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Winter Cocktails from Mathieu… So British!
Jules doesn’t have to look far to satisfy his love of both glamour and quality cocktails: Mathieu the Barman at the hotel, is full of surprises for every season.
And what’s even better, he saves some of summer’s delights for the cold weather, conserving much of the delicious and seasonal summer fruits for the winter. These pleasures light up Jules’ day, shaken in Mathieu’s very own way: there are of course Mojitos – so fashionable – which Mathieu makes with bananas, strawberries, raspberries, passion fruit… “or kiwi,” as Mathieu tells Jules “with fruit and then kiwi vodka… it creates a scrumptious taste of kiwi which I know you will love.”
There are also English Mojito’s “similar to a gin and tonic: a mix of mint and lime, brown sugar, with gin replacing the rum and tonic instead of fizzy water.” For a more classic style, Jules loves Mathieu’s version of a Cosmo, with raspberry and watermelon – “a silky mix, like a smoothie which I build into a short drink: Martini, Roasata and Vodka”. But Jules and Mathieu know, the wintery months are more deserving of an after dinner tipple – Cognac, Armagnac, Cointreau cream, “these are harder to rework” explains Mathieu. Jules is not complaining: in the season where we need comforting the most, what better way than a classic English drinking club: The Side Car (cognac, lemon juice, cointreau) and Mathieu knows the perfect dosage of each ingredient, or a martini coffee (coffee, a dash of coffee liqueur and vodka), Black or White Russians.
Jules loves when the bar is buzzing and the number of guests stops the cold from coming in. The chat, the swapping of stories create a relaxed atmosphere in which everyone can marvel at Mathieu’s talents who has yet more wintery recipes to discover, the “Calva Daisy, because Calva is the digestif which has the most flavour and works the best mixed: Calva, a little grenadine and a lemon digestif and why not a touch of Cointreau”, or Sour Amaretto, a classic which people often forget about, with lemon juice, sugar and amaretto, served fresh of course!
Cheers Jules!
Jules’ centrepiece
Jules is in the mood for travelling. He is a real connoisseur of accessories, particularly those custom-made ones which always feel that extra bit special, and he does get a little bit carried away sometimes. Jules wants this chic but also nomadic spirit to leave its mark on the vintage bedrooms in his hotel. The result – marvelous – hung on the vintage style tiles in the bathroom, looking slightly bohemian but just as elegant as if it were in a large cosmopolitan ancestral home, the Vanity made from leather is simply a divine surprise! Jules’ guests fall under the beguiling charm of such a unique piece. Jules commissioned this luxury designer accessory from Tristain Auer and his interior design company IZEU, made by a French leather goods producer in a limited series. The Vanity, exclusive as it is, with its chrome buckles and rivets that sublimate the dark leather, has a round edged mirror and contains charming cosmetics. In short, its precious beauty seduced Jules so much that he has made a few more pieces. Those in love with the Vanity (because that is the feeling that it inspires in some people) can even buy it at Jules along with many other ‘made in Jules’ accessories: the famous lips, also the lips box, the iPhone case, or sunglasses case in leather…
Chic explorers, will brave the rush, and Jules will know just how to welcome them, with all his relaxed elegance which has become his trademark !
Vanity in leather 1450 VAT inc. On sale at Hotel Jules.
Jules’ Cheese Board
Jules, and this isn’t a big surprise, absolutely loves local produce. And even more when they are prepared by the best local producers. This is why he braves the steep winding road up to Montmatre to seek out the real gems from Virginie, a local cheese producer whose trade has been passed on from father to daughter.
She has a nurtured her trade in her small store sized 25m2 with its own cellar which she has owned since 1995. As a daughter of cheese makers, Virginie, had started a career as a translator, but turned her back because she had a real passion to continue in her parents’ profession.And she also has a real way of doing things which Jules likes. For example she sells cheeses which are full of flavour and character which she has bought directly from small scale producers, carefully picked and therefore more rarely available. Her range is becoming a more and more refined choice, which is becoming less and less common, despite what some people might claim.
Virginie, just like Jules for that matter, is a real advocate of unpasteurised cheese and seasonal cheeses. Finally the partners agree on a weakness for old local cheeses ’My shop is small, Virginie explains to Jules so I have very particular ideas and I’m a little bit biased. I offer cheeses just like I enjoy them: well refined, with lots of character. I push them as much as possible to show all their flavour and all the variety of local produce. When some of my colleagues are working downstairs I love it when it drips. A small teaspoon of coulommiers makes me laugh even more. So for those cheeses which are always playfully trying to escape their packaging, Virginie offers some very nice containers. Inside she puts some real cutting edge products: very creamy goats cheese, alpine Tommes, or even ‘old beasts’ hay refined Tomme picard, Cantal bleu, Comté matured with dried flowers, pecorino ‘à la myrte’…And of course the essentials. Between the ‘small series’ and those products in season, Jules finds around 100 different varieties which change each week, a bit of farm cream cheese, a radius of very high end charcuterie, bellotas, specks, coppas, chorizo, and even a lardo di colonatta refined in Carrara marble! It is high end, but as Virginie reminds Jules, ‘it takes time, just like weight loss or with cheese which lose their sweetness as they ripen. I buy from small producers who do everything by hand apart from the transportation. I don’t negotiate the prices with them seeing as they earn very little.
