Sunday, January 29, 2023

Stuff I did this Week in Paris

 

WEDNESDAY I was en retard/late meeting Solli at fondation Cartier-Bresson in the Marais. Slow buses.  I stopped in Maison Aleph for a consolation pastry. They specialize in crunchy shredded-wheat nests with creamy flavored toppings. I’d never gone inside before, but desperate measure make you brave. 

Solli approved👍 And they had pomegranate flavor! I’m on a pomegranate kick since the Samarkand expo. 


Did I say it was drizzling out? Classic Janvier Paris when it drizzles weather. 

Today is the last day for the exhibit so run! A combo of ‘English at work’ from 1963 by Cartier-Bresson.

And in contrast, 23 years later, full-color, raucous,‘The English’ by Martin Parr. A terrific photography exhibition.

Later on, strolling down drizzly rue des Archives we spotted a tiny pastry shop with only chou (cream puffs) in the window. 

In the name of research we went inside. 
Shortly after we werethrown out 😂

Of course M. Pascal of Dunes Blanches did not know he was talking to the
Queen 👑 of Paris pastrymaps! I only remembered this later…”l’esprit de l’escalier

And creator of the endpapers of Jill Colonna’s divine pastry cookbook,TEATIME IN PARIS! Some nerve. 
I only wanted to buy some chou sans creme like in the window. Turns out they were fake. Faux choux.
The chou chef said, “NON”
I said, “So French!
He gave me the Gallic shrug 🤷‍♂️ and waved us out of the door, saying, “I’m very busy”
Solli said, “He’s having a meltdown!!
Further down rue des Archives is an adorable fleuriste shop

I wanted a narcisse plant to paint. We went inside. Me, shooting everything in sight, bien sur. 
Only later, the guy said, “No photos!” And he refused to give me a bag to carry my Narcisse home 😳? ! 

Hmmm…bet he was surprised, closing up, to find beaucoup business cards missing near the door(envelope 💌 fillers). Ah, the ups & downs of an average day strolling around rainy Paris. 

THURSDAY, I went for my weekly bowl of Japanese noodles on rue Saint Anne at Sapporo.

Further down rue Saint Anne - a Must-Visit spice shop, Épices Roellinger. Have you been?

A veritable Aladdin’s treasure chest…yes, that’s an open chest full of spices. Inhale! I bought a bottle of Cannelle “Ceylon” (poudre) (6,50€). Can you ever have too much cinnamon? I did not get thrown out 🤸🏾‍♀️🥂

Coming home, I walked past a shop on Île Saint Louis I’ve walked by a million times and never entered.They’re having January solde/sale like everyone else in Paris. My chambre de bonne is freezing 🥶 so I crossed the street and went in. 

Nice cashmere-laine blend REAL turtlenecks in the window. When did you last see those? The vendeuse had one in mustard yellow no one wanted & marked down to 15€!! Perfection 👏 though I‘ve never owned ANYTHING mustard yellow. On FRIDAY, I went back and bought a matching cashmere-laine scarf 👍🤸🏾‍♀️

BTW Mimosa yellow is very IN right now at Paris fleuristes.

Now I have to figure out 🤔 how the French tie their l’ésharpe? My friend, artist, Juliette Plisson (lower right) is a maître. There must be a class somewhere.

SATURDAY I went to buy moules at marché Maubert-Mutualité. Trop tard, so I bought razor clams. Did you know clams are the queen 👑of super foods? Full of iron, minerals blah blah. Easy to make after a good 20-minute wash. *Throw out the broken ones. In a Paris restaurant you get 6-8 for like 14€ I got 30 for 12€ and I have leftovers for breakfast 😂 
What a long shaggy dog story. 
TMI?
😊 Do visit my Etsy shop 😊
🥐☕️Bon dimanche PBers 🥐 ☕️ 

60 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:52 AM

    What a day!! You encountered very bad but regular parisian shop owners! I can’t believe it, (but I know very well they can throw you out or ask for no picture with bad manners) they haven’t been nice with you, they didn’t know who they were talking to! You make me laugh with the scarfs.😂

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    1. Anonymous4:25 AM

      👏👏👏 Thanks 😊

      Delete
  2. Anonymous3:55 AM

    Your story made me laugh!!😂😂 Juliette Plisson

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  3. I look forward to a blog post about the écharpes de Paris!

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    1. Anonymous4:24 AM

      It is definitely coming 🧣🙏🧣🙏🧣

      Delete
  4. Anonymous5:49 AM

    Bonjour, Carol - What a day you had! Drizzly old janvier must have made "the French" (did you hear about that brouhaha?) a wee bit grouchy. I think that fleuriste will appreciate the subtlety of your revenge; he is, after all, parisien. And! thanks to one of your posts ages ago, i checked out Jill Colonna on the web, subscribed to her newsletter, and ordered Teatime in Paris. I was delighted to find your artwork inside its covers! Quel surprise! Hope today is sunny in Paris and dispositions brighter as well.

