Salon Coqs d'Or, Marie Claire Idees SalonCreations et Savoir-Faire

Everyone asks me are the Parisians going out?

YES, very much so. Of course there is an undercurrent of sadness and loss, but Parisians are carrying on with their lives best they can with their usual joie de vive.

PR Florence invited me to meetup at Salon Coqs d'Or on Saturday. I went 2 years ago. It's la creme de la creme of French regional purveyors. Here Florence and her maman are in a deep discussion with the pain d'epice guy. It was surprising to see throngs of people only one hour after opening time.

I could not resist Bellanger's extra long dark chocolate-enrobed orangettes. In fact there are 2 pieces of candied orange peel inside the long pencil sticks - his special secret. I'm sad to report though I planned on eating one stick a day the are all gone.

Florence was not familiar with Dijon chocolatier Fabrice Gillotte (no relative).

Jean-Luc Poujauran, famous bread maker to the top restaurants only shows up at the Coqs d'or Salon. Get it while you can.

Jam, confiteur and more jam. By the way you could taste at almost every table including Champagne and Bordeaux wines. To show proper appreciation when tasting, get a far-away, dreamy look in your eyes and shake one hand madly like it was wet. That's the French way.

I loved this subtle chart of apple juices. Who knew?

The chicken guys with superb produce. I assumed Florence and her mother were doing advance shopping for Noel. Not at all. 

"Too early to think about Christmas", Florence said.

Oh...

You could buy a plate of Burgundian escargot (6,50€) Then have them heated up in the restaurant area of The Marriott and no extra charge! Wow

Parisians were ordering plates of fromage, charcuterie, plus Poujauran's bread and eating at stand up tables in the main salon. Fun non?

Yours truly could not pass up an ice cream cone from Paries. I returned to the salon on Sunday to stock up on Spanish anchovies. I remember reading somewhere Jackie Kennedy would stock up on 5-6 skirts of the same design. Well I've got 10 cans of anchovies in my kitchen cabinet with the possibility of ordering a full case if so inclined. Pure Heaven.

On Sunday I ran over to the annual 3-day Marie Claire Idees Salon.

500 stands and ateliers and DYI workshops. The joint was jumping.

I did not know you could take ugly old gourds

And make them into stunning light fixtures?

Or grow your own mushrooms? I thought the girl at the stand might be eating her own home-grown mushrooms for lunch but she was not.

What about make your own lampshade kits. Looks so easy. And wouldn't the Paris Maps make fun lamp shades?

Fab French ribbons I'd been looking for all week were at the Marie Claire salon.

Plus Marie Claire had a big stand with adorable DIY Xmas displays.

Of course I bought their cabas (shopping bag) with the latest issue inside. Then I saw another cuter cabas (top) and it was FREE! Why you don't need a $$$$ Chloe bag in Paris. Just shell out a fiver or get a free one and you're set.

Meanwhile Bear is taking breaks from Product fulfillment to hog the holiday Marie Claire issue (Thank you PBers for ordering the new gift 6-pack of Paris Maps!).

Did you know you can subscribe on Amazon and get MCI delivered to your door?

Bear is dreaming of sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie...

Me too.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING PBers!