Original Sin France

Paris has the distinction of being the first international city I ever fell in love with. I had an immediate emotional response to the city, and found myself in awe of its beauty, its history and its passion. I was working as a school teacher in Adelaide at the time, so travelling had to coincide with holiday breaks, which means winter in Europe. Paris at Christmas time is particularly beguiling: the shop windows are filled with opulent displays and the mood on the streets is convivial and celebratory. The festive food is amazing, and everything is washed down with some delicious wine or a glass of champagne. I visited Notre Dame Cathedral on Christmas Eve to observe mass, an experience that gives a true sense of meaning to the season. After Christmas, the pastry shops sell Galette des Rois (king’s cake), to mark Epiphany and bring in the New Year. This sweet almond pastry is made in the pithivier style, complete with gold-cardboard crown cut-outs on top. Anyone can feel royal when they eat one of these, and the pithivier shape provided inspiration for what became a Paramount signature dish: five-spice duck and shiitake mushroom pie.