If you are going to a well known restaurant, you could expect to pay 30EUR or more for a top quality dish. For most people that have just used removals services to Paris, they are on a budget and this is simply too much. There is an option though. Follow this guide and create your own budget version at home! You can pick up all the ingredients from markets and supermarkets.

Ingredients for the Béarnaise sauce

You will need: 2 table spoons of vinegar, the juice from ¼ of a lemon, 200g of melted butter, salt and pepper, 1 diced banana shallot, 3-4 chopped tarragon leaves, white pepper corns (1 table spoon), 3-4 egg yolks and 60ml of white wine.

Ingredients for the Chateaubriand

High quality Chateaubriand, preferably trimmed from a local butcher. You’ll also need: 1 table spoon of olive oil, a bunch of watercress, cherry tomatoes, 80g butter, and chipping potatoes.

Getting started

Béarnaise sauce

The sauce is easy to make. Take the wine, peppercorns, shallot and vinegar in a small pan and boil. The liquid will reduce; you need to get it to around 50% of its original volume. At this point, take out the whole peppercorns and add the mixture to a bowl with the egg yolks and juice from the lemon. Whisk for a few minutes. If you place the bowl over a pan of boiling water, you can slowly heat and stir the mixture until it thickens. As you do this, add the butter (slowly). Add tarragon leaves, salt and pepper to taste.

Chateaubriand

Chop the potatoes and slice into thin strips ready for the deep fat fryer.

Lightly season the Chateaubriand with salt and pepper. Pre-heat the oven to 200C. Using an oven frying pan (non-stick), heat olive oil and half of the butter. You’ll need to seal the meat (fry until no raw meat can be seen) and add the remaining butter. Roast for around 18 minutes (15 minutes for medium rare and 20+ minutes for well done). Leave for 10 minutes. In the mean time and oven bake the cherry tomatoes until they are nearly bursting (around 8-9 minutes)

Using a deep fat fryer or a pan with pre-heated oil, and then cook the fries for 3-4 minutes. Make sure that they are crispy on the outside, yet soft in the centre.

Try and time the tomatoes, fries and meat so that they are cooked together (allowing for the time for the meat to rest). Serve when hot, carving the meat and placing a generous helping Béarnaise sauce on top, with the tomatoes on the side!

Bon Appetit!!!

In every European city, you will find something completely unique. If you just used a UK courier to Paris (courrier à Paris), you need to experience Pari Roller. This is a weekly skating event that has been going since 1994 and sometimes attracts crowds of over 30,000.

So, you are sitting at home on a Friday night and wondering what to do? Pari Roller gives you the chance not just to keep fit and see the city, but to actually meet people that are your own age. The warmer months of the year attract regular crowds of 20,000-30,000, so there won’t be a shortage of people to speak to.

How do you get involved with the Pari Roller event?

For details of all the upcoming events after moving to Paris, you can check out their website at www.pari-roller.com. The events are every single Friday night (although this is weather dependant) and they start at 10.00pm. Not a fan of skating? No problem! Over the years, this has become a large spectator event as well. You can sit in a café or bar and watch the skaters go by.

The start of the skate begins at the Place Raoul Dautry which is located in the 14th Arrondissement. This is a huge event that is monitored heavily. Not only are there around 125-160 skating marshals (depending on the size of the event), but the Police also get involved to ensure the safety of both the skaters and drivers.

Here is one thing to bear in mind; you will need to be fit. The route will change depending on who is organising event. The organisers try to ensure that they keep it fun by consistently varying the routes. Regardless of the route, it will usually mean that you will be skating for around 18-20m.

There are some simple requirements that are laid out by the organisers to ensure the safety of all skaters. This includes the likes of being competent and quick enough to keep up with the rest of the group and also stop quickly in an emergency. They do state that this is an event for skaters that have comprehensive experience with the sport. This is due to the length, the amount of skaters and the technicality of some of the routes that they use.

If you are a less experienced skater, then try the afternoon skate, which is designed for beginners, or those that want to go at a slower pace with no real pressure.

