional introduction to the Dorchester Collection Parisian properties was in the first months of my business. A dear client requested a few days of quiet at Plaza Athenee after a long Villa month in Italy. Almost 15 days later, she departed, apparently rested. As a child, she had stayed many times at Le Meurice in the dazzling penthouse suite. You can imagine after 15 days, the Plaza Athenee was very happy to have me as a new contact.

Le Meurice and Plaza Athenee to me, are the ultimate in all that is French – if you think luxurious Paris hotel, these two grand properties come to mind. They may be a bit larger in scale than a few others, and actually smaller in scale than some very lovely Parisian hotels. My mantra: there is a perfect hotel for every client. I’m fortunate to stay here every time I visit Paris. On some visits, I’ve been ensconced in suites that could host half a dozen guests, truly Madeline at the hotel experience! My most recent visit found me in a petite suite on the top floor with two Juliet balconies looking out to the Festive Ferris Wheel and the branches of the winter bare Tuileries Garden and the Palace.- it was awe-inspiring!

Frequently dining by myself, Le Dalí is a very comfortable restaurant to enjoy a magnificent dinner. Amazing people watching, especially if you dine traditionally late, as the Americans have gone to bed, they just aren’t as glamorous as the French! Dress up, people!

Alain Ducasse, world-renowned chef, oversees both Le Meurice restaurants. Le Dalí setting is a combination of chic high style and French elegance by Philippe Starck. Restaurant Le Dalí is a unique homage to Salvador Dalí’s unmistakable spirit and flair. Philippe Starck has recently updated his previous vision of the restaurant’s distinctive interior, enhancing Dalí ’s love of quirky design and distorting reality. Eye-catching additions include a new carpet designed by his daughter, Ara Starck, and chairs covered with her canvas drawings. It is truly a very glamorous setting, luxury with a twist of whimsy in the art.

Le Menu: traditional French brasserie specialties or a creative culinary journey of delicious Mediterranean cuisine. The dishes are designed to be shared or served in half portions for light apéritif dining. From the site: The journey upon which guests embark begins with the Catalan lands of Salvador Dalí, with specialties such as stuffed pimiento del piquillo with romesco sauce or black rice, baby squid and shellfish.The voyage then continues in Italy through some of that country’s finest foods, like black pork culatello from Massimo Spigaroli, straight from Emilia-Romagna. But also home-style cooking – slow-simmered and colorful – like aubergine caviar, a Provence-style vegetable caponata or minestrone broth and vegetables with garlic-basil condiment. Guests can also sample patatas bravas with an authentic tasca taste and enjoy down-to-earth specialties like salt cod, aioli and coco beans sourced from Valence up to the County of Nice, served here with Catalan accents.

In the “Timeless” selection, the restaurant is faithful to the Parisian brasserie cooking, dishes that have been the bedrock of Le Dalí’s popularity across several generations. These classics include Grenoble-style sole with croutons and cubed lemon and the light and creamy free-range chicken fricassee. Smaller appetites will succumb to the celebrated Hansen & Lydersen Norwegian smoked salmon for example.

I questioned the ripeness of a tomato & mozzarella di bufala dish and was assured: Madame, summer tomatoes were, of course, available in November. Summer somewhere, indeed…the dish was scrumptious!

The attention to detail and care in the chef selections is evident if you ask questions about the provenance of the entrees. A petite book has been created: Histories in Carnees, providing a complete description of the meats served in the restaurant. My question on menu item: Duck from Mrs. Burgaud House, citrus and red chicory. Le duck: Semi-freed raised in the damp swamp grass of Vendee, this little plump duck is fed with corn, wheat and all the small treasures found in the rich and fertile soils. It has a strong and yet subtle flesh. Are you not enticed?

Melt in your mouth flavor is assured; Le Dalí takes time to produce a small descriptive book on exceptional and seasonal offerings, their passion for perfection is evident in the devotion to details. Swoon!

Le Dalí…one must always make a pilgrimage!