Now or Later?

When I walked by this Dalloyau vitrine/window, temptation called.... I sat down and ordered the mini version of the Torbion Caramel . Nothing was going to come between me and this hunk of glossy caramel (filled with whipped cream I didn't eat - I hate whipped cream.)
The thought never entered my head to buy it and eat it later either.

Jamais!
Can you resist temptation when it calls?
Or are you one of those people with self-restraint?
Do you think, "I'll come back later if I still want it and get it".
Ice cream is an instant gratification food. Ice cream won't wait around for you to come back later. It's an "I want it now" food and thank gawd for that.

Ah...the smell of it.
When chocolate beckens, who resists? Some can. Even I, Queen of Instant Gratification, can resist chocolate...

If I have a refrigerator full of it, say just after a chocolate show. There's safety in numbers. And I can resist macarons if they're wrapped up tight in the freezer. Out of sight - out of mind...
Magnolia's cupcakes I waltze by with ease. I've never cared for cake or icing, so personal tastes effect issues of temptation.

There's an extensive article in the current NEW YORKER on just this subject.

Don’t! The secret of self-control.
byJonah Lehrer.

If you enjoy Paris pastries you need to read this.

When Pres. Obama admonished Wall Street

"to show some restraint,

and show some discipline,

and show some sense of responsibility.”

I thought he was talking to me.
It was my new motto for a week or so...

But would there even be a Paris Breakfast if I had a modicum of self-restraint and discipline?

Granted visual beauty plays a big part in my downfall...

And would I, could I trade a peach for a macaron?

What about you?

Can you show self-restraint when offered a packet of Pierre Herme macarons? Would you say,"Let me think about it...I'll get back to you later." Would you? Be honest?
Do tell all s.v.p.

Munch...munch...munch...Aren't week-ends for sinning?

BONJOUR WEEK-END!!!!

You Asked For It

Yesterday I got many requests for Paris Breakfast watercolors... VOILA! Some of you would like to see more Paris signs...along with your professors(!?)
I got a request "pour les hommes aussi"

Voila...

Voila!

Many requests for Parisien BIG BAGS came in...

Here 2 big bags + a big scarf!!!

Another BIG BAG. This should hold y'all for a while...

This was the only napoleon I could find in my pics :(
Je suis désolé...
Pierre Herme's "Miss Gla Gla"...

A boulangerie was requested...

I know I have pictures of Paris sunglasses somewhere.

This will have to do meanwhile. Désolé...

A wedding gateaux from Lenotre - requested before I left.

This pic is for Anne, who doesn't think there are many chiens in Paris...

Someone asked for this black dog in front of this cafe on rue Augereau...

And someone wanted to see the Parisien Green sanitation men...

Red shoes anyone?

Oddly enough no one asked to see more of ze Eiffel Tower yesterday.

I guess you're satiated...hmmm

Moi, I'm hanging out in the bushes chilling and working on the commissions that were awaiting for my return...
I'm sorry for the nasty copyright notices blemishing my pics today until I learn how to do the "GIMP" software.

Unfortunately some have been downloading PB's watercolors to print out and hang all over their law offices.

Not fair.

Please don't PB readers...ahem

As for requests for more MACARONS!!!!
This shot was taken while stalking in Place St.-Sulpice...
Big bag - check

Trench coat - check

Parisiens eating in the street - check
Pierre Herme - check
Macarons - check

BONJOUR EVERYBODY!!!!

My Paris Macaron

Adorable non?
In fact everything they have is pretty adorable non?
The French bonbon baby T-shirts are to die for...
Just like these bonbons I wrote about...
More French bonbons as a necklace/collier and as a bag/sac too!

Doesn't this mignon collier look very much like...
These chocolate macaron-style bonbons...

Hmmmm...yesterday Carol said...ok, love the...macaron shopping bags, and the colors are fabulous but...in all politesse...can we move on a bit, I feel as if we are in macaron morass...so here is a SARDINE BELT especially for Carol.

