The Joie Review: October-November 2024
And we're baack...sharing people, places and things for you to save and share.
After a brief hiatus from these monthly reviews, I am back and finally playing with a little renovation. I found that the monthly reviews were becoming so long and resembling diary entries!! (Although I don’t know that the length will change too much. Gulp.) A lot happens in 30 days and there is always so much to share, but I know your time is precious, and there are many interesting newsletters and articles you want to also read, so hopefully this breaks things up a bit.
This new format will be a bit more light and fun way to share tidbits. I will save longer posts for essays, travel posts, lists, or to highlight a person or place. Let’s see how we like this renovation but with all renos…I might not like “the couch” or “the table” and need to move it again. We shall see how it goes.
Let’s dive in on sharing my Notes of Joie from October and November.
xx,
Ajiri
*PLEASE NOTE that after the Moodboard section you will have to click and see the rest of this newsletter in the Substack app or on your browser because it’s a bit too long. Ha!
“Setting the scene” is a chance for me to occasionally share some table-setting tips and tricks. Since we’re fully in the holiday entertaining season, I want to highlight knife rests, which are an often overlooked detail that can instantly elevate your tablescapes. These small but mighty accessories are both charming and practical. Here are three ways to use them to their fullest potential:
1. Use Them at Every Place Setting
Incorporating knife rests at each place setting instantly elevates a basic table setting. They’re not just decorative; they help keep the knife’s blade from touching the tablecloth or plate in between courses. You can use them for a formal or cozy gathering. When I am serving Asian food with chopsticks, I always use knife rests on the table. I find that guests feel special you have set them out and often become conversation starters. You can mix and match two sets or use the same style depending on the number of guests you are serving.
2. Helpful on a Buffet Table
Knife rests aren’t just for sit-down dinners—they’re incredibly practical on buffet tables as well. Place them next to serving platters, bowls, or cheese boards to hold utensils between uses. This not only keeps things tidy but also ensures the serving utensils stay clean and ready for the next guest. It’s a small touch that can make your buffet feel more organized and thoughtfully arranged, but it also makes your guests feel comfortable knowing there is a place to put that spoon after serving themselves.
3. Protect Your Linens
Knife rests are unsung heroes when it comes to keeping your beautiful linens ready to see another day. By elevating the knife’s blade off the tablecloth, they prevent stains and wear, especially when serving dishes with sauces or butter. For hosts who love using heirloom linens or intricately embroidered tablecloths, knife rests are a must-have to protect those cherished pieces from unnecessary soils or damage.
I found this cubist sculptor in Goult at Gatti Antiques and want to eventually put it in the shop but I am still trying to decipher the signature and learn more about who made it, so until then it will live on my mantle. I love an antique mystery.
I also spotted these gems at Gatti Antiques and I was deeply sad I didn’t have my car to haul them back to Paris. I often talk about the silver champagne bucket that got away and now these two beauties will haunt me as well.
Gatti Antiques
347, Rue de la République
84220 Goult
Instagram
Ever since purchasing a Trumeau mirror for my apartment, I have been obsessed with finding another one. I loved the width of this one I saw in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for only 150 euros. If only I had purchased a whole row on the TGV.
Okay so I technically didn’t visit this restaurant in the Fall, but rather in the Summer when I skipped a monthly review. It was my first visit since it reopened under new owners in September 2023. The Asian-inspired menu is creative but with dishes and ingredients that I was familiar with. They offered us an amuse bouche of tofu perfectly chilled into an egg shell, which was a lovely delicate surprise. Then we ordered the nouilles à la thon rouge à la Jean-George, (red tuna noodles in the style of Jean-George), which I assumed would be noodles with seared or raw tuna. Instead, it was raw tuna cut into noodle strips. It was unexpected and something I have never eaten before and I quickly inhaled. For our main course, we ordered duck à l’orange (orange-flavored duck) with buckwheat pancakes. It was hands down one of the best meals I had all Summer. Next time I am going for the tasting menu for the full experience. Of course, I was also obsessed with the mix-and-match deco of French antiques and Asian-inspired modern tableware. They even have these cheval (horse) knife rests which I sell in the shop.
