paris breakfasts

Plat du Jour

2009-11-26T06:47:00.003-05:00

The plat du jour is-

THANKS!

Thank you PB readers for making 2009 an amazing year!!!

Have a lovely Thanksgiving

Carolg

A French Thanksgiving...

2009-11-25T05:17:00.003-05:00

This is an organically-grown, free-range, antibiotic-free, grass-eating turkey(dinde) in case you were wondering...
And he will be a guest, not dinner at this table.
They will have Tofurkey with Sweets and cranberries from VT.
Hey this is a French bio-dinner.These folks live at the Musée Des Arts Décoratifs, so they can do what they want.
BONJOUR THANKSGIVING!

Automne à Paris

2009-11-24T05:47:00.010-05:00

Cranberries - bet you thought we owned them.

Nope these were shot in Paris. Imported from Vermont?
Leeks /poireaux are definitely a Frenchie veggie - they own this one.

And marrons/chestnuts. Oui, they own it.

And Soupe de marrons...oui aussi.

Recette de soupe de Potiron/pumpkin- regarde!

Photo from l'Internaut

So here's the Paris Fall story/histoire d'automne...

I was in a Paris mall with Anne and asked, "what are all those polka-dotted mushroom-like things in the shop windows?"
"It's Fall. Mushrooms are the symbol of Automne - it's when we go picking wild mushrooms in the forest."

Uh huh...like here at Laduree?

Oui.

So do all Parisien shop owners meet at the Mairie/town hall? And do they hand out polka-dotted mushrooms and dryed leaves? I think they do. Every window/vitrine has the same stuff...

Here Jeff de Bruges offers a special automne collection of chocolats
Why don't I see this in New York? 'Cause it's New York. Only in Paris are there seasonal couture-style collections of chocolates...

Champange is good anytime...non? it's even better with champignon d'Automne/mushrooms.

Fauchon decked their halls with stags and bunnies...

And Fall leaves bien sur.

More gold feuille/leaves...

Macarons in Fall colors-well they look Fallish to me.

Yesterday I passed a restaurant window in my neighborhood decorated with falling leaves. I thought, Eeeep. Fall is almost over. I haven't shown you Paris in Fall! Et voila. Well I must go get me some choux de Bruxelles PDQ and make my Thanksgiving dish.

What are YOU making?

BONJOUR AUTOMNE!

Rene Gruau Rouge

2009-11-23T07:52:00.009-05:00

In Paris I spotted a new book on Italian-born "French" fashion illustrator René Gruau (1909-2004).

Did you watch the 2009 American Music Awards Last night. No color to speak of. Even crazy Lady didn't put her red on...
In the '50s and 60's Rene Gruau waved his red wand and did wonders for Dior, Balmain, Lanvin, the Lido, Moulin Rouge, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar..
Fabulous line drawing with touches of red were his signature...
The touch of red/rouge is Paris' signature too in my opinion...

It's omnipresent...

What other town features red the way Paris does?

Set me right puleeze.

Not New York, that's for sure...

Even if purple is the color of the month...

Red is never out in Paris...

Is it just me seeing all this red..?

Red bustier - who does lingerie better than the French?

Or red desserts?

BONJOUR PARIS ROUGE!

Marché Raspail

2009-11-20T07:49:00.012-05:00

I finally made it to the Marché Raspail with M.
Held only on Sundays from 7am - 3am
Metro - Rennes
Everything is organic or bio pronounced B-O or biologique. They have great hunks of my favorite soap, Savon de Marseilles, made of pure 100% olive oil FYI. I use this soap everywhere-bath and kitchen. This soap refuses to die. After a year, you look at the block in disgust and toss it. Enough! Then you immediately replace it with a new block. It's unscented - hard to find these days and way cheaper at this marche than in New York.
More great hunks, this time of cheese, bigger than your head.

Hunky bread too. There's a rustic quality to this marche that is very appealing.

You could pretend you're in the country...

Fresh herbs to put on your apartment window sill or terrace?

Did they go into this delicious salade? We bought some for lunch..

What about the guy in the background with the red beret and red neckerchief? I'd love to know his story...

More lunchtime goodies -freshly made soupe...

No way was I going to pass up the hot chocolat l'ancienne. You have to add your own sugar. Hey it's organic!

Allyson gave me this book to read on the bus up to the Boston - they had exact descriptions of the Marché Raspail venders.
"At the end of the market, a young man is frying potato pancakes with onion and cheese." We ate those right on the spot. OMG Sinfully good even if organic/bio.

