Brunch with Coco Jobard

Last Sunday food stylist and cookbook author par excellence, Coco Jobard invited me to brunch (or 'bruncher' as the French like to say).

While Coco expertly scrambled the eggs (scrambled eggs?)

I tended the toast-maker. Coco bought this stunning (but in my opinion totally useless) toaster at BHV. Its two-sided and you're assured of burning both toast and your fingers. Still it looks attractive, like it escaped from a cowboy's campfire (with electricity?). Appearances count.

The appearance of Coco's plates are another matter.

There is not one dish or spoon in Coco's tiny apartment that is not wildly attractive.

Her tabletops are always delightful but she's a wonderful food stylist. Have you visited her site?

I mentioned I didn't know coleslaw was French?

"Nothing we're eating is French", I was reminded.

Doing 'bruncher' entails lots of American breakfast goodies. Note prominent maple syrup bottle (probably Canadian) decorating the table.

Were we supposed to dribble syrup on Coco's delish scones? Oh  I forgot to show the clotted cream.

My breakfast plate with English grilled sausages and tomatoes. Heaven.

Coco has authored and food-styled every Pierre Herme cookbook so I was expecting a Fetish Ispahan extravaganza. Instead we had an Autumn extravaganza of seasonal fresh walnuts and figs and Basque cherry jam (at last something intrinsically FRENCH!).

I have a secret passion for this bird lamp from Mathieu Challière. Have you seen them at Conrans?

Coco has a new bird cage lamp. I was drooling.

*Note that dark corner by the window? 

That's where Coco and top dessert photographer, Laurent Fau style and setup all the photos for Pierre Herme's exquisite cookbooks and brochures in his patisseries. Hard to believe the magic created in that little corner. Pierre Herme often visits while Coco concocts recipes for the books.

More faux birds perched on the windowsill (permanently) get to watch the magic taking place. If only they could speak...

Herme's brand new Pierre Herme Macaron: The Ultimate Recipes from the Master Patissier is just out in English. Do click again on the page for all the info. 60 stunning photographs styled by Coco and Laurent + Coco's recipes (with Pierre looking over her shoulder naturalment).

Cucumber and tangerine, wasabi cream and strawberry. Coco let me taste many samples. Miam Miam

The fabulous 'Jardins' flavors are included if you're a fan.

P.Herme's Latest endeavor - collaborating on perfumes with l'Occitane. Rhubarbe/grapefruit, honey/Mandarine, Jasmin immortal. They sound like macaron flavors.

Speaking of making magic (ahem) a PBer requested a letter gift certificate card. What do you think?
PS
Thanks so much for buying Elaine's Only Street in Paris! Almost 50 books were sold and all maps have gone out. Enjoy!