When Jules isn’t in the mood for spending, Virginie always has a cheese board for 6 people at 7.50€. And best of all Virginie organises visits to her cellar with tasting, which Jules’ foreign friends love, and she is a real specialist in cheese buffets. Jules takes a lot of ideas home from his visits, like just how to present canapés of Roquefort on gingerbread!
In summary, Jules is delighted, because he loves character, and here, neither the cheeses nor the owner are lacking in it.
54 rue Damrémont Paris 18, Tuesday to Saturday from 9h30 à 13h et de 16h à 20h and Sunday morning from 10h à 13h Tel 01 46 06 76 54. www.chezvirginie.com.
Jules’s Cocktail
Fancy a cocktail Louise?
Jules occaisonally allows himself to be seduced by the joys of the cocktails in his bar. His friend Mathieu the barman spent several years working in the bars of great houses before he came to Jules. As well as being a good friend of Jules, and of all the other regulars in the Hotel, Mathieu is a master in his line of work – mixology. He has added a new twist to Mojitos – Jules’ favourite cocktail: Vodka 42 Below Honey, liqueur from Saint-Germain, mint, green lemon, cassonade sugar, soda, and he has named it – rightly so! – Jules’ Mojito!
He also created the very latin cocktail ‘Jim’ with Cuban Rum, Amaretto liqueur, apple juice, pineapple juice, lemonade and a playful nod referencing Truffaut’s film. There also some other devilsh cocktails ‘Bijou’,'Coquin’, ‘Julie’…But Mathieu, outdoes himself with his inspiration: ‘Personally I like cocktails which are slightly sweet, like Cosmopolitans, and especially with vodka.’ He tells me about one time that his friend Lousie came by for a cocktail. Mathieu fixed her a cocktail, which he said with an air of mystery, that he mixed ‘very particularly’ with orange, grapefruit and basil…
Louise loves it! She comes by often, orders this and sits herself down on one the rocking chair by the bar and, sheltered by its curtains – ‘in 1st class Air France style’ or on the beautiful vintage banquettes in the hall, where other friends have joined her to sip cocktails prepared by Mathieu, before heading off to dance the night away in the Parisian clubs. On those glorious days, Louise heads out onto the terrace with Jules to sit in the sun and watch the hustle and bustle of Parisian life which is beginning to awaken now that spring has arrived. They enjoy one of wonderful tarts from the menu, and a plate of smoked salmon seeing as they are in a chic mood.
‘Jules’ creations’ cocktails 12 euros, tartines from 13 €, plate of salmon, or chacuterie meat selection, 16 €, cheeseboard 12 €. At Jules’ bar you can also buy cocktails with Champagne, long or short drinks, hot beverages…whatever you are in the mood for!
Discover the winning pictures of the Lip(s) contest!
At last, this is the D-Day: it’s high time we revealed the winners’ names of the pictures contest focused on « Lip(s) » organized by the Jules Hotel. And we are delighted to share the pictures that seduced the jury! It has been a very tough choice since you have been so many to take part in the game and to send us your most beautiful pictures of sensual, smiling, mischievous, smart lips…
Grace Leo (founder of GLA Hotels), Eve Saint-Ramon (professional photographer), Jean-Louis Descoins (Manager of the Jules Hotel) and Hoosta staff (collection of worldwide luxurious and design hotels) are today very proud to present the winners’ four pictures!
* 1st Prize *
What a look! Jules has been mesmerized by the undeniable sensuality of this picture. What stories are these two pairs of exquisite lips telling to each other? Margaux Pignard’s picture wins the 1st Prize: one week end for 2 in Junior Suite at the Jules Hotel. Congratulations!
* 2nd Prize *
Both very uncluttered and sophisticated thanks to its audacious framing, this subtle picture gives to Ines Armandon the opportunity to win the 2nd Prize of our contest: Bendelirious by Etat Libre d’Orange, a daring perfume mixing champagne and cherry for an exceptional fragrance. Congratulations!