Look a chic back view of a marche vender. Note - purple scarf.

M.'s bread from the market to go with our soupe de lentilles à l'indienne from the marche.

I picked up some macarons on the way home from Sadaharu Aoki on 35 rue de Vaugirard. They are open on Sundays. Isn't it wonderful!

A very fun and unique experience.

GET OUT OF BED and GO!

BONJOUR Marché Raspail!

THE CONTEST WINNER!

2009-11-20T07:33:00.003-05:00

Dearest, darling PB readers you are Lifesavers!
And unlike M.Homer Simpson, you are BRILLIANT!
So many bright ideas!
How to choose? Not easy for sure...
Don't worry if you did not win this time.
I will do this again.
Will the winner, Evelyn from Alabama please step forward?
"Paris Bonbons"

wins the pet painting today.

Please send me your address Evelyn in AL

BONJOUR ALL VERY BRILL PB READERS!

I am one lucky blogger.

BIG MERCI!

DC, NYC and a Contest

2009-11-19T07:34:00.010-05:00

Yesterday while you were munching your way through Patisserie des Reves yummy goodies, I was at The White House painting Bo's portrait...only kidding. But I was in Washington DC...

Visiting the DC Alliance Francaise.
I will be exhibiting the Paris Facade watercolors there in September 2010 YAY

After measuring and picture-taking I was hungry, so I dropped into Bistro Du Coin nearby...

A little closeup on my soup d'onion...

Then I ran to The Phillips Collection also close by.

For a quick race around...

Before running off to catch the bus back to New York.

Old photo of chefs portraits exhibit at the James Beard

Ah...back in New York

More news and the contest!
I will have an exhibit of the Paris Facades at The James Beard Foundation in May-June of 2010.

It will be in their Greenhouse Gallery

Now for some background and hints:
The Greenhouse Gallery exhibits the works of up-and-coming and established artists who work with culinary themes. Providing artists with a space to show their work not only enhances the overall ambience of the room during events, it’s also in keeping with the Foundation’s mission to celebrate, preserve, and nurture America’s culinary heritage and diversity. Past exhibits have featured mouthwatering food photography, romantic watercolors of mealtime still lifes, and exuberant mixed-media collages.

THE PRIZE!

is this watercolor if you can come up with a catchy, witty title for the show that incorporates food and Paris. The people who come to the Beard House are foodies, in the food biz and they probably love Paris (who doesn't?)

How can I catch their attention?

I'm tossing the ball in to your park.
Here are some of the crumby titles I came up with :(

Paris Pets

Wine and cheese in Paris

Paris Pastry

I am showing wine shops, bistros, cafes not just pastry

Paris Food Scenes

Paris Fancy

Springtime in Paris

Affair with Paris

L'Amour de Paris

Paris Love Affair

Paris Feasts

Paris Fete

The RULES:

You can use French

Keep it to 3 words tops-2 words would be better

Put yr entry in the comments here pls.

Deadline: Midnight tonight!

BONJOUR TITLE CONTEST!

La Patisserie de Reves

2009-11-18T03:36:00.010-05:00

I'm aware that I have been keeping you in a state of starvation PB readers...
Four days and no French treats. Not fair. I agree. Today we will visit the hottest, newest La Patisserie des Reves and make up for all the deprivation.
Wanna go inside?

This place is very dreamy indeed...

The desserts are kept under specially temperature controlled globes or domes...

Almost like Cartier bijou non?

Ah...Le Saint-Honore - feuilletage inverse, creme patissiere, pate a chou et creme Chantilly d'un legerete vaporeuse - whatever that means.

Really does one need words to describe this heavenly creation?

Meanwhile creator chef Conticini is next door chatting up a Paris pooch. If there is a dog around I will find it...

This is "Le Grand Cru" - 100% chocolat - mousse and fondant plus a little fleur de sel...

Everything is pink like this sign that says, demain sans fault, meaning basically manana or come back tomorrow. You're too late.

Gone, gone, gone.

A dessert Bento box...I think...

A celestial snow brick? I don't know what this is...

The vendeuses are got up like vestal virgin handmaidens as well they should be.

What to get? What to get?
I was to busy stealing shots and enroute to the chocolate show, so I got nothing but these pictures to show you - sounds like a message T-shirt...

Others were scooping up these dreamy jewel-like desserts.

You better believe it.

Patisserie des Reve's box is pink of course and easy to spot on the streets of Paris.

A little something for the road?

