Patisserie Stohrer letter, Fund for Kiosquiers

The best way to start work on the monthly letter art is with thumbnails. Plus pastry if possible.

PATISSERIE STOHRER at 51, rue Montorgueil, 75002 is Paris' oldest and prettiest pastry shop.

The story goes, Polish pastry chef Nicolas Stohrer accompanied King Stanislas' daughter Princess Marie when she married King Louis XV to Versailles. Moving to a new place is a hardship when you don't have your national pastries to help you adjust. How many times have I've requested a NYC cheese Danish pastry to no avail. I even briefly considered making my own. Stohrer's big contribution to Paris pastry is the syrup-soaked baba. The rum was a Paris addition. Also available with whipped cream and fruits.

Both exterior and interior are exceptional. The graceful painted-glass figures inside are by PAUL-JACQUES BAUDRY, who painted frescos in Opera Garnier's foyer. Not your usual straw-hatted boulangerie hay slingers.

The awning at Patisserie has always been egg yoke yellow. This week I noticed it is now ultramarine blue like the exterior. Plus it is listing. Neither one is an improvement IMHO but they chose not to consult me, so I kept it yellow in the March Paris letter.

Look up at the Venetian chandelier and painted ceiling. And spend ample time browsing the divine savory and sweets. Prices are reasonable for an haute patisserie (4,90€ for pastries)

For research purposes, of course I got their winning chocolate eclair, puits d'amour, baba au rhum and Paris Brest (bottom left). Pastry chef JEFFREY CAGNES is among Paris' best. 

One of my first Paris maps was pedestrian street, rue Montorgueil. Subscribe to the letters and get the map too. Hmmm...I painted the whole shop yellow in 2015. Wishful thinking. And I did a little watercolor.

Speaking of the color yellow, I woke up late last night and read GUARDIAN journalist JOHN LITCHFIELD's story on the Champs-Élysées news kiosques destroyed by the Gilets Jaunes. Litchfield has set up a crowdfunder appeal for stricken kiosque operators. I'm offering two Paris Kiosque watercolors on ETSY . 100% (minus shipping) will be donated to the fund. Or go over and donate directly. Who doesn't love Paris kiosques? 

Thank you for reading and sharing Parisbreakfasts. 

With love💋 from Paris🐻 Xxx

Amélie Nothomb, Salon du Livre

On Friday I went to the annual March 4-day SALON DU LIVRE at convention center, Porte de Versailles (ligne 12). Attending any festival in Paris on the first day is a very good idea. Crowds are managable and free bookmarks, bags and catalogs are readily available.

The French read. A lot. Real books. You see them on the Metro reading large books. And they're not prepping for veterinary school exams either. They read a lot of Belgian novelist AMÉLIE NOTHOMB.

Such long book-signing lines for Amélie Nothomb at publisher stand, Albin Michel. I did a little research. I've certainly seen her beautiful Japanese Noh mask-like face in book shop windows. Irresistible to paint. But I'd never read anything or so I thought. Fabienne-Claire Nothomb, better known by her pen name Amélie Nothomb, is a Belgian Francophone novelist. Part of her childhood was spent in Asia. A prolific author, since the publication of her first novel Hygiene and the Assassin in 1992, at the age of twenty six, she has published a book a year. Wikipedia.

Turns out I was wrong. Netflix for while made available her captivating, FEAR AND TREMBLING. The opening papragraph on AMAZON.

And the Youtube trailer. You can watch TOKYO FIANCÉE too. 

The Salon du Livre is a giant international book store open to the public. You see attendees leaving with bags and bags of books. Signed books. Very nice free shopping bags are given out but I'm set from the Salon de l'Agriculture a few weeks ago.

Small publishers with unusual designed books are in there next to the big guys. If you see something of interest, grab it. The French rarely reprint back titles. You won't find it next year.

The range of exciting children's books is endless. Illustrations are superb and sophisticated.No subject is taboo.

Kids 18 and under attend free. A love for books is encouraged from the get-go. Maybe that's why the French are so precise, articulate and vocal about the use of their language. Hmmm...

There is no Angelina at SALON DU LIVRE, which closes on Monday. A hot chocolate would go well with book browsing. Thank you for reading and sharing Parisbreakfasts. Subscription letters 💌maps and watercolors are in my Etsy shop. With love💋 from Paris🐻 Xxx

Les Nabis et le décor, Musee du Luxembourg

'Another opening, another show...' Its that time of year for new Spring exhibits. Monday I saw the NABI at MUSEE DU LUXEMBOURG. I tried my hand at their wonderful, dotty patterns. Not a piece of cake.... 

 From 1880 to 1910 the post-impressionist group of painters: Bonnard, Vuillard, Maurice Denis, Serusier and Vallotton were on the same wave length, deeply influenced by the flow of Japanese woodblock prints and pottery arriving in France.

Tall painted panels resembling Japanese screens but with everyday French motifs.

Flowing, curvy lines, truncated cutoff forms. The muted color palette is Japanese. 

Abstract use of patterns and organic forms were de rigueur. Notice similar reclining poses of the figures.

A Bonnard painted plate of an everyday scene - a frolicking dog and owner in the garden. The designs entered all forms of home decor and architecture like tapestry, stained glass and ceramics.

After the exhibit visit BOUILLON RACINE for a Nabi/Art Nouveau lunch at 3 rue Racine

Then up to Rue Fortuny in the 17th. The entire street reflects Art Nouveau-Japanese trends.

These patterns are all over Paris. Just take time to look. Entering Metro Renne station I never noticed these curvy natural forms from that era. The Luxembourg museum has its own ANGELINA SALON DE THÉ and a dessert is specially created for each exhibit. This time an airy yogurt mousse on a shortbread base with an explosion of yuzu, lemon and basil inside. At the preview we did not get to taste it unfortunately, but you can try it for me. A joyous, Springy exhibit perfect to experience while Paris trees blossom in the gardens just beyond. Don't Miss! Thank you for reading and sharing Parisbreakfasts. Subscription letters 💌, maps and watercolors are in my Etsy shop. With love💋 from Paris🐻 Xxx