* 3rd Prize *
“Well”, Jules said when seeing this picture, “this place reminds me of somewhere!”: indeed, it seems that this very beautiful picture has been shot … at the bar of the Jules Hotel ! Hats off to Mickael Moine for his approach and for the originality of his picture, which allow him to receive the 3rd Prize of our contest: two custom cocktails in a place he knows well: the bar of the Jules Hotel!
* Special Jury Prize *
For its adequacy with the vintage spirit of the Jules and its enigmatic beauty, the picture of S. Remires wins the Special Jury Prize: the Lips designed by the prestigious decorators of the Jules, the sexy icon of the Hotel and the starter of the contest. Well done!
***
To thank all the participants of the Lip(s) contest for their funny, surprising and moving pictures which made the choice harder, Jules is glad to offer them a 10% discount on their next reservation at the Jules Hotel, together with an upgrading and a free breakfast.* In the next months, there are going to be plenty of opportunities to offer, for yourselves or for others, a weekend in Paris: Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s day… With Jules, no one loses !
Once again, a huge thanks to all the participants of the Lip(s) contest, and who knows we will maybe see you soon on another picture contest? Till then, keep following the current news of the Jules and the good addresses of SoPi on this blog, or on the Facebook Page of the Jules Hotel!
* Discount on the public rate to use before 05/14/2012, subject to availability during the reservation to be made nearby the manager (direction@hoteljules.com).
Lip(s) Contest: See you on Monday !
Lately, the Jules Hotel has felt nothing but euphoria! The Lip(s) contest jury has had a hard time discussing and naming the winning pictures. All the beautiful snapshots you sent have particularly been submitted to the expert eye of Eve Saint-Ramon, the Pin-Up photographer, who shot a part of her new book Recettes de Beauté (Beauty Recipes) at the Jules Hotel. Grace Leo, the very chic founder of GLA Hotels, has, her too, selected carefully her favorite pictures.
Thus, all members of this exceptional jury and the Jules Hotel staff are more than happy to reward very soon the participants for their patience: on Monday, the names of the happy winners will finally be revealed!
Who will be lucky enough to get a week-end for 2 in a Junior Suite at the Jules Hotel? Which one of you will go back home with Bendelirious, the exquisite perfume of Etat Libre d’Orange? But who else will be able to enjoy his/her victory at the Jules Hotel bar, sipping two custom cocktails? Where will settle the “Lips”, sexy icon of the Jules Hotel?
The suspense is unbearable… let’s meet on Monday on this blog or on the Facebook Page of Jules!
Jules cannot wait to know the results of the Lip(s) contest!
Just be a little more patient: The results of the Lip(s) contest, which gathered many of your most beautiful snapshots, should be announced anytime soon. Not only have participations been numerous but also of the highest quality, which did not help the jury to choose!
But deliberations are on their way and starting early November, you will know whether you have won one of the numerous prizes at stake: a week-end for two in a Junior Suite at the Hotel Jules, one Etat Libre d’Orange perfume, two custom cocktails at the bar of the Jules Hotel but also the sexy iconic “Lips” of the Hotel Jules.
Jules already thanks all of the participants for their beautiful pictures of luscious lips, mischievous smiles, and sulky pouts. And most of all, Jules is very excited about sharing them with you: let’s meet very soon on this blog and on the Facebook page of the Hotel Jules where the winners’ pictures will be released!
Photo credit: Vitali’s creation on Artquid
Beauty treatment secrets to die for!
Because Jules fiancé has always dreamed of being a pin-up, our favourite dandy Parisian decided to give her a sneak peek at the book ‘Recettes de Beauté’ by Bérénice Cler and Eve Saint-Ramon. The official pin up and hotel Jules (obviously Jules favourite design hotel) photographer took a number of vivid photographs of the beauty treatments aimed at women from 15 to 99 years old!
From a milk bath to a morning after face mask, each of the beauty treatments is totally natural and is based on fully edible ingredients! Quick and easy to do at home, they combine fun with the pleasure of feeling beautiful. In the book, the treatments are organised by theme: facial, hands, lips or body scrubs to name but a few. And what if you don’t know where to get the bits and pieces to do the treatments? Well, Eve and Bérénice have even gone to the trouble of listing everywhere that you can buy your precious ‘ingredients’. The benefits of natural beauty are no longer a closely guarded secret!
We Love: After finishing his photo shoot with the glamorous and sexy pin-ups at hotel Jules, Eve Saint-Ramon also took part in judging the hotel’s “Lips” photo contest, with the winner being announced very soon… Watch this space!
Tuesday 18th October, the two authors are doing a book signing at the Mezzanine de l’Alcazar. What better time to ask them about their beauty secrets!?
Recettes de Beauté – written by Bérénice Clerc, photography by Eve Saint-Ramon. Coming autumn 2011, published by YB ÉDITIONS – 19x23cm, 160 pages, 110 photos, 19,95€.