Le Cheval d’Or
21 rue de la Villette, 75019 Paris
Website
Instagram
This Laotian spot has been in Belleville for over 30 years, but since the neighborhood is having a moment, there are often lines down the street. I recommend going early to get a table. The menu is vast, but it almost feels like you can’t go wrong with the options.
Lao Siam
49 rue de Belleville, 75019 Paris
Instagram
I was in the mood for some over-the-top American holiday vibes, and I knew the restaurant at Ralph Lauren’s would deliver some classics. We ordered crab cakes, a Waldorf salad, chicken paillard, and a classic very giant steak to share. It was a pricey dinner, but we got the festival mood we were in search of. In the warmer months, the terrace is a popular place to sit for a meal surrounded by all-American meets Parisian hôtel particulier vibes. My only disappointment on this visit, was they were out of their famous fried olives. Sounds strange but you need to try them and can thank me later.
Ralph’s Paris
173 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris
Website
Instagram
I spent most of October in Provence for The Good Life Retreats that I host. (New dates for 2025 will be announced in January). After returning from my travels, I came home for 3 days to swap luggage, and then we all hopped in the car for the Vacances Toussaints school holidays. The first few days we spent with friends in St. Jean de Luz in the Basque Country, where we spent several months of Confinement. We know the area well and it rained a lot, so most of our trip was spent cooking and hanging around the house. On the two days it didn’t rain we ran as fast as possible to the beach. Then we drove a couple of hours to Cap Ferret, which we had never been to. I can’t share a full guide to Cap Ferret because this was also a trip spent mostly biking around for picnics and eating at our Airbnb rental. My best recommendation is to rent a bike and be ready to eat oysters at any cute spot you find along the water. I am sharing a few addresses and pics below for you to save.
Sainte-Jean-de-Luz
Plage Hendaye
Great place for surf lesson with a few restaurants along the water.
More info here.
Maison Adam
Maison Adam sells delicious basque cakes, but they are known for what they call “the real macaron”. It’s very different from the traditional sugary macaron with different flavors that you will find in Paris, and dare I say that I like it better. Simple and delicious. We visited the two main shops in the center of town, but they also have locations in Biarritz and sell in the Grand Epicerie in Paris.
More info here.
Etxe Name
A Japanese restaurant with bento boxes and udon noodles dishes, owned by an ex-Parisian and the former owner of Le Petit Cambodge and Blue Valentine (closed) in Paris.
11 Avenue Jaureguiberry, 64500, Saint-Jean de Luz
Website
Instagram
Cap Ferret-Arcachon
La Cabane d’Hortense
Cap Ferret is packed with oyster bar and I am happy that we ended up at this one. We arrived just before the tide rolled in, which was fun to see.
Rue des Tamaris
33970 Cap Ferret
Website
Le Bouchon du Ferret
A spacious and packed bistro with all the seafood you expect but also some meat dishes when you are fed up with raw food. Reservations recommended.
2 rue des Palmiers
33970 Lège-Cap Ferret
Website
l’Épicerie
The owner of this épicerie in the center seems to know everyone in town and everything about the products he sells. He is very chatty, so you can’t get out of there without talking about food, music, family, and then buying pretty pricey but delish charcuterie, cheese, and other products. You can also sit in the garden for a planche of cheese and charcuterie with a bottle of wine.
34 avenue du Monument Saliens
33970 Lège-Cap Ferret
Dune du Pilat
The dunes are the tallest sand dunes in Europe, with the sea to one side and the forest to the other. You can walk uphill or take a recently installed staircase to the top. There are sandwich spots on the trail to the dune, but many travelers brought their own picnics to sit and enjoy while staring at the ocean. Warning: if flies aren’t your thing, then don’t picnic up there. I don’t know why, but there were a lot of sand flies and regular flies the day we hiked up.