Munch, munch...Please drop in and tell me what you liked.

La Patisserie de Reves
93 rue du Bac, 75007
Open Tuesday - Saturday 10AM-8:30PM, Sunday 8AM-2PM

BONJOUR REVE!

Galeries Lafayette Noel 2009

2009-11-17T09:18:00.011-05:00

Photo by Anne Corrons

Paris gets the ball rolling way before us when it comes to Xmas windows.These shots are all by Anne Corrons of Mes Vitrines NYC.

MERCI ANNE for inspiring today's PB post on Galeries Lafayette Noel 2009.

The theme this year is based on teddy bears. This bear is flinging herself into a champagne bucket. Not a bad idea non?
Really it's the ginger bear that captured their imagination.
Anne got to interview the window's designer - Jean-Claude Dehix
Why is the hero Ginger?

This seemed obvious. Gingerbread (pain d'epice) is reminiscent of the traditions of Christmas, so we made gingerbread a star in every shop window and inside the store.

(I spotted this ginger bear in red down in front...)

This rockin' teddy bear is designed by Zadig et Voltaire...
And if this bear is not an homage...

To MJ (note black hat, wearing red, and dark glasses)

Well I'll eat my Trilby hat...

Oh why didn't I buy one of these in Paris?

This photo is c/o Do It In Paris...

In fact Paris is crazy for MJ and certainment the couture biz...

Balmain Paris designer Christophe Decarnin showed a slew of jackets influenced by MJ's military style in the Spring '09 collection.

And ironically Michael Jackson wears a ton of these Balmain jackets in This Is It, an inspiring look at the inner workings of an artist par excellance IMHO.

I saw a lot of MJ whilst in Paris...

This T-shirt homage was right by my apartment...

I'm a new fan but a 24/7 one - I love his music and dancing.

Photo by Louisa Shafia

I've always been an ardent fan of gingerbread on the other hand. Gingerbread is dangerous for me to be around, but if you want a great recipe to make your own, visit Lucid Foods.

YUM

This is not Galeries Lafayette but Printemps in all their Xmas glory. Enjoy

BONJOUR PAIN D'EPICE!

Rudi

2009-11-16T07:23:00.007-05:00

I have taken many...

Many photos...

Of Paris' dogs...

And I've painted many PB reader's delightful doggies: Jack, Wally, Azela, Harvard, Bella, Bessa, Winston, Broady, Lilly, Lulu to name a few...
This weekend Peggy (Jack's owner) asked me what kind of a dog I had...

A Belgian Sheepdog named Rudi
(This was not shot on the Riviera or Provence...)

He was 13 yrs old when I lost him...
(Sardi Klein took this headshot of Rudi as a young stud)

He had a Phd.

He spoke French fluently...

Va chercher, donne la patte, viens vite etc.

(go get it, give us your paw, come quickly etc.)
Rudi had sofa rights...

My neighbor said he should have been named "Politie", his manners were that refined...

I wish I could have a dog where I live now...
This sweet cushion is the closest I get and painting your adorable pups.
I miss you Rudi...

French by Heart

2009-11-13T07:11:00.010-05:00

It is my firm belief if you walk into a Parisien boulangerie, you really could be walking into any boulangerie in France...
No matter how elegant the exterior...
Inside they are all the same, with the same testy vendeuse...
And the same pain au chocolat
OK maybe they are a tad better in Paris...
The same chausson au pomme and croissants...

The same palmiers...

And Lordie! Not to forget the baguettes!!!

Did you know the French government decides the price of a baguette or a croissant and it's the same all over France? Who knew?

So where am I going with this today..? Maybe you didn't notice but on the bus ride up to Boston I had my new book with me. It never leaves my side these days...

I discovered Rebecca Ramsey's French By Heart on someone's sidebar and I dropped by Amazon to read a few pages. I was immediately enthralled and continue to be.

Say you live in South Carolina, but have always dreamt of living in France...
Your husband comes home one night (he works for Michelin and travels a lot) and announces that you ACTUALLY are going to move to France for a few years!
YAHOO

That's right, you and your toddler, your 7-year old and your 9-year old AND the cat are all moving to France! To Clermont-Ferrand, 4 hours south of Paris in the Auvergne. Well really a small village nearby.

The kids will be attending French schools, you will be going to the local bank, and you will be going to the local boulangerie...

And you will have neighbors with a "lace curtain" mentality - i.e. they will keep an eye on your every move and correct you when you don't mow the lawn right or a kid's ball falls on their property etc.

