I do not (very politely) agree with anyone proclaming Laduree is the Parisian best chicest pastry. Upon my buds, the macaron bossman in Paris is Pierre Herme.

I heard that Herme worked for Ladurée when he started his career. I don’t know whether he introduced the macaron at Ladurée or just improved the existing one, but his macarons are by far yummier. The biscuit shell is delicately crunchy. It doesn’t get stick to your teeth. The heart is … creamier. The flavors are insane. Herme’s the yoda of salty raw material used to make sweet macarons. The olive oil-hazelnut, foie gras-chololate or white truffle flavors are just some example of how genius the guy is.

I have no photo of the macarons as I used to buy a couple of them and enjoy right away with my espresso leaned on the bar of a nearby bistro. I should be in Paris in 2 months. I’ll update the pics. I promise.

I booked a Sunday brunch at the London’s Blue Elephant the very day the 2012 Olympic cycle race was testing. Several roads closed to cars and pedestrians alike to free the pavement to the bikers. I stepped outside the tube station, and got stuck on the wrong side of the road by volunteers barring the streets with fences. I and my unfortunate new mates weren’t allowed to cross before 30 minutes. My reservation was in just 10 minutes. My brunch, which I starved myself for since the evening before, was the street-wide away from me. And no bikers approaching! sigh! my brunch! Suddenly (ta ta ta you hear the trumpets?) a hero (6 ft tall – 200 lbs – pink tee – very Le Stade Français the national French rugby team) pushed the fence at the other roadside and walked on through that damned street. See! See! Why he can? And I can’t? The volunteer gave me a desperate, depressed, disappointed look, pulled the fence off and left me leak out. I suppose that all patrons got stuck as I had the restaurant all for myself to take pictures. One of the waiters even asked me whether I was planning to eat ha ha ha. ‘Yes my dear! but let me enjoy it first with my eyes! ‘

The front door of the Blue Elephant of London is just as regular as any restaurant. But when you step inside, it’s a total shock. After the dark lobby, you get in a tropical garden of flowers, a built in fountain and fish ponds underneath wooden bridges. It’s awesome!

All ingredients are of the finest quality and the choice of meals and desserts is just huge. The waiters are the friendliest and most hospitable folks you can meet in London. I went once to the Parisian branch which is as yummy but a bit less spicy.

The sunday brunch is on special offer during summer: £30 only per person. You are informed from now!

Blue Elephant , 3-6 Fulham Broadway, London SW6 1AA

Happa Teï has became the last canteen I subscribed to in Paris. It’s a Japanese restaurant (one of the only with what sounds true Japanese people in the kitchen rather than Chineses) of Rue Sainte Anne (one of both Japanese streets of Paris, the other being Rue Monsieur le Prince). The reason why I like it is I never ate that before. Simple yep. I really need to go to Japan one day.

Basically, the menu is made of takoyakis, a kind of crepe’s dough stuffed with octopus from Osaka. You get different menus more or less big between €10 to €15 ($15 to 20). The takoyaki’s texture is surprising when it’s swallowed. The very hot ball explodes in the mouth when you swallow it, freeing a softer and liquid inner side (hmmm. It sounds like a sex stuff, but I don’t know how to explain it otherwise)

Last Sunday, I had brunch at The Blue Elephant, a Royal Thai restaurant in the heart of Bastille in Paris.

Bastille is a central east neighborhood of Paris. Today it’s a trendy district known for its nightlife, bars and nightclubs.