The Sweet Journey of Inspiration according to Jesiel Maxan

Courtesy of Jesiel Maxan

In honor of La Bastille, I will dedicate my last blog of the week to Paris and the Puertorisienne living in the city of light  (home to Coco Chanel of course) Jesiel Maxan.

I met Jesiel over dinner, duh, granted. It took me 5 minutes to figure out that everything about her involves food one way or another.

In fact, if she weren't as nice as she is, I would totally hate her for being a size 2. Life is just not fair but you can't hate her for her genes.

I think our story goes back to 2008.


We were in New York at the birthday party of a friend we both have in common, la linda Zama.

We started talking about two things we absolutely love: food and travel. We connected immediately.

I remember Jesiel was curious about my recent trip to Cambodia and Thailand because for a while, she's been cooking Thailand in her head...To make the long story short, not only she ended up going there, but la Maxan decided to extend her vacation against all odds.

We almost loose her to a pad thai but she came back in one piece, only to pack her stuff, say her "see you later alligators" and return--this time, it was official, she decided to stay.

From there, she went to India, China, Israel, France, Bali and God only knows where.
Nothing could stop her. Nothing. We lost track.

But that was so yesterday. Now she lives la vie en rose in Paris, spending most of her time in the kitchen, where she belongs, making us all jealous of her beautiful cakes and macarons. She makes it look so easy...because she's easy, easy like Sunday morning...


I can talk forever about Paris and Jesiel...If you want to follow her delicious recipes, you must know she has a blog: Sweet Journey of Inspiration.

But if you want to get to know Jesiel like I do, please see our Q & A Below.

XOXO Merci. La Gerente

1. The first French dish you mastered: Coquilles Saint-Jacques. They're delicious! Originally from Normandie. It's pretty much sauteed scallops with  mushrooms, wine and butter


2. Where to shop for ingredients? I personally like Saxe-Breteui. It has a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower. Its open every Sunday.  Metro Motte Picqute, Line 8


3. Your perfect french breakfast: a glass of juice, vienoisserie, preserves, yogurt and coffee


4. In your humble opinion who wins the macaron battle? I prefer Pierre Herme because he concentrates more in the flavors of the ganache and its more creative in his selection...However,  Laduree's biscuit is just perfect. I'm happy with any of them. You should also try Café Pouchkine

5. Which is the hardest plate to elaborate for you?  I have to say Coquilles Saint-Jacques. The scallops were literally alive!


6. Where in France is the best place to eat? People say Lyon, but I haven't been there-yet. However, I like Normandie very much.


7. Champaign or wine? Oh la la, this is a hard one...It depends. Voila! 

8. Three places you MUST recommend:  La Marine, Cafe de Flore, Bar Aux Folies...


9. A quick recipe: Baguette with Nutella


10.  Your favorite food blog: The Selby

15 imperdibles en el mes de Julio

Al fin llegaste Julito, qué mucho te tardaste. Te esperaba con ansias locas.

Y hablo en singular porque, por difícil que parezca no todos están felices contigo.

Ya sabes, contigo se asoma el sudor en las axilas, el cabello rebelde, cutis grasoso y cosas por el estilo...

Yo tuve la suerte de nacer en una isla tropical donde el sol es protagonista de todas nuestras vidas.

Siempre estuvieron presentes los helados, la playa, las piscinas, las barbacoas, los domingos de Z93 y las bicicletas.

Pero me mudé a Nueva York... Desde que vivo en la gran ciudad, estoy obsesionada con el calendario. Vigilo cada día como un águila en busca de su presa, esperándote como novia fiel.

No soy 100% yo hasta que puedo desempolvar mis sandalias de tacón.

Para aquellos que necesitan más de una razón para guardarle un espacio en su corazón a Julito, comparto con ustedes 15  imperdibles que están pasando este mes...

1. Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty en el Metropolitano http://www.metmuseum.org/
2. Ps1 Warm Up http://www.ps1.org/
3. The Spot by Heineken www.remezcla.com/thespot
4. Los deliciosos nectarines y melocotones del Farmer's Market  http://www.nycgrown.org/
5. Escoge una playa, ya sea en Río, Miami, Puerto Rico o Nueva York http://www.gotopuertorico.com/
6. Si aún no tienes el libro de Ines de la Fressange The Parisian Guide to Chic...Go get it!
7. Ir al cine y apoyar películas independientes como Midnight in Paris y Bill Cunningham New York
8. Painting Urbanism-Learnings from Rio en el Storefront for Art and Architecture http://www.storefrontnews.org/
9. Opera en Central Park http://www.metoperafamily.org/
10. Exhibición Alhambra in New York en el Jardín Botánico
11. Si viajas todos los meses a Italia como mi Connie...aprovecha la Bienal de Venecia http://www.labiennale.org/
12. El Cruise Swim Collection & Launch of Coco Contours en Miami

13. El Museo del Barrio http://www.elmuseo.org/
14. Las recetas de Sweet Journey of Inspiration http://www.sweetjourneyofinspiration.blogspot.com/
15. THE BEAUTY BODEGA

***La ñapa***Manhattanhenge Julio 12. Lado este de Manhattan