I took my kids to see Pharrell’s movie Piece by Piece, thinking it was a lego movie that he directed. Nope! It’s his personal story from growing up in the projects in Virginia Beach and how he rose to fame. It’s completely told with legos pieces! Sounds so strange, but I was actually into it. That guy really had some major hits and is incredibly talented! My kids enjoyed this film and I liked that it was an opportunity for them to receive a message about finding what you love to do, and then working hard at it through a journey of highs and lows. The music is really great and now has been on repeat at our place.
My neighbor and friend’s production company Silex Films released a new movie last month called Diamant Brut, directed by Agathe Riedinger. It was up for the prestigious Palme d’Or at Cannes and has been making the rounds at festivals and on the press circuit. The film follows Liane, a fiesty 19-year-old living in Fréjus, who is obsessed with beauty and the desire to become “someone,” and sees reality TV and TikTok as her opportunity to be loved and appreciated. She also thinks it’s her ticket out of dodge and career path. I found the movie beautifully filmed but also a dark and sad realistic look at so many young people in the world. They don’t or maybe aren’t able to think about careers when reality tv and social media promises quick access to fame and fortune, and a chance to feel as if they matter. I couldn’t believe this is Malou Khebizi, the actress who plays Liane, first acting gig! A casting director found her and they molded her into this character.
You can see the trailer here but check your local listings to find where you can view this film.
For the past year, I have been a guest speaker, along with my friend
, at Susan Khalje’s Paris retreat. I truly enjoy meeting and speaking with her group and highly recommend you check out her page if you are a textile lover, a sewer, or an embroiderer.Check out her website and information about future Paris and London tours.
It’s peak radicchio season! This slightly bitter vegetable has really become something I look forward to eating in the cold Fall and Winter months. Through various successful and failed kitchen experiments, I have learned a few ways to cook up these chicory varieties. In all honestly since I am very visual, I was first attracted to its drama for table displays and photo shoots. The rose is my favorite baby!! But really I am in love with all the different colors, shapes, and varieties: Chioggia, Castelfranco, Treviso, Tardivo, and Rosa del veneto. It’s plentiful at the market and you can eat them cooked or raw, though you need to learn how to tone down the bitter flavor if that bugs you. Sometimes, I toss it in the oven with olive oil salt and pepper, wrap proscuitto around the curly ones for a graze board table, or chop the rosa del veneto into a salad. Below are a few recipe links that I am going to try this month. Do you have some to share? Please share them in the comments below or shoot me an email.
Penne with Radicchio and Goat Cheese
Castelfranco radicchio persimmon salad with blue cheese and hazelnuts
Ottolenghi’s Lentils, Radicchio, and Walnut Salad
Carmelised chicory with sage and parmesan crumble
I don’t have a recipe for the above salad, but I ate something similar at Elsworth in Paris so tried to imitate it with a citrus vinaigrette, pomegranate seeds, dill and chives. Like I said, share those recipes if you have some for everyone to try.
An image drop of design inspiration from the past month to inspire. All the photos were taken by me.
A little suggestion for this month….Why don’t you do something very unexpected for a friend that you know will bring them joie. I know it’s the holidays so it’s all about gifting but think outside of that gift box and make a friend’s favorite meal, bake some cookies they will love, treat them to lunch, or drop off something they can enjoy later.
Bring your own touch of beauty to our next issue! Send me an email (ajiri@madamedelamaison.com) with a photo of your styled tables, cherished antique finds, and beautiful treasure in your home, or anything that brought you joy and inspired beauty this month. Include a short sentence or a few about the photo, and you might see it featured in an upcoming newsletter!
What did you think about this format change? Easier to consume as opposed to my epic diary entries of previous months? Open to feedback!
Next up for paid subscribers…sharing my Summer trip to Switzerland with lots of pictures and addresses.
It’s back. YAY! Loved reading this! And wait what.....you met Jennie Mayle?! How cool 🤍 I totally enjoyed read ‘A Year in Provence’ for the very first ‘Good Life Retreat. Good dose of belly laughs!
The bust!!! I need that bust. I had a gorgeous terra cotta bust of Venus that was broken to bits during a move. I need to replace it.