Hubby and I arrived in Paris this morning. The first thing I noticed was how it is much cooler than back in Richmond. Paris is grey with bursts of sunshine that do not last more than half an hour. You can easily have four seasons in a day. Thus the layering is a must when packing for a sejour in this most beautiful town. Blacks and greys come in handy since they go well with the scenario. Comfortable shoes are essential but no gym tennis shoes, PLEASE! A good idea is to wait and buy your “baskette” when you arrive. It will give you an opportunity to see how the French woman carries a sport look with so much charm. Baskettes are everywhere with various styles and prices. You will be in French mode in no time.

Once we arrive the first thing we do is to head to Laduree at Orly Airport for the best scrambled eggs ever. No macarrons for us. I confess that they are not a temptation for me. I find them extremely sweet but if they are your poison go ahead: these are considered the top.

Our second stop is the newsstand to pick up a copy of the latest Pariscope, the French weekly Time Out, and the current ELLE a Table where I can find tons of inspiration for my healthy cooking. This latest issue came with a bonus: healthy recipes for vegans and health obsessed ones like me.

Those are the recipes I want to share with you in the coming weeks. Straight from the pages of Elle a table with that French twist that makes simple food taste divine.

All around the city there are Grab and Go little stores where the emphasis is on fresh and light. It started with Cojean which used to be at the basement of Bon Marche, the Rive Gauche department store, but now they are sprouting everywhere. My favorite is Q & CO with its wonderful small plates, many of them gluten free. If you do not want to interrupt your shopping day with a 2 hour lunch it is a good option. The portions are small so you will not feel guilty and you can save your appetite for a later dinner.