How long is the event?

The official times for the event are 10pm-1am. That being said, there are short breaks allowing skaters to get wine, beers and food. Some skaters keep the event going early into the morning. Officially, the event finishes at 1am at the Montparnesse.

It’s not good to waste your time after moving to Paris …GET ACTIVE. Try out the Pari Roller event. If anything, this is an experience that you can’t have anywhere else in the world, simply due to its size.

It is a well known square with plenty of attractions nearby, planted with a bosquet of mature lindens set in grass and gravel, surrounded by clipped lindens. The place is  located in the Marais district, and it straddles the dividing-line between the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of Paris.

Paris, like London and Brussels, is an extremely expensive city. That being said, there are plenty of great attractions here that do not cost anything. Simply walking around the square of Place des Vosges and viewing all the wonderful architecture can easily fill a day and doesn’t have to cost you the world. If you are looking to save some money after getting baggage transport to Paris, then this could be a great option.

Why was this square created?

The history of the square dates back all the way to 1604. King Henry IV was focused on building a pavilion for the Royals, which was to be located at the Southern part of the area. The designer and architect for the building was Baptiste du Cerceau. He must have been fit for the job, because after the original building was created, King Henry IV commissioned Baptiste du Cerceau to build 34 others, running alongside the same design. This is why the majority of the buildings in the area follow the same theme. They all use red bricks, they have roofs that have a steep gradient and are slate and dorm windows. It certainly gives the square its own image and is some of the best architecture that Paris has to offer.

What is near to the square?

Although after getting baggage transport to Paris, you’ll find the square extremely interesting, there are plenty of local attractions that are worth exploring. These include the likes of the Queen’s pavilion, Musée Carnavalet, Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis, Place de la Bastille, Cirque d’Hiver and Promenade Plantée. All of these attractions are within walking distance of the Place des Vosges although the majority of them are days out in their own right, so you might want to plan to visit them on another day.

Where is the square located and what is there?

The Place des Vosges is in a fairly centralised location. It is near to a large park, which is popular with families on warmer days; the perfect place for a picnic. Here is the great thing about Place des Vosges, everything that you need is here. There are hotels, hostels, supermarkets, boutique shops and attractions either in the square or surrounding the square. The square has become much more commercialised over the last decade, but it still retains its character. It has a cool mixture of grass and gravel and it is extremely well maintained throughout the year.

Obviously the square is a huge focal point for this area of Paris. The further outside of the square that you go, the cheaper places like bars and restaurants tend to be. It is located in the district of Marais.

Preparing everything for the transport to Brussels can be a stressful experience you need a tasty brake:). If you are short of money and need to take your mind off the move, then this is a simple dish, with an extremely good end result. Here is the best thing, the time it takes to prepare and cook the waffles, ready for serving, is less than 15 minutes! The ingredients below will create around 8-10 waffles, so you’ll have plenty left over after your snack!

You have probably been so busy with planning everything to do with moving to Brussels, that you might not even thought about this great dish.

Ingredients

It is worth noting that you will need what is known as a waffle iron in order to be able to make waffles. It is a worthwhile investment, as it will allow you to make them every day, rather than buying them from a supermarket.

In order you make the waffles you will need a non-stick tray, 2 cups of milk, unsalted butter (4 tbsp), vanilla (1/2 tbsp), sugar (2tbsp), 4 eggs (separated), salt (1/2 tea spoon), baking power (2 tea spoons) and baking flour (2 cups).

Let’s Get Started!

1. Get the oven up to temperature; make sure you do this before anything else.
2. Get the flour, salt and baking powder and mix together in a bowl.
3. In another bowl, beat the yolks and sugar together. The mixture should turn a smooth yellow color.
4. Next, add the vanilla and butter (melted) and whisk.
5. Combine both mixtures that you have until it is consistent. Once it has a consistent colour, stop. Over mixing will ruin the waffles.
6. Add the eggs whites gently. Again, do not over mix.
7. Make sure the waffle iron is non-stick. If it isn’t, use some non-stick oil coating.
8. Add mixture to waffle iron and wait 2-4 minutes. If this is your first time, just check them after 2 minutes to see how they are doing.
9. Either serve instantly or keep them warm. You can use toppings such as melted chocolate, strawberries, cream or even yogurt.

