Another great trip to Paris!!

I started my recent trip to paris with THE most delicious meal. It was later in the evening and I hadn't eaten for hours and while my husband had a snack (wonderful cheeses) I was blissfully delighted with my selection....French toast brioche with brown sugar, cinnamon and caramel ice cream. HEAVEN!!  Many people research restaurants and plan out each night but we like to just walk and take a chance with small places and make the best of it. We have never been disappointed.      The weather was FREEZING and the next day I had squash soup with creme fraiche and Rog had the signature lunch of France...croque Monsieur which is grilled cheese with ham. How cute is that baguette!    I also enjoyed escargots ....I can smell the garlic still.   The breads are divine and as usual with the French, visually inspiring.   At the end of each day in France a baguette is the staple accessory!    The competition was fierce at a local auction...   It was VERY hot in the gallery but this dapper gentleman managed to don 4 layers AND a hat. He doesn't look happy though.   Parisians take their appearance so seriously and I love the people watching.   This French woman (tres chic) worked the phones for hours and charmed the anxious bidders on the other end.  She was as interesting to watch as the treasures on the auction block.   In the market fresh flowers are delivered even to the most modest of dealers booths.    We have stayed in many different arrondissements over the years but prefer the left Bank. We usually stay at Hotel de Buci which is in a great fun area, very lively with many good small restaurants and the Sunday farmers market right outside.  I wanted a slightly bigger room this time so we opted for the Luxemborg Parc, a beautiful small hotel a couple of blocks from de Buci.    Like many hotels in Paris....so very charming.    The scene outside the hotel.    The room had 2 balconies and  18th century hand hewn beams...   LOVE these chairs and I have one available in the new shipment   Roger measured this impressive beam to tell his builder friend the size.     The bathroom was gorgeous with the marble contrasting with the rustic beams.      A nice restaurant in the area....          The Luxembourg Parc had a beautiful inner courtyard  As well as hunting for treasures to bring home France is always so inspiring visually...      This beauty is available...    2 of the several benches in the new shipment ready for upholstery.    This available walnut bookcase is spectacular and is only about 9 inches deep...   The Swedish sideboard, above is already looking great at the shop.  Many of you know how hard these are to find. I will be continuing to unwrap pieces....this weekend I brought 2 mirrors to the shop as well as several pieces of furniture. Smaller items have been unpacked at the store everyday and already have found homes. It's been so VERY busy and I've been taking up to the minute photos on Instagram each day.  CLICK HERE, its easy and the best way to be the first to see new arrivals.....sign up to follow Bonny Neiman. Next time I will include new shop photos ....would love to see you there.   We are now closing at 4 on Mondays so call first if you are coming late in the day because you will find us after 4 on Mondays only by chance.     Warmest regards, Bonny  Please note delivery and shipping is available on all items EMAIL ME with any questions. Bonny Neiman Antiques & Artisan  p.973-714-4541 www.bonnyneiman.com    Trouvaille 12 Beechwood Road  Summit, NJ Mondays 10-4, Tuesdays - Saturdays 10-5:30. More items will be posted each week HERE.

GREAT SALE and Christmas recap!