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    1. Anonymous6:06 AM

      1. BRAVO! Jill Colonna is a pastry gem and many other wonders👏
      2. This was a WEEK, not all done in ONE day…hmmm You are not the first to assume I am Amazon Women 🤔
      3. Yes I saw ‘The French’ silliness.
      Its true I said to the injured chou chef, “You’re so French!” for not selling me the unfilled chou puffs..
      He gave me a Gallic shrug 🤷‍♀️
      What to do about The French? 😳

      Delete
    2. Anonymous6:30 AM

      "chou chef" - i laughed right out loud! And vraiment, there is nothing as dismissive as the Gallic shrug. Though the French have also a marvellous moue as well, which is equally dismissive, though more easily missed.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous6:46 AM

      Ahh…The French Pout
      Moue is an ancient French word for 'grimace', and faire la moue literally translates to 'do the grimace'. More recently, after the French began using grimace to say 'grimace', moue became a reference to a special kind of grimace; un grimace de mépris, 'a grimace of contempt' (or 'sulky face' if you prefer). The Locale

      https://youtu.be/yxx8zVjToGI
      Tac, tac…Zut

      Delete
  5. Anonymous6:17 AM

    Cranky Paris in the Rain. Keep it real.

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    1. Anonymous6:47 AM

      👏👏👏
      ☂️☂️ ☂

      Delete
  6. Will get out my mimosa printed tablecloth bought at a Paris market under a bridge. This was a wonderful post of how I remember Paris in January. Thank you, Carol.

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    1. Anonymous6:48 AM

      So glad to hear Sally 😊
      A marché under a bridge?? Hmmm

      Delete
  7. Anonymous6:48 AM

    I was on a pomegranate kick as well-till I broke a tooth!

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    1. Anonymous8:02 AM

      Oh Noooo..so sorry to hear that 😳 I don’t think I chew the seeds..

      Delete
  8. Your life is so entertaining! You are going to look wonderful in that yellow color with your red glasses. Tre chic ❤️🗼

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    1. Anonymous8:24 AM

      Thanks it’s definitely more cheering then my usual all-black ensemble

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    2. Je suis d'accord! I, too, think mustard yellow will be fabulous on you, Carol! Take a selfie so we can give you more kudos! Fabulous you quickly went back and also purhased the scarf to go with the turtleneck!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous3:44 AM

      I went back last night and ALL THE TURTLENECKS WERE GONE!
      She said buyers came in and scooped them up!!!
      The French are reading Parisbreakfast! 😊👍
      Call me Moutarde jaune from now on

      Delete
  9. Anonymous8:22 AM

    there are many videos on Youtube
    showing various ways to wear a scarf.
    Thanks for your enjoyable postings.
    Vicki

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    1. Anonymous8:23 AM

      I don’t think they are like these architectonic drapings I’m seeing the street.

      Delete
  10. Bonnie L8:30 AM

    Looks like you had a fun week despite the gloomy weather! That gorgeous yellow scarf and pot of sunny jonquils will cheer up your chilly chambre de bonne. Here’s to an early spring!

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    1. Anonymous1:33 PM

      Praying for Spring 🙏🙏🙏

      Delete
  11. Anonymous8:33 AM

    January has been a long, long, very cold month, n’est-ce pas? But lucky you finding that beautiful turtleneck and scarf on sale! It’s a beautiful way to pick up your spirits. Wishing you a happier week ahead as we move into February.

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    1. Anonymous11:52 AM

      It has indeed been long & cold…though I think I’m finally getting used to it! It’s Nice to walk with my puffer coat open when wearing the turtleneck

      Delete
  12. Hilarious and ending it as shaggy dog story? What a giggle. You made me laugh too calling me in the middle of my French laundry, lol. Thanks for the shoutout for my book with your gorgeous artwork, Carol

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    1. Anonymous9:07 AM

      Thanks Jill for being a good sport ❤️ Your book is superb 👏👏👏

      Delete
  13. Ruins my day a crabby shop owner or market seller that doesn't allow photographs and crabs about it.It stunted my joy of taking pics forever.I still remember a witch in Provence selling ceramics..:( And the musician also.. clearly there to be seen..I was flabbergasted.Unintrusive..yet caught and condemned.I felt positively sinful.Lol shame on them.
    You promote places..little do they know..:)

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    1. Anonymous11:50 AM

      You mustn’t let it Monique. It may be the only fun they have all day 😉

      Delete
  14. Stacia9:36 AM

    Never TMI Carol! I think it’s safe to say that we all appreciate your courage in facing crabby shop owners in order to share with us readers. As always, love your photos and stories. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. Anonymous11:49 AM

      Hmm..I think I may provoke them on purpose. They act like parents and we, the customer, are naughty, disruptive children. But aren’t they more fun than the accommodating owners? More stories to tell👍

      Delete
  15. What a wonderful week - thanks, Carol.

