Have you been inside Parisien chocolatier Michel Chaudun?
I went especially to 149 rue de l'Universite,75007
For his famous chocolates.
But all I did was gaze in the windows - lèche-vitrine they call it.
Besides they close between 12:30 and 13:00 and it was 12:20.And sometimes I get shy.
Not that the windows didn't provide plenty of food for thought.
These cobblestones are called pavé
During the '68 student riots
University students tore up the pavé to throw at the police. I'm not sure about this - help me out here smart PBers s.v.p.
So chocolatier Michel Chaudun was commemorating the 40th anniversary with his divine chocolate ganache "pavé"
While I was window gazing, shooting and salivating, the Michel Chaudun truck was being unloaded by this gentleman.
M. Michel Chaudun himself! Have you been inside this chocolate shop? Do tell all please. Maybe next time I'll get up the nerve and go inside...
BONJOUR M.Michel Chaudun!
Ys, it's absolutely true. Cobblestons were perfect ready made "bullets" and they were largely used during '68. Same here in Italy but we call them Sanpietrini after San Peter's Church in Rome. Lovely chocos :oP
ReplyDeleteLucky you! You met the chef pâtissier and you didn't even known it! I sould shoot more chocolate windows! They look great!
ReplyDeleteDear Carol,
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely go in. The shopkeepers are the nicest I have found in Paris.
The pavés are out of this world.
Thanks
Best, Laurie
I've seen these little chocolate cubes in other Paris shops and wondered...like Patrick Roger and Jean-Charles Rochoux and wondered...NOW I get it!
ReplyDeletemerci
Janne
Bonjour, I believe the resistance also tore up the pave and threw them at the nazi's and during other earlier revolutionary times too.
ReplyDeleteLooks all very appealing!
ReplyDeleteAre those chocolate "pavé" for sale?
I'd like to write a letter to my city government. ;-)
Funny how one captures people by accident! At least he was not surrounded by a dozen secret service people as I happened to notice one fine morning, but only after I had pushed the button on my camera. I almost dropped it when I realized what I had just done (turned out to be a head of State). The only reason that group had caught my eye because these appeared all very well dressed gentlemen, with one truly beautiful woman in the middle (the big P.'s wife). ;-)
Now this looks like the kind of chocolate I would want to indulge myself in for breakfast :)
ReplyDeletexoxo
MichCherie
That watercolor is beautiful, Carol! You get more inventive and playful and comfortable with these every day. Way to go getting his photo--he looks like he caught you in the act--I hope you smiled at him. ;))
ReplyDeleteThat is absolutely awesome that you caught M. Michel Chaudun in your photos! Nice history lesson too :)
ReplyDeleteoh i wish someday i could visit paris and exploring the town...
ReplyDeleteyea, maybe someday in the next 10 years, maybe??
I'm going to Paris in October and have been reading blogs related to Paris. I've read how hard it is to get photos of interiors and the products for sale. The clerks get very mad.
ReplyDeleteHow do you manage to take such good photos without upsetting the shop keepers?
I'm adding this chocolate shop to my list.
Jan
How lovely to see MC in person...autographs?
ReplyDeleteI love that painting, and great looking chocolates!
ReplyDeleteThis was incredibly interesting and serendipitous. Excellent reporting, by all accounts!
ReplyDeleteIt was just chance that I caught him in the outer edge of shot of the facade of the shop. I was not aiming the camera at him. I didn't know it was M. Chaudun.
ReplyDeleteCarolg
I love this story. ESP the chocolate man himself.
ReplyDeleteHad a friend arrested in Paris in those riots. Stu G.. At that time he was the editor of the Berkeley Barb.
xxxx
You are correct that rioters, mostly students tore up the pave which they used in building barracades and throwing at police. This happened numerous times throughout the 19th century as well (1830, 1848 and later). Finally pave were replaced in most streets (it was hard to wear heels on those anyway!)
ReplyDeleteI was about to say, I think that is Michel Chaudun! Same experience I had going to Pierre Hermé and as I went to open the door out he came and we almost bumped into each other. I was too star-struck to do/say anything!
ReplyDeleteHey there I love your blog and check it out each morning over breakfast before work in New Zealand. In fact I have added you to my blogroll! I hope that's okay.
ReplyDeleteLong live les paves! And I hope he doesn't try to sue you...wouldn't do to have les gendarmes awaiting you at customs next trip..!
ReplyDeleteI want to live in that cobblestone street
ReplyDeleteOne of the nicest choclate makers.
ReplyDelete