I hope you all had fun times with family and friends this season.  My family is pictured below...husband, children, granddaughter, parents, sisters, brothers-in-law, my aunt and my wonderful nieces and nephews . Everyone contributed to make such a special Christmas...I am truly blessed.....so many laughs and, of course , the big focus on meal planning and prep. (More pics, below). To show my gratitude and appreciation of your continued acceptance and support I have several top sellers on sale for you.   The sale ends January 13th which is my sister Danielle's birthday. She would want me to mention this as she starts with family notifications of her "special day" a month before. (she always has!) no matter what happens on this day we are all trained to hear January 13th and immediately think "Dani's bday". All Brazilian cowhide rugs, each one hand picked by me.  The light ones are hard to find ...regularly $575.00 on sale for $460.00. Click HERE All hand blown silver vases are 20% off....I have doubles available. Regularly $85.00-$155.00 with the 20% off $68.00- $124.00 ea. In addition to the above sales I am also running 20 % off vintage jewelry including Native American turquoise HERE And 20% off popular window panel orders HERE Some pieces at the shop available with huge savings are below... AVAILABLE-19th century walnut writing table from France used very often as a side table or flanked by 2 chairs. H 29 1/2 w 35 1/2 d 23 1/2 originally $2200.00 on sale for $825.00 AVAILABLE -Antique French opaline lamp on marble with gilt metal on sale for $195.00 AVAILABLE -Spectacular 18th century walnut bachelors chest from England with pencil inlay. H 36 1/2 w 34 1/2 d 18 3/4 originally $3200.00 on sale for $2100.00. Vignette picture HERE   AVAILABLE 19th Century Demilune Console Table ENGLAND h 29 w 49.25 d 21 Originally $1200.00 on  Sale$649.00. Click HERE for demilune vignette pics from previous post. AVAILABLE -Antique Austrian cabinet , versatile size with mirrored back, glass paneled sides and 3 mirrored shelves . H 71 w 47 d 18 1/2 originally $3900.00 Drastically reduced to $1900.00 AVAILABLE- On sale, artisan iron and stone side table. H 25 w 24.5 d 22 on sale for $395.00 Nice thick stone... AVAILABLE- LOVE THIS!   from the streets of Paris a 19th century zinc lantern with natural patina. H 31 , 18 diameter originally $1100.00 on sale for $825.00 AVAILABLE -Vintage iron lantern regularly $795.00 on sale for $495.00 "A little of my Christmas, below" My favorite Christmas decoration.  A winter swan I found from a museum going out of business. My sister gave everyone a cinnamon bun tray with all the additions ready for our Christmas breakfast....great idea! This picture shows how the rustic serving pieces and all special serving pieces make your meal look more robust and important.  My sister grabbed a hotel silver pitcher to serve her breadsticks wrapped with prosciutto shown behind my old cutting board. The fried calamari looked perfect on this antique porcelain platter.  The taste was also perfection! My sister was supposed to bring a small antipasti to my house for Christmas dinner.  She assured me 3 times she didn't go overboard...you be the judge! She made 2 kinds of stuffed mushrooms one with sausage and and one without. Also homemade cheese straws. I love my sister's coffee station on the antique silver tray. LOVE this cheese server.....paper thin curls with fig spread. After the LIGHT hors d'oeuvres, snort, cocktail hour we had dinner Menu Truffle risotto with piglet mushrooms Roasted kabocha squash with pomegranite seeds, above, Standing rib roast with carmelized cipollini onion reduction Spinach gratin Whipped potatoes with lemon Mixed green salad In my family the doneness of the meat is a major topic before the big day AND a big stress!  I am sure all of you who like rare meat can relate to this.  The pressure mounts for the hostess (especially this non meat eating hostess) as family member after family member asks question after question...  "Where did you get the meat?" "Why did you buy 2 roasts and not one?" "What temperature did you start it at?" " What pan are you using?" "Cover it!!"  Or  "Don't cover  it!" "You should put it on a higher rack !"  "We should have used the cooler" "don't open the oven! " where's the thermometer?" " stick it in here not there!!" It's  TRULY hysterical!! And the BIG stress is if my father chimes in with concern about the meat because, of course,  you DO NOT WANT TO DISAPPOINT THE ITALIAN PAPA !! So I did what any great chef du village would do.....asked my husband to be in charge of the meat!!! He can obsess about qtips so you can imagine him the week before Christmas. He bought 2 new thermometers!   I was completely confident as I went about all the other tasks of the meal. It became a reason for male bonding pictured above.  He put a post it on the oven warning everyone NOT to open the oven because that's another thing this family of cooks does....walks through the kitchen and opens pots and ovens. Let's just say my Thermidor oven is very unreliable. I suspect the temperature did not reach the necessary 500 degrees With the parade through the kitchen I didn't say one thing until he took it out and decided it was done because of the temperature. It was  a gross grey on the outside and I said "I'm not serving it like that!" Without missing a beat, he went down to his workroom and came up with a blow torch and crusted that roast to perfection!  And I announced as I often do "And THAT'S why I married him!!" He really is Macgyver! I don't have a finished platter picture because all hell breaks loose carving and getting it to tableside hot and not overcooked!  As you probably can tell we all do well under stress, HA! and you feel as though you finished a great marathon when it's reported how delicious it is.  And don't think it would be sugar coated with polite comments of deliciousness.  Two years ago it was overcooked and as soon as the platters were brought to the table "the people" let us know.  I don't know why people don't like the holidays.....it's always so exciting!  I realize when your kids get older their participation in the planning and cooking of the meal replaces the excitement of the gift giving Christmas morning and it's really fun. Love silver trays... I always have one favorite Christmas pic, above. The  fact I got my granddaughter to nap on Christmas Eve I considered a major score! Okay now on to the new year filled with peace for all, I hope. I am expecting my shipment from Europe any day and will post the new treasures as soon as we get them unpacked.  Some beautiful Swedish furniture, chandeliers, art and mirrors are included. First postings will be on Instagram so please sign up to see the first photos. Warmest regards, Bonny  Please note delivery and shipping is available on all items EMAIL ME with any questions. Bonny Neiman Antiques & Artisan  p.973-714-4541 www.bonnyneiman.com    Trouvaille 12 Beechwood Road  Summit, NJ Monday-Saturday 10-5:30