This is a absolutely delightful book about Rebecca's family in France and the challanges and adjustments they faced living day to day.

I forgot to change trains Wednesday and rode 4 more stops with a big smile on my face before I noticed, I was so caught up in the Ramsey's adventures.

I'm only allowed to read French By Heart on the train. I want to make it last. Just 39 chapters to savor.

The point I want to make besides READ THIS BOOK, is even if you travel for a short vacation, there are challanges. Aside from all the local glories of Paris or where ever, you still have to figure out how to stand on line and buy a baguette without the vendeuse yelling at you and a whole slew of other minutia.

Travel reminds me of that line from T.S. Elliot,

"Do I dare to eat a peach..."

I'm sometimes afraid to go in a place in Paris and sometimes I don't because I'm intimidated. Rebecca takes those quotidian tasks and makes them into the most delightful stories. And she gives you courage too.
BONJOUR & MERCI REBECCA!!

Rebeccca has a blog. Please visit.

Is there some bit of French minutia that drives you nuts?

Do tell...

Noe l'Antiquaire du Vin

2009-11-12T10:45:00.012-05:00

Yesterday Ruth said...Dear P.B.
I’ve been missing your drawings but alas, you saved yourself this morning by inserting the macarons stamp!
So I thought I better get on the stick and do a drawing PDQ! And there have been requests for Yorkies too...
Noe l'Antiquaire du Vin is at 12 rue Malar 75007 just down the street from chocolatier Michel Chaudon
And their specialty is antique wines...

Naturally as your PB girl reporter in Paris I was shooting everything in sight...

Out steps the patron and asks,

"Why are you taking a picture of my ugly sign?"

Then the darling guard Yorkie invites me in for a look around...

A truly lovely shop and well worth the visit...

Situated right in a cave/wine celler too...

Don't you love the way bits of grape roots are used as sculpture?

And look at this divine old keg!?

Perfection non?

It should be said that the French let an old wine keg go to waste...

In front of Noe's wine shop a keg holds more fine wines. They are just sitting out there too like this! Good thing I only steal shots hither and thither or I would be tempted...

Here's another wine shop on rue Montorgueil...

With baskets of inviting wine sitting out in the street...

But wait!

There's a guard cow at the fromagerie nextdoor standing watch over those wine bottles.

Whew!
BONJOUR Paris GUARD COWS & GUARD YORKIES!

Macaron Inventory Day...

2009-11-11T08:35:00.017-05:00

If you are not a BIG fan of Paris macarons you better leave the room now...ahem
Yesterday I got the comment:
"I find that you very often quote the macaroons Pierre Hermé….you have some shares of his Co. ? "
So I thought I better do a little macaron inventory on PB just to be sure I'm not biased in a certain direction. These macarons are from La Grande Epicerie De Paris by the way. The above macs are from Angelina and Fauchon respectively.
An all time favorite macaron of mine is from Gerard Mulot.
I would not like to think I haven't been even-handed in my macaron researche after all!
I have drunk many cups of tea in the name of that researche and I don't even drink tea as a rule. Hot chocolate is my drink of choice - these macs are from Dalloyau.
Macarons from Sadaharu Aoki.
La Maison du Chocolat
Dare we ever leave out BF, Laduree? Certainment pas!
In NYC I've let you know about Georgia's Bake shop...

And the lovely, pas cher macarons at supermarche CHAMPION (now Carrefour).

My obsession with Paris macaronerie has led me to create mac mouse pads...

I don't like to even think about how many macarons I have painted - hundreds for sure! Way more than I have eaten Thanks Gawd!

My collection of mini macarons is pretty expansive too....

Did I mention that last trip I entered MacDonald's Paris doors to take a look at their macarons? I felt I had to, though I should have tasted one and I did not...

I have filled my Paris Frigo with every brand in the name of that ^%$#@ researche too - life can be tough at times...

Macaron researche is a demanding activity...

So busy measuring...

Color matching...

Flavor checking etc. all for you, darling PB readers....

Who didn't finish?

So now for the so-called "favored" macaron around here.

Well the man is known as the "Picasso of pastry"

Photo by Corey Amaro and Pierre Herme

The Defense will now rest it's case.

YOU get to decide now. Am I biased? Does it even matter?

Shhhhhhhhh...

Do you have any stock in P.H. you would like to toss my way?

It can be "live" stock, like say a few passion fruit macs...but I'm not fussy :)

BONJOUR PARIS MACARONS!!!

