Luxe Beat Magazine December 2015 | Page 10

innovative creations like the hazelnut. Beyond the delicious eats, tea time isn’t complete without a glass of Champagne and tea. And as you’d expect, there’s a wide selection of both. Le Meurice, 228 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris Special Souvenir The words Marseille and soap are now synonymous, thanks to Middle Eastern trade in the 11th century. However, it wasn’t until the 16th century that the first savon factory in Marseille was created. A royal edict from King Louis XIV and a Gold Star at the 1855 World Exhibition in Paris helped perpetuate the French product’s worldwide reputation. Made with 72% vegetable oil, savon de Marseille is traditionally made in cauldrons. Today, there are only five soap masters in France making it in the traditional manner, including one at La Grande Savonnerie. In this shop near the Old Port, La Grande Savonnerie is not only a place to pick up genuine, hand-crafted soap for the body and clothes, it also offers soap making workshops. In about an hour’s time, you’ll learn the product’s history and transform soap pellets into a customized, handmade souvenir. La Grande Savonnerie, 36 Grand Rue, 13002 Marseille Sample this Service One of the questions I am asked most is: “Where should I eat in Paris?” Inevitably, I draw a blank. With hundreds of good (and thousands of average) places in which to dine in the City of Light, giving restaurant suggestions is quite difficult. However, I think that a meal is just as much about the experience as the actual food. And since I’m a sucker for new experiences and the somewhat unconventional, I say give VizEat a try.