Decadent Desserts:from Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte

Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte,watercolor

After posting Monday about the new cookbook from Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte, I went looking for a copy.

 

The pictures and setting are utterly lush and truely decadent - just as good as a visit to the chateau. I was inspired to do a version of this heavenly line-up of L'ile flotante/floating island with pink pralines and green tea custard.  

The inside is every bit as yummy as the cover: Decadent Desserts: Recipes from Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte.

Kitchens are downstairs at the chateau - I shot these pieces montees of fruit and macarons - click for a better look!

A model of an old dessert, decorated with architectural details much like Antonin Careme.

 Stacks of brass molds to make even more desserts.

 

Plus a life size tableau of a cook preparing the meal. 

 The author of Decadent Desserts and resident owner of the chateau, Countess Cristina de Vogüé. Sylph-like, it's hard to imagine even a cracker crossing her lips much less the fabulous desserts in her cookbook. Note the countess is wearing an apron with the chateau's symbol, l'ecqureuil/squirrel.

Ah to be a countess and reside here. It must be a lot of work I suppose. If you visit Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte on a spring and summer weekend, you may catch their special candle light dinners well worth attending. Someday...
BONNE WEEK-END! 

Countess Christina de Vogue

L'Ecureuil de Vaux le Vicomte,5.5" x 7.5

I have been grappling with this darn squirrel paw to paw this morning, and so far the squirrel is winning.

As noted before this squirrel is on the Chateau Vaux le Vicomte coat of arms.

Plus on divine tapesteries you can buy in the chateau gift shop.

 Susanne spotted this American squirrel in residence in the same shop
 The Countess did a book event at the New York Alliance Francaise last night and I got to meet the squirrel's owners, so to speak.
The story of the chateau is intriguing and the Countess Christina de Vogue could not be more charming...

Elegant..

Or gracious. Remember this gorgeous book I showed you in September? 
Decadent Desserts: Recipes from Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte

Count Patrice de Vogue, her husband, has his own fascinating book on the history of his family's aquisition and complete restoration of Vaux since 1875.
After the talk we got to taste the Countess's heavenly desserts from her new book.

By the way the chateau's amazing grounds were designed by Andre Le Notre in the 1600's and have 7 - 12 landscapers attending it's needs year round. There are 36 pools and fountains, of which 28 (I think..) are in functioning order. The grounds alone cost $1,000,000 a year to keep up. The Count and Countess live on the premises and you feel their presence in the fresh flowers, warmth and grace throughout the mansion. If you like you can rent the chateau for your wedding or any other grand event of your choice. Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte is my favorite in France in case you were wondering...
BON JOURNEE!

Chateau Vaux le Vicomte3

 French chaise, original watercolor. A third visit to the Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte

Janice C. Cartier said...Ooh la la, thanks for this encore. What would we do without VLV.

I couldn't very well keep the chateau's fabulous gift shop under my hat. It's the first thing you see while waiting to get your entry ticket and the last thing upon exiting the estate. Clever marketing.

Why not deck your chateau out in pink toile?

Or blue and white china?

With matching tapisseries coussins / cushions.

The chateau's emblem, the squirrel🐿 adorns multiple items.

Or you could for a glorious tapestry of the chateau itself?

Look! Miniature chairs for all my mini cakes to sit on

The gift shop is run by Countess Cristina de Vogüé, the daughter of an Italian diplomat and a Russian mother. She is married the heir to Vaux-le-Vicomte. She has applied her talents as a hostess not only to family receptions, but to the château’s restaurant and gift shop. And now she's coming out with a divine cookbook tomorrow,Decadent Desserts: Recipes from Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte.

It looks YUMMY!  BONNE JOURNEE!

Salon du Chocolat - Chateau Vaux le Vicomte 2014

As if 5 days of the annual Paris Salon du Chocolat wasn't enough. The following weekend beginning of November along comes the chocolate salon at chateau Vaux le Vicomte near Melun.

Naturally I couldn't disappoint you by missing it could I?

And bear said he'd like to attend. 

The weather was sunny and lovely and not the least bit chilly.

Because of Remembrance Day on Tuesday, the chocolate salon was extended to 4 days. It's just a 35 minute train ride from Gare de Lyon and a quick hop on the chateaubus. Please add this to your extensive lists of Don't Misses PBers.