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    1. Anonymous12:02 PM

      Come back soon Suki 😊

      Delete
  16. No such thing as TMI where your posts are concerned! Love all your information!

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    1. Anonymous11:44 AM

      Thanks very much Mary Lou. One does wonder sometimes if one is oversharing…ahem

      Delete
  17. Anonymous11:32 AM

    You will be glad you bought the turtleneck and the scarf!! They will last and last and I would call this color soft, young camel.

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    1. Anonymous11:54 AM

      It may be your screen. I checked out ‘young camel’. Rather dusty I would say.

      Delete
  18. what is your recipe for razor clams???

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    1. Anonymous12:01 PM

      At last. So easy. Evidently the 20-minute washing is important.
      As is tossing away broken or open clams.
      Basically heat olive oil, butter
      Add chopped garlic and chopped parsley
      Add the clams and cover and cook for at most 3 minutes
      My one mistake was I added some persillade
      The clams are already salty (like moules) and don’t need any salt.
      Et voila You could also add white wine like moule.

      Delete
  19. What a hoot! Paris is always a feast, n’est pas?!? The chou at Dunes Blanches are fab and worth the abuse!

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    1. Anonymous1:17 PM

      REALLY Cindy? You had them!! But I don’t much care for whipped creme or caramel beurre salé 😳

      Delete
  20. Anonymous1:18 PM

    And what kind of a name is that…Dunes Blanches ?! Delusions of grandeur I would say..

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  21. Anonymous1:40 PM

    Those puffs look delicious I haven’t had a chocolate covered one.
    In Phoenix We have Essence Bakery. She went to Paris on a business trip. Quit her job signed up for culinary school, learned French and stayed for 7 years. Met a French man, married him and brought him back. She started catering, then Neiman’s hired her. Then she opened a cafe close to me. I gained 12 pounds and my freezer was full. I had to stop going. Her breads are French as well. Delicious. I send people but I stay out. Lol Lynne C

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  22. Anonymous1:42 PM

    Essence Bakery came up instantly on Google
    She studied/worked at Lenotre 👍
    https://www.essencebakery.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous4:41 PM

    I had forgotten : here in the US an app from Hermès is available for iPhones : Silk Knots. You can guess what that's about :) -karen.

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    1. Anonymous3:45 AM

      Thanks Karen…will check it out in Spring time 👏

      Delete
  24. Anonymous5:37 PM

    Wonderful post...made me want to get on a plane to Paris! Your new TN and l'éscharpe are très chic. Will be a great accent color with your black ensembles.

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    1. Anonymous3:44 AM

      Please come. We will cashmere shop together

      Delete
  25. Anonymous7:02 PM

    I love the sweater and scarf!! Beautiful colors!

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  26. Anonymous9:19 PM

    You will look great in mustard yellow!

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  27. Love mustard yellow!

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  28. What an interesting week! Thanks for sharing, not too much info, just the right amount that we can follow along! I have a wool yellow jumper I like wearing in winter, with black pants usually. Keeps you warm and bright. Hope you like your jumper too!

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    1. Anonymous8:51 AM

      My new fav color Kirra ! 🌞

      Delete
  29. Loving your week, Carol! The cashmere is yummy -- I love mustard yellow and glad it's coming in. You don't see a lot of yellow here! I just want to walk around Paris with you!

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    1. Anonymous8:51 AM

      Name your dates Jeanie 👍😊

      Delete
  30. Anonymous12:02 PM

    OH MY GOSH, CAROL, WHAT A TRIP!!! THANK YOU! 💟 CARLA

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  31. Anonymous6:13 PM

    As I aged, I started to look at color differently...as well as noting that all those 'odd' colors, like Mustard Yellow or Lime Green, were all that was left by the time, i got there. Having said that, I am realizing that I like those funky colours, the yellows of early spring, the mustardy hues and the limes? They say that as you age, you need to surround yourself with bright colors. And so I shall and I'm betting that Mustard Yellow is gonna look great on you. I will wear a Land's End winter coat I bought a few years ago but have yet to wear IN SOLIDARITY. It is a Mustard Yellow!! cheers to another great post. Jeanne

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  32. That was quite funny...I've never been kicked out of a shop before...especially not a pastry shop :-) Have you been to Les Choupettes ? Maybe they would let you have one without the filling? ;-)
    It was great seeing you and visit the exhibition together <3 thanks for the delicious pomegranate pastry Xx

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  33. Anonymous11:55 AM

    Loved your week! Especially the cashmere and the noodles.

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  34. Anonymous9:39 AM

    Enjoy reading about your trips and love browsing the links and your Etsy shop.

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Love hearing from you