Belgian waffles are a fan favorite across the world. Even if you travel as far as the US, you will see these as part of a continental breakfast. When you move from London to Brussels you will notice, that these waffles are not particularly cheap in the supermarket. Not only will you be saving lots of cash by cooking them at home, but you will be giving yourself a break from the move and a chance to take your mind off things.

If you want to experience the various arts, crafts and culture that Paris has to offer, then La Colline – Théâtre National is certainly a place that should be one of the first places that you must visit after moving to Paris. It is one of the few remaining theaters in the country that is focused on drama.

Throughout France, there are 100s of theaters. That being said, there are only 5 that are focused purely on drama. La Colline – Théâtre National is one of those theaters. It was developed by the Ministry of Culture and is considered to be one of the most important landmarks in the city. There are over 250 performances per year, so there are plenty of opportunities to experience what the theater has to offer.

What will you find at La Colline – Théâtre National?

The theater is organised into two main parts. The first part, the most popular, is the main theater. This part a room that has 740 seats, so tends to host the bigger shows that are on show here. There is also a small theater where the smaller shows are held. The smaller part of the theater has a maximum capacity of 200 seats. The other sections of the theater include two rehearsal rooms. The great range of shows and variety of rooms means that the theater sees a turnover of around 100,000 people every single year. The audience is serviced by over 80 full time staff. That being said, the theater actually employees over 250 people which include: actors, customer designers, make-up artists and more.

What types of shows are held here?

After you have finished with your Paris move, you’ll notice that the variety of shows on offer at La Colline – Théâtre National is extremely diverse. Not all the shows that are held here are produced by the theater. There are several productions that are developed alongside theater companies. The external theater companies sometimes have shows in a different language, although French sub titles are always provided if this is the case. Shows that are currently being offered include: Six characters in search of an author, La Petite, Nouveau roman, Tout mon amour, S Druge Strane, Tristesse animal noir and Le Cabaret discrepant.

Contacting the theatre and finding out what is on

The address for the theatre is:
La Colline – théâtre national
15, rue Malte-Brun
75020 Paris
métro Gambetta

The full ticket price is 29EUR but there are various discounts on offer. For instance, University students pay just 9EUR, whereas groups of 10 or more will only pay 20EUR. There are also discounts on offer for season passes. They regularly update their website with details of up and coming events. There are also a range of shows that are offered in English for those that have just made the Paris move and have not quite got to grips with their French. Their website is http://www.colline.fr.

What is Océade?

The great thing about Océade, is that it is not the average water park. Instead, this place focuses on being a fun park, so people of all ages can have plenty of smiles throughout the day. The setting of the park is extremely tropical, so you are going to feel like you are on holiday. Throughout the year, you and all of your family can get involved with water sports, not to mention the fact that there are great toboggans.

How does Océade make it feel tropical?

You might not be able to afford or have a time for a holiday now, as you just move to Brussels recently, but Océade is certainly going to feel like one. How? The air temperature here is a sweltering 30°C and there are plants that make you feel like you are on a Caribbean island.

How does it offer you excitement?

This is not a cheap and nasty water park, but one of the best in the world. There is a huge wave pool here, which is the biggest in the whole of Belgium. There is an Aqua Fun House for children to have fun and plenty of jet streams to have a laugh with. For the adults, there is the perfect chance to unwind. You can make the most out of the gardens, saunas, Jacuzzis, the ice bath or even the Turkish bath; you are literally going to be spoilt for choice!

When is it open?

Saunaland is open 11am-6pm so you definitely don’t want to miss it. The whole park will be closed every single Monday, unless there is a Belgian school holiday. Although the closing time is 6pm, the staff will ask people to leave around 15 minutes before. So, make sure you don’t leave it until the last minute in order to heat up!

