Sunday, May 31, 2015

Paris ♥ Mum

You might think it was Valentines with all the Paris windows wearing hearts on their sleeves.
Poilane made their punition cookies into big buttery hearts. 
Angelina has gift baskets with hearts for Mom.
Master patissier Gerard Mulot has framboise-loaded heart-shaped cakes galore.
Fraise too. I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more gateaux Charlottes in the future don't you?
Le Grand Epicerie is not following the heart trend around town. i.e.'Maman Cherie'
In their front windows pastry chefs make meringue Pavlovas by the dozens.
Big and small.
Remember I showed you le vrai madeleines at Gilles Marchal?
Food expert Coco Jobard told me this is how madeleines looked in Proust's day. Well now you can taste them at the Epicerie for yourself.
Light and buttery, they are made to perfection by Le Fameuse Madeleine de Proust.
More hearts and flowers. Long lines outside the flower shops today. That's a universal anywhere in the world.
Remember that melting chocolate heart in La Mere de Famille's window?
It's been replaced. La Mere's chocolate is divine and the oldest confectionary in Paris...I think.
These chocolate hearts don't look so melty...
Jacadi has adorable maman et bebe elephant bed sheets for mother's day.
If you live in here and do a search on Google you will get more moms and babes animation. That's how it is in France.
Bonne Fete des Mamans.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Paris Fete des Meres

I've been looking around town for signs of French Mother's day (les fetes des meres). At BHV I got up so close and personal to this sign I knocked over a stack of Nina Ricci perfume boxes. Ooops.
These are called 'Les Delices de Nina'. Click and watch a fun video.
At the time I didn't notice this box had a PARIS MAP on it. Now that I'm stricken with serious Map-o-mania, I regret not scooping it up for research purposes... Mille Merci dear PBers for signing on for the new map letters!!
It's predictable to give mom chocolates and/or flowers. In Paris you give your maman edible mini flower pots filled with praline.
Naturally there are plenty of gorgeous roses waiting to greet mom.
A queen maman in black and white stripes.
Angelina has a giant chocolate vase full of chocolate flowers.
Last Monday Solli took me to a 'Dior' tea at the Mandarin Oriental hotel. The tiny exquisite mignardises are based on new Dior perfume scents.
The tea will be on till June 6. Do eat lunch before going (!)
I forgot....fatal error.
The day before we went to the newest, hottest patisserie in town up in Montmartre - Gilles Marchal, formerly much revered top chef at La Maison du Chocolat, has opened his own divine shop. *This is a Must-Visit. And just a short walk from Metro Abbesses. 9 rue Ravignon 75018
His décor theme is the madeleine.
With traditional scallop-shaped madeleines as well as the oval cakes we love so well.
Miam miam
We didn't go hungry :)
Before stopping in we visited the Spring annual Perigord a Montmartre around Sacre Coeur. No shortage of home-grown strawberries and just 2 euros a pop.
We bought a couple big boxes of berries too. You can not eat too many strawberries in France when they are in season.
Love this Mother's day chocolate heart melting in a sunny window.
Today I saw a new mom and dad helping their toddler walk.
HAPPY FRENCH MOTHER'S DAY to all moms out there.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

You've Got Paris Maps in your mailbox!

Do you get lost in Paris?
My first year after moving to Paris I got lost all the time.
As an inveterate map collector (I don't drive, just collect maps) I dreamed of someday creating my own Paris maps.
A Paris dish towel map (from Un Dimanche a Paris - 14 euros) is an essential for the map-obsessed.
I've flirted with this goofy biscuit map box (Paris version in Monoprix) for way too long. Have you?
Another goofy map online shows charcuterie floating round l'ile Saint Louis.
Longed for La Mere de Famille's illustrated map of Paris candy box forever.
Caramel maps of France hold a special place in my heart. Too special. I broke a filling last week eating a caramel. If you need a good Parisian dentist let me know - Dr. Michel Krumholz is your man.
On occasion I've drawn some Paris maps.
Even Paris macaron maps.
After 9 months of trial and error I'm thrilled to share a NEW subscription letter in my Etsy shop - PARIS STREET MAPS! .
Ta Da!
May's map is rue du Cherche-Midi - a street I could never spell until 8-10 visits doing map research.
Did you know major French star Gerard Depardieu owns a fish store on rue du Cherche-Midi? You might catch a glimpse of him if you follow my map.
Where can you get the perfect light Frenchie bistro lunch after browsing/shopping at Le Bon Marche?
On rue du Cherche-Midi merely a block away of course.
Early stages of creating the Paris maps proved a nightmare of sorts...ahem.
Moving right along.
Finding the right typography for a map is no piece of cake.
Falling in love with curly French ecriture was a Big mistake.
The boys at the copy shop (Team PB) said I needed more guys on the map = The perfect Dad's day gift!
Do you love Paris Maps?
Do you have a favorite street I should walk down and discover for you? PLEASE tell all in the comments.
Included in the printed Paris map letter will be a tip sheet with shopping and eating suggestions. Nearby Metro stations indicated.
I hope you'll have as much fun as I am rediscovering Paris!
Cheers Carolg