While there is a lot of kale-buzzworthy news happening in Paris this week (!!), I want to take a break and introduce Aurelia from My Vegan Parisian Adventure. When my lack-of-kale obsession began in Paris, I was told about this wonderful vegan woman from San Francisco who also desperately missed kale – but this was a few months before the idea of The Kale Project even entered my mind, so I just knew there was another kale-lover out there (which was incentive for the entire thing). Then I was lucky enough to meet Aurelia at my cooking lesson with Terresa. And then she was kind enough to attend the First Official Kale Evening in Paris at Verjus and wrote this lovely review.
So now it’s time to tell all of you about Aurelia’s next endeavor in Paris. She is going to be leading a “Vegetarian Living in Paris” course at the WICE on February 28 and I want to make sure I help spread the word. Here Aurelia shares her top ten reasons to love Paris (as a vegan)!
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It’s been nearly three years since I waved Golden-Gate views and a steady paycheck goodbye to chase a dream all the way to Paris. Do I have regrets? Only when it’s minus-four degrees and I haven’t seen the sun for two weeks. Otherwise, life here is pretty fab—yes, even for someone who doesn’t eat cheese, meat, or butter croissants. Vegan or not, I can think up 100 things I love about living in this pretty old city, but in the spirit of brevity, I’ve narrowed the list down by 9/10ths. Here, an enamored expat’s Top 10 reasons to love Paris.
Art & Artists
Paris swims in artistic talent, and respects artists in the same way New York City embraces capitalism. If you’ve come to Paris to flex your creative muscles, you’ve come to the right place. (And you’re in good company.)
The Bois de Vincennes
Never mind the tradition of the French country house; the Bois de Vincennes is my weekend retreat. Verdant and a bit unruly, the 2300-acre, lake-filled oasis is a mecca for birdwatchers, and in summer, it’s a blackberry-picker’s paradise.
Animated Streets
Even in the thick of winter, Parisian streets hum with pedestrian activity. Locals brave the elements to walk dogs, run errands, and socialize en plein air, adding color to the urban landscape. If I’m ever feeling lonely, my quick fix is hitting the streets for a good, long walk.
Vernissages
Is there anything more fabulous than free wine and cutting-edge art? The answer is an unequivocal “non!” Parisian galleries host regular events that are open to the public, and odds are very good you’ll find me at every last one of them.
The Expanding Culinary Terrain
In the last year alone, four new veg restaurants have opened in Paris. Whether it’s a passing trend or a genuine shift toward more compassionate and healthy eating doesn’t matter. It’s just a thrill to see the food scene evolving in a greener direction.
Parisians
The stereotype persists, but Parisians really don’t merit the “rude” label. They may never invite you home for a holiday dinner, but they’ll tote your luggage up steep metro steps, help with directions, and hold the door for you at the bank/supermarket/boulangerie.
Dearth of Dull Moments
Being bored in Paris is impossible, even in late December or August when municipal events slow to a trickle. The daily challenge is choosing which concert, lecture, dance performance, poetry reading, or author book-signing to go to. Sigh.
An Easy Escape
In three hours, without the aid of an airplane, I can be in London, Brussels, or the Swiss Alps. Two hours more and I’m soaking up the sun (and guzzling the wine) in Italy or Spain. France’s trusty public transport system—trains, boats, bikes–is a footloose girl’s dream come true.
Dogs
You can’t miss them—those fuzzy, four-footed beasts waiting patiently with their people at the post office, corner café, and the weekend marché. Dogs soften Paris’ rough edges, giving it a patina of humanity that you don’t sense in other cities.
And Yes, Kale
It’s a cliché rooted in reality: We vegans love our kale. Which is why I’ve resorted to kale farming in balcony planter-boxes (a failed experiment) and kale runs to Whole Foods London. Thank you, Kale Project, for bringing the tastiest form of plant protein to Paris!
Aurelia d’Andrea is the author of Moon Living Abroad in France (2012) and the forthcoming Moon Metro Paris. Her next big project? Teaching Veg 101 classes in Paris.
Interested in Aurelia’s course?
Sign up here.
Thursday, February 28
9h30 – 12h30
Near: Place de Clichy
Kendal says
I needed this list. lol. Of course, I’ve been stuck out in the suburbs for a while so if I get a chance to live IN Paris I’m sure I will enjoy it more. But at the moment I’m enjoying the sun and excitement of the west coast again. Wish I was there for the Vegetarian in Paris thing though!!
kristen says
Soak up the sun and bring some back here!
Kendal says
lol. I seem to have brought the rain here! Actually, this week was pretty sunny, but it’s raining today and supposedly this weekend. But I’ve definitely taken advantage of the sunny days and soaked some up to bring back with me! :-D