J'aime les jeans

2009-11-10T08:46:00.009-05:00

It's Tuesday, so it must be what-do-I-wear-in-Paris day again at PB...

Hey LES JEANS are la plat de jour!!!

Even though we think we own em what with The Gap, Levis and les cowboys etc., I'm here to tell you WE DO NOT!

THEY DO!!!
They know how to make a pair of les jeans look incredibly chic/classe or whatever you wanna call it - here with the "Hot" white wool scarf.
L'echarpe - check
Les fringes - check
Little dog - check
Pricy extreme high heels - check
LES JEANS - check
On y va!
The new jeans shorts - who can wear em?
They can, that's who! $%#@!
OK so maybe we could wear these..?
Regarde! Twin jeans with ballerines and Converse!
How come they take our stuff and make it look soooo much better :(
See: les Converse + Pierre Herme sac + eating a macaron in the street! What's up with that?
Le poncho + les jeans...

Les bottes with les jeans tucked inside + the BIG bag...

WAIT! She's got TWO BIG bags!!!
Aieeeeee!(Help!)

I LOVE this look and I would kill to have it/wear it/fit into it-

I found it somewhere on http://www.cafemode.com/

Like that isn't bad enough, Parisien kids are every bit as chic as their mums! Wha'?

Matching outfits! and Mum has perfect "bed head" while kid has the au courant top knot!

Too chic !!!

Where are the chicest bébés in the world?

Just guess!

art by Soledad Bravi

A PB reader asked, How come all the photos you take are of thin Parisiennes?
I don't really have an answer for that - just know this.

They do suffer for those skin-tight jeans =^%$#@! Le Regime!!!

BONJOUR LES JEANS!!!

Parisien Squirrels ride bikes...

2009-11-09T07:05:00.020-05:00

So my niece called this morning at 5:30 am and woke me up. Normally I'm up at 4:30 but sometimes... Yes it was the same niece that said "my blog was just a bunch of cakes" and that "I shoot everything in rows".
She mentioned there was a SEPTA transportation strike on in Philadelphia and why isn't everyone riding bicycles to work?
Which of course reminded me of when I was in Paris for the greve (strike) and everyone was on they velos (bikes).
Parisiens get their training early. They learn how to tie a scarf Parisien style at about 2 years old...

They learn their numbers by counting bikes.
They even learn about romance early and on a bike!

Foreign exotic places? They get it early plus bikes...

They learn too that someday, when they are a grand mere they will still be riding those bikes.

Look! A Parisien dog gets into the act...

OUAF! OUAF!

They get the bike training early with good reason - Paris circulation (traffic) is the pits! Well it used to be until the Velibs took over.

There are Velib stations everywhere...

Including right in front of Pierre Herme rue Cambon!

Do you think that's why Pierre Herme designed these macaron boxes to look like bicycle wheels? I do...
Does anything look nicer than a Pierre Herme sac in a Velib basket?
OUI!

A pack of luscious Pierre Herme macarons that's what!
You have to be grateful to a niece who gives you good blog post ideas early in the morning when you haven't a clue what to post?

BONJOUR ANABEL!!!

(that's my niece...Anabel not the squirrel)

Boston French Library

2009-11-06T15:41:00.011-05:00

Thank you, Merci, Obrigada for all your kind wishes!!!

Yesterday morning I painted like a mad person for 4 1/2 hours straight on the bus and it was the best ride yet to Boston.

Naturally first thing I delivered the (140) macarons to the Boston French Library. And look what an elegant space it is!

Then I strolled out in the Boston Public Gardens...
The Fall colors are extraordinary!
Boston is so spacious and serene.
The streets are wide.
And cars do not deliberately try to hit you as you cross the street!?
There are many well-behaved squirrels.

Quite a few showed up at the FAB opening.
Back at the show, the Franck Deville macarons await the guests...
I think they lasted all of 10 minutes!
Violette, fraise, chocolat and chocolat foie gras. Toute a suite fini.
The champagne was flowing...
And guests were whooping it up!
I whooped it up too - 19 24 30 paintings sold!!!
Did I mention that I had 3, that's right THREE cups of New England Clam Chowder!!! At lunch, dinner and for breakfast this morning.
Now I'm back in ole New York where already several cars tried to hit me. c'est la vie
BON WEEK-END et MERCI ENCORE!!!

You're Invited!

2009-11-05T05:47:00.003-05:00

This is an extremely speedy post!
I am racing to catch the bus to Boston in about 20 minutes!!!

And I'm still painting for the Paris Facades show at Boston French Library !!!

