Les Bonbons, original art, 9" x 12"I am ever curious about the French attachment to penny candy and other things of childhood...
A French friend, a philosophy Ph.D, first pointed out Les Bonbons to me on rue Brea in the 6th, a delightful penny candy emporium, though I seriously doubt you can get anything for a centime there...
It was her favorite shop...
The "penny" candy kisoque at the Odeon Metro Station is constantly busy, though you rarely see children scarfing up these pricey lollies and gummi bears. I hesitated when I saw $5 for just 100 grams (3.3 ounces)
The old fashioned ice cream cone is a Parisien favorite. There are more ice cream shops in Paris than in New York! Why ever?
A giant blue lapin just sitting out in the street? Arresting non...
High or low, Parisiens do not put away childish things, like this window at Pierre Herme focused on an enfants dreams (that refers to all of us when we enter his patisserie...) Who is not reduced to a needy, hungry 5-year old, please raise your hand.
Here Renault takes a favorite penny candy - the fraise tagada and covers a car with it! Penny candy is serious business in France :)
Another very high-end creator, Paris chocolatier Jean-Charles Rochoux, has these cuddling chocolate bears in the vitrine...
A toy doggie purse. Eeek 165 euros...hesitation sets in. 
At the cafe Loup in the Musee Arts Decorativ they serve fraise tagada as an afternoon snack with your tea (on the near right). Note the guimauve/marshmallows on the far left. And this is a museum!!!
The museum bookstore had this book solely on French penny candy and I should have bought it. I just did on Amazon.fr Yay
A boutique in the Marais specializes in old school paraphrenalia and toys - Au Petit Bonheur La Chance 13 rue Saint-Paul 75004
Painting by an unknown artist in the 9th
Play and playfulness - there is not enough of it.
The French have figured that out certainment.
~BON WEEK-END PBers!!!
22 comments:
That car is amazing! All cars should be candy-covered from now on.
Merci for this immensely delightful post! Every image has at least one reason to make me smile like a five year old with her hands in the candy jar! Wonderful! Merci! :-)
J'adore les bonbons! I want to eat bonbons now! This post is really sweet...
my favorite hard candy was one my Grandmother Mina always had in a bowl on her coffee table: red, shaped like a raspberry, hard on the outside with raspberry soft center. Salivating now. Never have seen them since childhood.
xxxx
thoughtful and perceptive Ms. PB
Penny candy is not revered in the same way in the US.
I loved those marshmallow bananas particularly.
It was nice to be able to buy just 1 or 2 rather than a huge bag as you can now. And who wants to wait until Halloween for these goodies to show up?
Not fair that we've left behind so many good things. Maybe that's why we love Paris?
me thinks it is a cultural thing probably going back many years.
i have noticed here in the u.s. the rebirth of several childhood candies that prior had faded away.
fraises tagada are the best bonbons! hope you can find some in NY.
j'adore les bonbons!
manon
I'm a sucker for Dutch farm animals licorice - impossible to find outside Holland :(
love the colorful sketch--it must be hard to walk BY this place!
love that candy color pink!
That shop looks so warm & inviting inside!
Beautiful!!
i've loved your paints!
the little rabbit in blue can be the son of this!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maryateresa/3286773631/in/set-72157606884582458/
best kisses from Italy
Lovely work,
love the dogs.
Merci pour les bonbons.
Love the lapin blue!
BTW Have you been to the old cookery shop Dehillerin?
Massive metre-long cooking spoons and whisks and everything else imaginable for faire du cuisine.
Lovely.
Every time I put on a scarf I think of Paris.
i love this observation!
yes
yes
to Parisian love
of the simple things of childhood
and should we be surprised
as
don't they adore most items
exuding
~*Good Taste*~
:-)
{{ me?
well, i would spend $$$$
to shop THERE
for
such inexpensive petite treats.
go figure! }}
Carol, you make those store-fronts look so easy, and I know they're so not!! They're just delightful.
I just happened across your blog, and I have to tell you: I LOVE IT. I am a HUGE Paris fan, so your blog was so amazing, it almost made me cry. I added you to my list of blogs that I follow, and if you are interested, you could check out mine? angelvelvet.blogpot.com
Au revoir,
The French Daydreamer
engaging post from beginning to end- entertaining eye candy!!
Yes, we should all try to stay a little bit childish. For the “bonbons”, I have no problem! :-)
"I am ever curious about the French attachment to penny candy and other things of childhood..."
"The child is father of the man"--by William Wordsworth. And before that Jean-Jacques Rosseau also advocated the same appreciation of childhood. Perhaps that could explain some of the attachment ;)
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