How much does it cost here?

Prices for Océade are not based on a day pass like most parks. Instead, they are based on a 4 hour pass. Adults (people over 1.3m high) will be charged 17.50 EUR. Children will be charged 14.50 EUR and children below 1.15m high will be completely free. School groups are charged at 7.50 EUR per person, whereas groups of adults will be charged 14.50 EUR if they are 20 or more.

Where is it?

The surrounding transport links to Océade are extremely impressive. You can get the tram, train, metro, bus, or you can drive. The address for the fun park is Voetballaan 3 1020 Bruxelles/Brussel, Belgium.

When and where?

After moving to Brussels, now it is time to start making some plans when it comes to future events. The more events you get involved with, the more people you are likely to meet. The Brussels Marathon will start on Sunday 6 October 2013. You can register online up until 23 September 2013. The event always starts at the Cinquantenaire and the finish line will be at the Grand-Place of Brussels.

What is it?

The Brussels Marathon is one of the biggest and best marathons in the world. It has been covered by all the top magazines and websites. The great thing about it is that it promotes sport for people of all ages and fitness levels. There are multiple adult events and even events for children. The run focuses on running around the centre of Brussels.

At 9am on race day, the main marathon will start. This is followed by the 4km marathon for men at 9.30am, the ladies 4km at 9.45am, the half marathon at 10.30am and finally, kids get to have their turn at running 1km at 11am. The huge variety of the day is what manages to draw such huge crowds every single year.

How can you get involved?

Everything to do with sport is about preparation and this marathon is certainly not any different. If you want to enter the marathon online, then you can do so using the website www.brusselsmarathon.be. Remember, registrations for the event online will close 23 September 2013. Once you have received your confirmation email, you will be able to pick your numbers from the 4th October 2013. If you have finished with your courier to Brussels, then now could be the chance to release that pent up energy and challenge yourself.

How much does it cost to enter?

Prices for the entry to the event will vary depending on the category. For instance: main marathon – 60EUR, half marathon – 25EUR, mini – 15EUR, ladies -15EUR, kids – 5EUR. Prices will be slightly higher for those people that are entering based on late registration. Expect to pay around 20-25% higher in entry fees in order to enter.

Get prepared!

Now that you did move to Brussels and entered the marathon, you need to train. There are plenty of gyms in the local area where you can improve your cardio such as Life Style Fitness and Beauty Cool Gym. All of the gyms in the local area have fitness instructors on hand that can help you with a long term plan to get you ready for the marathon if you need it, although all you really need is consistency.

What are you going to need to get started?

Really, you can create a recipe with what ever kind of ingredients that you like. After using this Escargot recipe you can adjust/add/remove ingredients to suit your own taste.

You’ll need a shallot, which will need to be finely chopped, as will a one quarter cup of parsley. Then, get 3-4 garlic cloves (peeled) and mince them. Half a cup of red wine will help to enhance all of the flavours. You’ll then need one and a half cups of butter, which needs to be softened before hand. Next, you’ll need ¼ teaspoon of pepper (ground) and one and a half teaspoons of salt. Salt helps to lock in the flavour.

You can buy fresh snails, although preparing them can be extremely time consuming. Most people that eat Escargot after getting apartment furniture shipping to Paris tend to just buy tinned snails from the super market. They usually come in a 28 ounce can, which should provide you with around 45-50 snails. You’ll also need the same amount of snail shells (cleaned). This saves you a lot of preparation and also the worry that they have not been prepared correctly.

Getting started

So, now you are ready to get started. You’ll need to get the oven roasting at around 325 degrees F before you do anything else. Mix all the ingredients that you have in a mixing bowl. Make sure there is an even mix. Garlic and pepper in particular can be extremely strong, so you don’t want big clumps in the mixture.

There are three layers to this. First, you should add the butter mixture to the inside of the shell. Next, you add the snail. Finally, you top the snail shell up with the mixture that you have created. If you have done it correctly, then you will have an even amount of the mixture each side of the snail.

