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Sunday, January 11, 2015

Galette des Chefs, Sebastien Gaudard

 
Thank you for all the kind words of concern. It's been a tough week. This morning I heard a quote from one of the lost artists , Jean Cabut, "My dad said, when I was 15, if one could earn a living by drawing everyone would do it". I need to draw and I'm grateful for all the support so I can stay in Paris and draw even "in the worst of times".

Yesterday Solli and I went to the annual charity event held at Saint Germain by the chefs of l'Escoffier. Top Paris chefs donate galette des rois cakes:le Moulin de la Vierge, Potel et Chabot, Hélène Darroze, la Grande Epicerie, Saint Clair le Traiteur, Pierre Hermé, la Maison Kayser, le George V, Michel Rostang, les Bistronome, Poilâne, le Plaza Athénée, Thierry Burlot, Bakery, William Ledeuil, la pâtisserie Jean Millet, la Closerie des Lilas et Clerardin, Fauchon.

Caterers Potel et Chabot make a huge and wonderfully almondy galette every ear so all can taste a slice for 2 euros.

Elegant family-sized galettes were going like hot cakes. I saw people carrying 2-3 bags of different name pastry chefs, all funds going to, L'Association des POIC.

The galette chefs show up for a group picture plus oysters and champagne. A lovely break in a tough week.

This week Le Figaro did their tasting to choose the best Parisian galette and I've been trying to taste as many on the list as possible. I suggested to Solli we head over to Sebastien Gaudard's new tea salon to try the winner.

1, rue des Pyramides 75001 near rue de Rivoli and lesTuileries.

It's an exquisite boutique.

So pretty.

Naturally we thought we'd try a few other pastries...

Not easy.

The tea salon doesn't open till noon. No café would have us so the Tuileries gardens became our picnic spot.

The pigeons did very well indeed. There's a lot of crust/pate feuilletee on a galette, especially an individual galette which you need to eat with your hands. You take one bite and your entire front is covered with big chunks of crust.

The crows were sad not to share in the feast.

Solli went on her way and I thought I'd just check out Angelina's galette since they made the tail-end of Le Figaro's list.

It's nice when the almond paste is not just sitting on the bottom in a thin layer but threaded throughout. These are a mouthful. I mostly took one bite of the almond paste and could not eat the rest. The pastry is the same as on a mille feuille (thousand leaves). Just too, too much.

Still I'm so enticed by these glossy disks. They are hard to resist. I keep thinking the next one will be the one. I end up with crumbs, crumbs, crumbs all over myself.

I could easily end up looking like Jeff Koons "Galette" lady if this doesn't stop. Fortunately there is the distraction of the little feves or favors that go inside the galette. At Angelina you can buy them separately (24 euros) and completely skip the cake. Who knew there is a museum for fabophiles in Blain. Maybe a very good idea at this point...

33 comments:

  1. Like your new post.
    Would love to see Bear get a crown small enough for him to wear. Wouldn't he like to be King for a day even if he can't try the galette? You would look cute too with your own crown!
    Xx Chris

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  2. Anabel2:10 PM

    Happy to see the Paris we know and love through your eyes.
    Merci

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  3. The tea salon interior shots are great - so are the street vendors. I like the pigeons and crows, too! I'm glad that they got a bite to eat :)
    Stay safe, Carol.

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  4. Paris Breakfasts is posting pastry and all's right with the world!
    I am especially enamored of the glace fruits...they're so gorgeous they wouldn't even have to taste great.

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    Replies
    1. The glazed fruits...everything looked magical in that patisserie.

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  5. Great to see you and Paris carrying on.your art..les galettes.we watched the manif today.Moving to see all the heads of countries walking arm in arm in solidarity.
    Mtl had one also..bet NYC dis also.
    I went to see The Jersey Boys today with my daughters.
    So wonderful.Uplifting.
    Did us good.

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    1. Uplifting is the word to remember Monique!

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  6. The drawing pencils stuck in the big galette and the chefs are wearing 'Je suis Charlie' stickers..nice

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  7. Carol, seeing where you have been in the past days and what you continue to show us about the beauty of Paris is so very welcome.

    Merci beaucoup, mon amie. xo

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    1. Thanks Frances! I'm reading WILD before the movie opens Wednesday.
      She learns how to put herself"in the way of beauty". A good practice to follow.

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  8. Despite the horrors of recent days, I am again looking forward to my trip to Paris on Saturday. Nice to see these lovely images and anticipate the taste of my first galette du roi!

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  9. Definitely my kind of picnic! Feeling nostalgic ... That is the neighborhood I have stayed in a couple of times ... Right on Rue Saint Roch, just steps from Rue du Rivoli. Lovely post. Continued good wishes to you.

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  10. You've been in my heart especially over the past few days. After watching CNN not-stop for several days and seeing much that is sad and ugly, seeing your cheery pastries gives me a recently-missing smile. And how good they look!

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    Replies
    1. Been eating too much cake the last week. My way of coping...

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  11. Sorry it has been so sad in Paris.
    Picnicking in the Tuileries is so nice, tho.
    Again, I might have to go to our French Bakery, here,

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  12. Fantastic! carry on! viva La France! You make my Dallas Breakfast taste good!!!

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  13. Thank you for taking us beyond the tragedy, Carol. Love love love S Gaudard, from his croissants to his swans—maybe you can join us in Oct for part of the Farm to Table France trip (we're going to his shop in the 9th, among other places…)

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  14. Carol, I absolutely love your galette artwork here. You've captured it in all its glory! Gaudard's new boutique does look wonderful - a cross between the olde worlde style and the new - but noon for a cuppa? Love when you can buy the trinkets separately for the homemade ones. Saw that Paul were selling them too - much better than the Monoprix ScoobyDoo ones ;-) Still on the lookout for macaron trinkets, though ... so if you see them, please get them for me! Hugs xo

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  15. Love seeing the Paris we know & love continues - that lemon tart looks heavenly.

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  16. I enjoyed this post. David Lebovitz posted a recipe a couple of weeks ago for making a Galette de Rois and I screwed up my cooking courage and took the plunge. I am not a friend of recipes that call for puff pastry. BUT, make it I did and it was not bad. My drawing of the Eiffel Tower for the top decoration needed a bit of styling from your pen ( or knife as the case may be) but it is recognizable. I'll do it again next year!

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  17. Jamie Cat callen2:26 AM

    I love your spirit and beauty and wisdom!
    Yes, keep painting and keep eating cakes!
    xo

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  18. Kathryn2:28 AM

    Oh, thanks for this feast! Just what we needed! Hugs, K

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  19. Sending best wishes to you and all France at this time - Viva la France

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  20. Jeanette2:32 AM

    your drawing is a gift for all who see it. I send you hugs, & may you continue to go from "Strength to Strength".

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  21. Draw, draw, draw! Sometimes there are no words....

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  22. Oh gosh, that all looks so fabulous! Just the fuel you need to create your wonderful art.

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  23. Yum~ a friend of mine had a recent trip to her eye doctor and was saying that in the last three visits her eyes have not changed, or needed a stronger prescription. Her doctor asked her if she was eating a lot of cherries~ hmmm. It turns out, she has, but she eats them for relief from joint pain. I have cherries in my freezer to put into smoothies~ I notice you have pastries with cherries.

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    1. Those are chocolate bits
      Will cherry jam help the eyes?

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  24. Just took a wonderful but also poignant whirl through your recent posts, Carol.
    In your own unique and lushly colorful way, you sustain the need for freedom of expression to persevere.

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  25. monshell333:03 PM

    Loooove the Angelina feves….they will make you happy every time you look at them, despite the price ;)

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