I went to bed early and woke up to find out that they already sold 8 paintings!!!!
Eeeek! And they need more! There are already 33...ahem

I will be painting on the bus...did I say that already :)
There will be a TON of FRENCH macarons at the vernissage:) (opening) tonight!

Will you be there? PLEASE COME!

RSVP appreciated

617.912.0400
BONJOUR ALLIANCE FRANCAISE BOSTON!!!

Eiffel Tower Bleus...

2009-11-04T09:46:00.009-05:00

So how come I have the Eiffel Tower bleus, aside from not being in Paris at this moment you ask?
Because everytime I walk up rue Bonaparte coming from Laduree (with macarons in hand) I would see this Eiffel Tower lamp in the window (on the left hand side of the street - it's been there maybe 2 years and going for 200 euros+). That's why.
Meanwhile back at chez Parisbreakfast I bought this lamp from Target in a fit of Eiffle Tower insanity...
It has been sitting for months looking like this. Perfectly horrid! The lampshade is the pits non? Plus I am a tad dyslexic and I don't do instructions well. It's pretty amazing how I get a post up 5x a week considering..ahem
A PB reader mentioned this BHV Eiffel Tower as a nice addition to my decor and I found it! But at 129 euros and probably with a lot of instructions and in French...ah, I don't think so.

If only I could bring home this Eiffel Tower sitting ever so nicely outside the window of the musee Branly and put it outside my window...

Here's a nice champagne-high Tour Eiffel, but these are too heavy to bring home and might crush the macarons...

A marbelized chocolate Eiffel Tower wouldn't last very long as decor I think...

Nor this tour des macarons spotted on Printemps foodie floor...

A true Frenchie decked out in her topknot, trench, big bag, leggings/collants, and boots at the Eiffel...

I did find this very nice Eiffel pillow by IOSIS Paris at the duty free in Charles de Gaulle airport and grabbed it for 48 euros.

But they had a matching Japanese-style Eiffel pillow and I should have grabbed it as well and did not :(

Resist shopping and repent at leisure.

Tres triste!!!

I found this snowy Eiffel at Amazon and it has been added...

And I got this one as well - I need a huge frame for it...
Slowly but surely my Eiffel Tower themed appart is coming together.

If you have any suggestions they are most wellcome!

This past weekend there was a huge celebration (when isn't there?) for the 120th birthday of the tower. Peter's Paris has the whole story.

Here's a little celebrating I did for Dalmations, Ace and Pansy...

Oh and while we're celebrating did you know that Laduree now has a stand at CDG? Right as you enter to go through customs, you must first stop and...

Grab a few last chance macarons!

No Eiffel Tower lampshades though...

BONJOUR TOUR EIFFEL!!!

Paris Leggings

2009-11-03T07:20:00.011-05:00

PB reader Jay L. sent me this photo, saying, "New York girls are wearing the same look as Paris girls!" I took a second look and noticed the bare legs.
You don't see bare legs often in Paris.

Except in Summer as
grace mentioned in the comments. I saw them exactly one time with these lace-up heels...
(Not my photo) but from the Spring shows-
Here lace-ups are shown with black leggings.
And in H & M's Paris windows with woolly leggings. Go inside and try to find those woolly leggings...ahem I dare you. I couldn't.
On the street you see...
A ton of BLACK leggings/tights/with feet and without but black.

Here a double set of leggings -

The guy with the Pierre Herme bag is about to lose it gaping at these leggings. OK we were all gaping - I was on the other side of the track and a Metro was coming and I nearly fell in...

More legs with leggings from a French style guide...

Cable-knit leggings in H & M's windows (pronounced ash n' M)
I couldn't find those either...

A PB reader asked me to please look for colored leggings in Paris...

I found them on this kid (gosse)

And in...

A lot of shop windows...

Only a few Frenchies were actually caught wearing them...

Were they trying too hard?

Purple leggings AND purple scarf here?!

Here's a French girl window shopping (leche-vitrine) but would she be caught dead in these violette leggings? I wonder. The French are pretty conservative and stick to their grey and black.

Period.

Looking is one thing.

Wearing is another. Hmmm...

What do you think?

One thing you'll see in Paris completely bare-naked and happy to be so is these Pierre Herme macarons in a see-through bag. No complaints here unless you're planning on bringing them home on the plane - then cover them up in a protective box.

Or eat immediately!

BONJOUR PARIS LEGGINGS!