After all former owner of the chateau, Comte Nicolas Fouquet would be very disappointed if you didn't partake. I wonder what he'd think of the salon but then he adored giving grand soirées so he'd probably be first in line for the hot chocolate. If you'd like to see the chateau in its glorious hey day rent the costume film VATEL with Gerard Depardieu. Very grand indeed.

Sadaharu Aoki was on hand making his fabulous chocolate macaron/green tea cakes. I got 2 to eat later...Haha

There were a slew of top chefs in the grand ballroom and as always an outrageous chocolate sculpture. OK several outrageous chocolate sculptures.

Bear had to get up close to study Vaux le Vicomte's symbolic squirrels in chocolate.

Jean-Charles Rochoux was there as always with his mother. I, with the best of intentions, bought a little box of his heavenly chocolate ganache truffles for my concierge. Which...ahem...I just wolfed down. Fortunately his tiny shop is nearby in the 6th so I can easily replace them.

Bear loves Mazet's almond dragees. It was all I could do to keep his paws out of the generous tasting bowls of candy.

We both are crazy for Arnaud Larher's macarons. I got citron and mandarin macarons.

I'm finding more and more things to love from Sadaharu Aoki like these not-so sweet rusk 'macarons' he makes. Perfect for tea time. I think I need a replacement soon. Uh oh

Here's the list of excellent chefs taking part at the chateau (most show up every year). Fewer than the big Paris salon but oh so much more manageable. Just as the chateau is a mini version of Versailles designed by the same architect, Louis le Vaux, landscaper, Le Notre and interior decorator, Charles Le Brun. A wonderful day outing for the family or singles. Starting 29 of November the chateau will put on it's annual Noël fete. I hope to make it this year.

Of course there are some chocolate gowns to ooogle..

Can there ever be too many chefs stirring the pot when it's a pot of hot chocolate? A nearby pastry school, Antoine Careme always does demos and classes for the little ones at the salon. This is when I'd like to drink Alice's potion and shrink down to pint size. Kids have a ball in France. Not that I'm complaining at all.
*Here's a tip I've finally figured out after visiting many of these salons.
Buy what they are making onsite, like Aoki's Tokyo macaron Yaki or the hot chocolate. These items are freshly made and usually reasonably priced for feeding the masses.
You simply can't go wrong.
Hope to see you there next year PBers!

Chateau Vaux le Vicomte - Palais du Chocolat

 Have you been to chateau Vaux le Vicomte?

 Just 25 minutes out of Paris via Gare du Nord to Melun.

 The fall colors are full out dans les jardins magnifiques.

 Designed by landscape artiste par excellence, Andre Le Notre before he went on to create les jardins aux Versailles for Louis XIV.

 Vaux le Vicomte is a more intimate chateau than the massive Versailles, more friendly.

Yesterday and today you can catch Vaux' own Palais du Chocolat.

Ahh...the smell of it. Chocolat Valrhona to boot.

Pastry students from pâtisserie Lycée Antonin Carême with assistance from le chef gastronomique, Laurent Asset will offer you chocolate tastes that change hourly.

The theme at this years Palais du Chocolat is the restoration of the toiture at the chateau, so a chocolate model is construted in the grand hallway and many others in the Grand Orangerie by guest pastry chefs.

You will be greeted by hosts in fancy dress.

Do practice your curtsey.

Frederic Cassel of Fontainebleu insists you try his chocolate bread. I had it this morning - a don't-miss

A chaser of chocolat chaud/hot chocolate from MOF Jacques Bellanger

Why I resisted the unctuous caramel tartiner of Jean-Charles Rochoux on top my chocolate bread is beyond me...

Did you know candies from the red poppy/coquelicot by Des Lis of Nemours are good for your throat? I did not though I gobbled down a small bag entirely back home. They don't taste a bit like medicine. Other chocolatiers present at the Palais to taste: Maison Bossier, Comptoir du Cacao, Arnaud Lahrer, Sadaharu Aoki, Mazet Confiseur and others.

Don't miss a wander through the luxe rooms at Vaux

And look up at the carved ceilings

By artist Charles le Brun, another craftsman grabbed up by Versailles.

Conde Nicolas Fouquet is waiting for you. At least I hope this is M. Fouquet...

As are a pair of sphinx...

Do come!
After all you mustn't miss the Champagne macarons.