Jean-Paul Hevin Chocolate Bar(re)

I was looking through old watercolors for the Holiday Bazaar at The British School. I found this one painted in 2006 when I stayed on rue Vavin for 3 weeks. Jean-Paul Hevin's chocolate shop was down the street. It became a daily source for still life subject matter.

The chocolat framboise is still on the menu I'm happy to say.

Too many patisseries change their selection too often and old favorites disappear forever but not at Hevin.

Last night was the opening of J-P Hevin's 4th shop, CHOCOLATE BAR(RE) in the upper Marais at 42 rue de Bretagne 75003, with one door opening right into the Marché des Enfants Rouge! It's 25 meters in size which makes me think I could make my 21 meter studio into a watercolor shop perhaps..?

Looking through a glass darkly chocolate. These are Hevin's classic cigars of rolled cookie and chocolate ganache. Expect a witty take on many traditional sweets like his dusty (chocolate) potatoes (pomme de terre) seen above.

Wit aside, the quality of his chocolates are the best in Paris.

All this after eating Thanksgiving dinner too. My host was disappointed I didn't eat more. Shhhh...I was saving myself.

Chocolate lollipops cleverly boxed.

Bouché - an extra large chocolate that can substitute for eating lunch.

And of course beautiful macarons in many shades of chocolate. Last night's were made with Peruvian chocolate I think...

I took Solli along for more research.

We both loved the chocolat chaud served in specially designed corrugated cups. So chic!

Hot chocolate made on-the-spot

By patissiere Fabian, a 3-year veteran of JPH, who is also a fan of ParisBreakfasts!

I've bought these tubes for the witty packaging but in no time  the delicious contents were gone, gone, gone.

Hevin's signature colors are terrific. In a town with too many BROWN boxes of chocolates, Hevin adds an electric blue, almost Yves Klein blue, to brighten things up. Super chic.

His range of buche de Noel are enticing. This is what we would call a 'Baked Alaska' enrobed in meringue. Miam miam

This buche with the stamps (timbre) has my name on it. I've mailed out half the December Sketch Letters. Hooray!

Here a very happy Monsieur Hevin goofing around with a milk chocolate mustache. 

If you LOVE CHOCOLATE in any form Jean-Paul Hevin is a Must visit in Paris. And so chic. Don't forget to get one of his classy shopping bags by the way.

Paris Turkey

Who says there isn't plenty of turkey in Paris?
Just try Le Bon Marché's l'arbre Noel shop on the 2nd floor. Only 15€. A steal for one of these babies.

Most Parisians will be timing their turk-turks with a macaron kitchen timer c/o Monoprix 4,90€

And what will he/she be wearing dans la cusine? Maybe this.

Or this (Mrs. Perfect at the oven).

Driving...

To Grandmere's maison?

Much better to walk. The weather's fine.

Preferably in your Chanel pumpkin sneakers costing about 2 years worth if daily Haribo gummy bears.

There are plenty of pumpkins in Paris. Not to worry.

And you can eat yours inside a Popelino choux (cream puffs) 1,90€.

Want to have your turkey out? I saw this at a restaurant over the bridge.

Or DIY turkey (dinde) at home c/o Fleury Michon for even less.

I had the perfect chaser to a heavy turkey dinner last night c/o Fauchon inside the bulle (bubble) at l'Hotel du Collectionneur 57 rue de Courcelles 75008

A witty Bûche de Noël of lit candles and red Christmas balls called 'Éclat de Lumiere'. (Yes, that's a peonie petal lampshade in Fauchon's signature hot pink).

Inside: passion fruit, mango, white chocolate, creamy milk chocolate mousse, Tahitian vanilla with a caramel and passion fruit lollipop, make for a light, slightly acidic palate cleanser to a heavy meal be it Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

Naturally there was Fauchon bubbly served inside the bulle. Fauchon will do desserts for Afternoon tea in the bulle. I hope to try them.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING PBers !

CHEERS Carolg

Le Perigord à Montmartre

This was the week I went to the Périgord fete at Montmartre.

Posters in the Metro announce the Salon du Cheval, another annual holiday event next weekend looks very tempting. Have you ever been?

Hansel and Gretel time is here.

This week Thursday was Nouveau Beaujolais day.

Even Carrefort supermarché has dozens of bottles handy by the checkout with sausages and sandwiches to go.

Friday through Sunday was the small winter fair with 20 producteurs around Sacre Coeur. The Spring version was full of strawberries and whipped cream.

Each tent represents a farm and their specialties.

A walnut farm had tartes and kilo bags of unshelled walnuts in the shell. I should have bought them.

I did buy the chestnut grower's roasted marrons.

The best I've had and far tastier than those sold by street vendors on boulevard Haussmann (often cold and sometimes rotten).

I wish I knew more about foie gras. The tastes offered are excellent.

Farm goat cheese, some with truffles and walnuts.

Many of the farm stands have B and Bs as well, so you can stay and immerse yourself in the pastoral countryside.

I loved this humble mushroom-shaped wreath (in case you hadn't guessed) at the mushroom (cépes) seller.

They were selling the most intense and warming mushroom soup for 1€!

This week we're still having Fall weather in Paris luckily. Winter is holding off a bit.

This week on Friday at Salon Saveurs I stopped in my tracks at Maison de Chantilly. Butter cookie cones filled with freshly whipped cream. No, I did not taste one. This week I went back to the pool finally after a two month hiatus and whipped cream is off the menu at the moment. They will be opening a boutique on rue Cler end of March 2015...maybe by then I can indulge.

Also at the Salon this wildly imaginative cutup Swiss Xmas tree cheese caught my eye.

This week I got to see Galeries Lafayette upside down Christmas tree. Spectacular.

This week on Tuesday I participated in the Holiday Fair at the American Embassy. They took away my iPad at Security so I can't show you any pictures. Only this Google map.

I sold a lot of macaron and teapot prints at the Embassy, but I made up too many 6-packs of the Paris Sketch Letters, so I having, for a limited time only, A pre-BLACK FRIDAY SALE -$5 off with a surprise gift print included available on Etsy.
THANK YOU PBers!
6-packs are Sold out.
In October someone asked if I would have the December Paris Sketch Letter done by Christmas?
*I'm happy to report this week I got the December Sketch Letter artwork done AHEAD OF TIME.
It will be going out next week! Yahoo
It's been a busy week.
'Bon(ne) Dimanche' as the man in the elevator said to me today after I dropped my bag of apples on his foot.