Chocolate Show #2

2009-11-02T05:12:00.009-05:00

What you missed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday...
I know you'd wanna know - dark bark from Pure Dark...

More big tastes...from E.Guittard chocolate providers to chefs and sold only at the show to the public.
Maison Boissier was there from France...

Loads of bonbons...

Chocolate antiques...

Of course a chocolate fountain from Lily O'brien...

That chocolate tea I was telling you about - one of many...

Delicious chocolate from Italy - De Bondt with things embedded in it...

Straight up plain chocolate from El Rey...

Fair Trade chocolate from Equal Exchange Co-Op - here they explain about chocolate...

I liked this concept - Organic, raw, no sugar, vegan, no gluten, no soy. But chocolate is included!

You got to chat directly with the chocolate makers...

And drink chocolatey things too that made your head spin and see...

Large haunted chocolate houses made by culinary students...

Finally there was a box of the 10 best chocolates in the show - a first I think. Y'all come next year.

Munch..munch...munch...

BONJOUR NOVEMBER!!!

CHOCOLATE SHOW NY 2009

2009-10-30T16:48:00.013-04:00

I just came back from the New York Chocolate Show!!!
I think I may be all chocolated out. I lost all restraint.
They are imploring you at every table and booth to EAT CHOCOLATE!!!
You can not let these people down! It would not be fair to them after all.
At E.Guittard there are enough tastes to keep you extremely happy and at the same time learn about every source of chocolate's origin.
Le Chef Patissier pate de fruit and caramels au beurre de sel and truffes and, and, and...
At Cotton Tree Lodge you can go off to Belize for a Mayan chocolate week....
And learn how to make your very own chocolate bars from the bean...

Through roasting and grinding and sorting and finally conching for 2 days and then dip a pretzel into molten chocolate you made yourself. Does it get any better than this?

Ecuador was there too with their bars...

The same french spice company that shows up at the Paris Salon du Chocolat has a ton of chocolatey teas and ginger and cinnamon sticks and....

There are just as many books on chocolate as at the Paris show too...

Bacon is showing up everywhere it seems as the hot new flavor (not in Paris though)...

This was an absolute first - Camel's milk chocolate from Dubai by Al Nassma!!!

Wildly creative pastry chef Martin Howard always knocks your socks off as with this green witch number!

Hello Paris chocolate fashion designers? Fait attention!

A very scary white chocolate Bride of Frankenstein in full Halloween getup by Joelle Mahoney...

Not scary at all gals serving Love Potion#9 dressed as Aunt Sam...

Designer Vedika Webb was creating her chocolate Marie-Antoinette gown on the spot...

There's always at least one artiste creating onsite. Here Håkan Mårtensson. I noticed he was taking bites between creating at Fika Choklad....

Chefs are doing demos on the hour for all 3 days...

All kinds of chocolate spa stuff to put on your skin as well as in your tum..even Hershey is into the spa biz now...

It's such hard work covering the Chocolate Show for you all ya know..
You better show up after all my efforts...ahem

At least your trick or treat bag will be very full for sure!

BONJOUR CHOCOLATE SHOW!!!

Row upon row of...

2009-10-29T07:11:00.008-04:00

My niece popped in on me for 3 days while in Paris and mentioned in passing that I seem to shoot an awful lot of things in rows...
Out of the mouths of babes...
It is true that I often shoot things in rows...
But it isn't as if I arranged them that way, like these balcons at Galeries Lafayette, a great purveyor of rows of things...
Another obsessed row-liner-upper is Patisserie Stohrer, with some very nice entrees (starters) for your meal indeed...

A few steps away on the same unpronounceable rue Montorgueil you'll find these roast chickens...

And some haricots verts from across the rue...

Pick up a bottle of vin rouge just a little further down and you could line up in a row quite a nice din-din in my opinion...

We went instead to Rose Bakery, where they line up their tea tins in a row. I'd never noticed before...

Our plate of mixed veggies were a tad disorderly, but delicious none the less.

Parisiens line up in rows where ever you look. Marty asked if they sometimes glare at me when I shoot them. *Note small dog on the lower right doesn't mind a bit.

Where would Paris macarons be if they were not neatly lined up in rows? I don't like to think about it...

Here's something new from Sadaharu Aoki - piles of rusk macarons...hmmmm

I demand my ice cream lined up in rows! Nothing else will do.

The same goes for chocolates - which I hope to see a ton of at tomorrow's New York Chocolate Show. Just 3 days to immerse yourself in chocolate - will you be there?