Using a snail dish, you’ll need to bake the snails until you start to see the butter simmer slightly. As soon as the butter starts to brown, then they are done.

Changing the recipe

Obviously you can change the recipe to suit your own taste. Some people use less butter and add a bit of olive oil, or even vinegar. You could change the parsley for any other fresh herb, such as mint or oregano. The easiest thing to change is the salt and pepper content. If you are using salted butter, then you might want to reduce the amount of salt being used by around ½ a spoon.

Schooling

If your children are still at school, it is likely that they have no choice but to come with you. You need to ensure that you find the perfect school for them, for a few reasons. Moving to London might not seem as exciting to them. The last thing that they want is to move away and be put into a school that they hate. Contact a range of schools before moving to London. Most schools will be able to offer help and advice relating to how suitable their institution is and whether there is a more suitable option.

Friends

Friends are a big part of any childhood. Remember, your child will have moved away from their friends completely. If you have a partner, then you always have someone to go to. Although children will have you, their parents, they need friends. You need to ensure that they realise they will be able to make just as many friends in the new area, as they did in the old one. In fact, emphasize this point. They will have even more friends now; they have groups of friends in a range of different areas.

Activities

If they have a hobby or passion, it is important to ensure that they continue to pursue this after moving to London. This is not just so they continue to have fun, but they also have something to focus on. Most people in life make their friends through school, college, university, work and any clubs they are involved in. Any opportunity there is to get your child involved in a local club should be taken. This will ensure that they get to meet as many like minded people as possible. This will make the whole process much easier for them.

Language

If you are moving from another country, such as France or Belgium, it would be beneficial to enroll in language classes. This is not just going to be beneficial for you, but also for your children as well. The reality is that to get by in England, speaking in fluent English is going to be necessary. It is a fairly simple language to pick up, so a quick booster course and then a regular (once a week) top up will be enough to help to make this process a lot easier than it would have been otherwise.

The Move Day

To help reduce stress for both you and your children, have them doing as much as possible on the day of the move. Let them shift some boxes around, make drinks and food and even unpack some boxes in their new room. Any help on this busy day is going to be a lot of help!

When is renting a car the right option?

Renting cars in any country is certainly not the cheapest option. That being said, it is the most convenient way to get around. The thing is, you need to decide whether you want to save time, or money. Your trip might be limited and you need to get around quickly, which is where a car is ideal. At the same time, a car rental package is ideal when you are renting for 10 days or more. It is at this point, especially when there are 3-4 people that it becomes a fairly inexpensive option.

What are the prices?

The prices will depend on the type of car, number of days and the rental company. If you are looking for a basic model vehicle that can hold a family of 4 for 10 days, you should expect to pay around 500 Euros.

What companies offer these services?

When travelling from London to Brussels, there are 4 major companies to choose from in the area: Car Rental Brussels, Avis, Europcar and Hertz. They all have websites, so you can directly compare prices and any extra fees they charge on the internet to see which company is really offering the best deal. Each of the companies will offer pick ups from the major access points in Brussels. This includes Brussels Airport, Brussels-Midi station and Brussels Charleroi.

What are the requirements for hire cars?

Like the UK, the requirements for hire cars, are nothing to do with driving licenses. In fact, to hire a car here, you need to be at least 23 years old. A 23 year old will be able to hire one of the basic model cars. The mid-class range rentals will require the driver to be at least 25 years old and generally, 30 years old is the number for the top of the range models. This will vary depending on the supplier. Remember, the excess (in the case of an accident) will also vary depending on the individual company and the age of the driver.

Are there any other options besides car rental?

Of course, if you are moving from London to Brussels, you will find the reliability and quality of transport extremely similar. Like London, there are a great network of buses, trams, trains and the metro. You can get anywhere in and around the city fairly easily for the sake of a few Euros. The only downside to the public transport is that you need to be near a station and it generally takes longer than if you drove.