From The taste of luxury exhibit at the La Grand Epicerie...

Oh and a broccali bag too for Carol and other non-lovers of Paris macarons.

And more of photographer FULVIO BONAVIA's Kiwi watch...

And a raspberry for Carol!

I immediately donned my brand new T-shirt and went into patisserie SECCO to get a sandwich and the girl behind the counter asked me, "Where did you get your T-shirt? In Paris.."

"My mother makes those", she said!
Was it Karmic Destine that we meet - this T-shirt and I?

Here is today's Parisen dog. I had a lovely Berger Belge for 13 unforgettable years - dear Rudi. He understood French. I'm sure he would love Paris macarons. If you're tired of all the macaronerie on PB please comment.

Should we vote?

BONJOUR Paris MACARONS!

Confessions of a Mac-aholic

Paris is besotted with Confessions of a Shopaholic. You can not take a Metro or bus without confronting this image...
Photo (c) The Selby.com
Some people are SHOE-aholics as noted on The Selby.com...
I am a MAC-aholic.
This trip, well last Friday to be exact, I brought home 19 (!) boxes of Parisien macarons (oui, reserche again). It was quite a challenge and required consultations with one of the world's best mac makers....
One thing I learned is look for macs packed in a box with no spaces like these at Dalloyau...
Eeeeep! BIG spaces in Patisserie Carette's beautiful box. What to do?
Helene of Tartelette , Champion du Monde macaron-maker to the rescue. By emergency correspondence, she let me know the best secrets of her French Grande mere = little pads of tissue paper (Toilet paper or Kleenex) to fill in the spaces in the box so the mac don't bang around and hurt themselves. In fact it's not a bad idea to carry these pads with you at all times in Paris.
You never know...
I found a new place for macarons! From M.O.F. pastry chef Pascal Caffet and his boxes are perfect for travel and preservation of your macarons. I have yet to tastes these cuties - they have Jet Lag from the trip. But do *note that each mac has it's own little compartment so it can't jump around.

A side view of macarons...

from hyper marche Champion...

You get 12 (!) maccies for 6.50 euros (!!!) and they are not half bad. It can't hurt in your ventures in comparative analysis of the Parisien macaron to have a few bites from the bottom of the food chain as well as the top.

Macaron-chain dishes out their macs from these compartmentalized containers.

*Note no open spaces in the boxes.

Sharon said...You keep mentioning (and painting) maccarons. What are they exactly? Describe what it feels like to eat one. They must be fantastique!

ps: I'm living vicariously through your adventures!
OK, take your average OREO cookie and who hasn't?

And you have all the components of a Parisien macaron.

2 lids or shells (coques) made of delicate yet chewy meringue
+

A filling of either jam (confiture) or ganache (chocolate creme) or caramel or...Jetlag is getting the better of me.

Macarons are generally smaller than Oreos it should be noted and don't keep very long as a rule, so instant gratification is part of the joyous experience of eating these...miam miam
And they come in a vast and endless range of exotic flavors and rainbow colors. Some are even savory...

For much more info on macarons:
MEETING THE FRENCH Macaron

~
How To Make Macarons at Lenotre

Before I caught the plane Friday, I made a last minute dash to Gerard Mulot *Note the whole counter in the front of the store right as you walze in the door is full of many macarons!!

I should have put all my traveling macs into this sac/cabas perhaps instead of a giant BHV bag.

I got stopped at French customs before boarding the plane.

A shout went out like 8 times -Scan..scan...scan...scan!

They came running over to me with some weird wand and ran it all over my person and across my hands!

W'a? I was even wearing my French "macaron" T-shirt.

Maybe I am a macaron-terroriste.
At USA customs the guy asked me,

"Do you have any food?"

"No, just cookies"

"OK, you're set", he responded.

Who knew US customs is easier on macarons than the French?

BONJOUR PARIS MACARONS!