Next Monday I will be hanging row upon row of Paris Facade watercolors at the Boston French Library.

The opening (vernissage:) is next Thursday, November 5

6:00 to 8:00 PM,

featuring row upon row of Franck Deville macarons direct from France!
Free

RSVP appreciated

617.912.0400
Will you be there?
BONJOUR FRENCH ROWS!!!

Le Gros Poulet...

2009-10-28T09:44:00.011-04:00

As you walze around Paris...
You're bound to bump into an awful lot of...
Chickens! Have you noticed this too?
Admittedly some of them are waiting to go into the pot like these poulet de Bresse...

FYI:The difference between "poule" and "poulet"
A "poule"is a hen while a "poulet" refers to chicken meat..cooked chicken.

As grace said previously the last time the French chicken came up- That's not a chicken in Laduree's window laying macarons, that's a ROOSTER (or coq), symbol of France! Cocorico is what it says (instead of cock-a-doodle-do)

Shall we rename Paris "Le Gros Poulet"?

After all they call New York the "La Grosse Pomme"

Here's another rooster in a St. Germain galerie vitrine...

Christian Claisse of Le Banc Moussu has taken to painting...

Very large roosters...

These could only be French chickens in my opinion...

They're quite imposing and aristocratic no?

Christian also paints large imposing tulips too...

Much harder to find year-round in Paris...

Sometimes Christian puts some "chicken scratch" writing in the corner of his tulips...

And sometimes not...

Christian claims he paints at the dining room table where we had such an elegant diner...

Remember Blog, the dog?

Christian's painting assistant and constant critic...

Christian kept his paintings hidden while we dined on blanquette de voi. I had to search them out. You can find them here.

BONJOUR LE GROS POULET!!

Paris Stalker...

2009-10-27T07:47:00.006-04:00

I don't know how Scott does it? Well maybe if I looked like The Sartorialist I too could shoot people in Paris from the side, front or full on...
Just give me a back and I know what to do with it. Very non-confrontational too. And a person's back can reveal alot about them, like Paul Bocuse here...

I find it so much easier to shoot backs in Paris...

I wish I had the nerve to do otherwise but...

Give me a tarte any day and I can shoot it every which way, under any conditions.

With Frenchies...I'm sticking to the back. Look purple socks!

A purple hoodie and a scooter in Galeries Lafayette!

Chic Parisiens leaving the Louvre on a rainy day...

Apartment browsers with blue boots and ballerinas...

Apartment ads are a good place to catch the unaware Parisien...

Shirt tails hanging out...

Seems to be ever present on Paris streets...

A front shot

of feet!

Is this woman about to yell at me?

I ran away vite, vite, vite!

I was with Anne, my Paris fashion consultant on the Metro and she noted this Parisien was well dressed.

When she saw me grab this shot as the door closed, she said,"I don't know you!"

Anne says I should just stake out one spot and shoot, like here at Laduree Bonaparte. No chasing down the street after "backs" or whatever...

I think I'll stick to what's inside Laduree. Even when the vendeuse puts her hand in front of my camera and says, "NO PHOTOGRAPHS!" the tartes don't mind a bit and are happy to pose patiently for me.

For more Paris stalkings:
Baguettes

BONJOUR PARIS!

Paris Monuments...

2009-10-26T06:21:00.009-04:00

At the Salon du Chocolat, Leonidas made this huge chocolatey homage... To the Paris Opera.
If I didn't look at all this chocolate in an abstract way my goose would surely be cooked. And I would weigh in at 500 pounds as some readers have suggested...ahem
The first week in Paris your eyes are glued to the patisserie vitrines (windows). Then they start to wonder up above to the amazing architecture...
No wonder Parisien chocolatiers and patissieres are strongly influenced by the aesthetics of their surroundings.
Is it possible not to soak this up and then recreate it into chocolate walls and bricks of great beauty ?
OK, they should have tried harder to show off their asthetic heritage - this purveyor is from the sticks obviously...

The magnificent of scale, the grandeur of Paris...

La Maison du chocolat knows how to translate it with style and genius.

Sigh...

Yum...

So lovely...

Very lovely indeed...

Is there another place on the planet that combines beautiful architecture...

And beautiful pastry? I think not...

When I got home I found the perfect homage to both sent me by designer Susan Hockbaum. Susan had the wherewithal to take Paris pastries outside and shoot them amidst the architecture. This is Susan's photo and there are more here at

"In Paris, everything looks like dessert."

Do take a look!

BONJOUR PARIS MONUMENTS!!!