Travel Souvenirs from Around the World: Montmartre, Paris

I could fill pages with stories of souvenirs and items brought back from Paris over the years. Instead, I choose to feature this one for good reason.

Strolling along rue des Saules in Montmartre, not far from Place du Tertre with artists touting to sketch your portrait, we came across an assortment of ceramics hanging on the outside wall of Galerie d’Art.

Inside this beautiful shop, there are lovely objets d’art and home-made ceramics that would enhance our home but Mr G had his eye set on one particular item: le chat.

Being a devout cat lover, it was the one objet he had to have. Small enough to fit in our luggage and travel the distance safely, and a better alternative to his imaginary cat at home.

A few months later, after we’ve returned from our travels and he retrieves a bottle of wine from the cellar, le chat makes another appearance.

Le Chat Noir is a wine from Vallée de l’Aude in the Pays d’Oc which lies in the foothills of the Pyrenées south of Carcassonne. They produce two wines, a zesty and crisp Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir with hints of spice and red fruit. The similarity between the cats is astounding.

Le Chat Noir wines have since made regular appearances on our dinner table.

Previous Travel Souvenirs from Around the World: Tokyo, Seoul, Jbeil, Big Island Hawaii, Dubai, Provence, Tahiti.