Chocolate Letter Research continued

 I have been ‘down for the count’ this week with a hacking cough, sniffles & classic cold symptoms. No Covid fortunately 🙏

I forgot to eat my daily full-proof winter elixir - pomegranate seeds. 

Chocolate Letter Reseach

 

Doing chocolate research 🔬 is one of the easiest things you can do in Paris, especially for the November Paris Letter.

Still I could not discover from Google how many chocolate shops are in Paris! Many ‘10 Bests’ list - oui. How many shops ? - non

Put a bow on it, Mouna Ayoub Chanel Auction, Black Friday Sale

 I hope you all had a jolly Thanksgiving  yesterday, if you’re in the US. Ours is on Saturday. 

On Monday, late in the afternoon in the rain, I viewed 252 pieces from the Chanel auction of Mouna Ayoub,the world’s biggest couture buyer.

Fine Arts Biennale, Grand Palais Éphémère

 

The Fine Arts  Biennale Paris is at Grand Palais Éphémère next to the Eiffel Tower

I went yesterday in the rain to the Presse Preview

Mon Noël de Rêve - Charles de Vilmorin - Galeries Lafayette Windows

 Yesterday I went to see Galeries Lafayette Noël windows

And researched them today. 

Île-de-France : la meilleure tarte aux pommes 2023

 

The announcement of LE MEILLEURE TARTE AUX POMME 2023 gets me running out the door 🚪 yesterday & down the rabbit 🐇 hole again. 

The WINNER IS: CHEZ MEUNIER 🏆 They happen to conveniently have a big branch inside Galeries Lafayette le Gourmet, including a cafe at 35, Bd Haussmann.

Imperial Chocolat Fontainebleau

 

Another CHOCOLATE SALON! Can you handle it?

The IMPERIAL CHOCOLAT always takes place in November headed by top patissiere & chocolatier Frederic Cassel.

Le Pavillon Baltard, Salon du Chat

10 years ago I went to the Baltard Feline show in Nougent-sur-Marne, a few stops outside Paris on ligne RER A. 

Last Sunday I went again to the Salon du Chat because…I’m a recent cat lover (since Covid)

Salon International du Patrimoine Cultural

 

Is your chandelier in bad disrepair?

Does your salle de bain need freshening up? Mine does. If you visited  Salon  International du Patrimoine Cultural this past weekend 

Salon du Chocolat #2

 

On Monday Bear 🐻 went to the Salon du Chocolat.

He was bear 🐻 hunting

Salon du Chocolat, Oct 28 - Nov 1, 2023

 

At Friday night’s opening of the 2023 Salon du Chocolat I made a bee-line for Maison Pralus.

There are always ready snacks of their famous cake, Le Praluline. An incredible brioche made with pink praliné chips (sugared almonds). It is a classic Lyonnaise dessert  first made by August Pralus in 1955. 

Les Deux Abeilles 🐝 with Jill

 

Yesterday I met up with Jill of Mad About Macarons fame at Les Deux Abeilles 🐝 Have you been?

For afternoon tea 🫖 again.

Creating the Paris Letter & How to Paint A Cup ☕️

I used to own all these miniature coffee/tea cups ☕️ They ended up at Salvation Army when I moved to Paris 😭 I wonder who has them now?

This week has been a coffee cup immersion.

Are You Thinking Noel/Xmas?

 

Usually after I do a PARIS LETTER run 🏃‍♂️ to la poste 📬 I’m allowed to wonder aimlessly🤸🏾‍♀️ Yesterday I wondered into the Dutch concept store HEMA looking for Halloween stuff. They’re already thinking Xmas🎄/Christmas/Noel & ginger cookies! Somehow I resisted 🫣

Are you already thinking ahead for Xmas holidays? Should I put up Christmas 🎄 letters for ‘Future thinkers’? Do tell PBers 🙏

Weekend this & that

 

On Saturday I went to Bibliomania near Odeon again. It’s on today till 6 pm.

Always a good place for visual inspiration

October Paris Letter Inspo, Antoinette Poisson

 I went looking for Fall Paris letter ideas this week, inspired by Monique’s beautiful wet leaves 🍁 

First place to look naturally was Galeries Gourmandes. Figs are in.

Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise, musée d’Orsay

 

This week I visited the “Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise, the last months” exhibition at Musée d’Orsay 2 days in a row.

The exhibit is on until February 4, 2024. Reserve now. 

Chanel RTW Spring 2024

 

Yesterday Paris Fashion Week closed as always with Chanel RTW 2024. (The show starts 3+ minutes in). We were there on the outside gawping…in the rain.

Last time Chanel went to a canal or a tunnel for the show. Fortunately yesterday they were back at Grand Palais Éphémère 🤸‍♂️ The show sites of major houses is kept a big secret, unless you’re in design school, know a buyer or someone with an invitation.

Le Crabe Marteau, Paris

 

Do you love crabs? Yesterday I met with Solli & Francesco for serious crab eating.

Did you know in the middle of Paris, you can transport yourself to Surf City,N.J. or Maryland or Brest by heading to le Crabe Marteau 🔨  I got there early and chatted with a lone Normand devouring his whole crab. 

Azzedine Alaïa Couturier Collectionneur, Palais Galleria

 

Monday morning I went to the preview at PALAIS GALLERIA of designer, Azzedine Alaïa Couturier Collectioneur. 

Alaïa was a passionate collector. It began in 1968 when Cristóbal Balenciaga's house closed, Alaïa was given fabrics and various pieces. 

Material de Cuisine Letter

 

My mad pursuit of robins has switched to ducks 🦆 Especially since I’ve been told there are NO actual robins in Paris.

I’ve always been nutz ❤️ about the jaunty duck, with the red checkered torchon/dish towel in E.Dehillerin’s kitchen supply shop window. 

Marchés Flottants du Sud-Ouest Weekend Fete

 

Unless you live in Paris you may not know there is a BIG Rugby game on & everyone is celebrating 🥳 including ducks 🦆 

Especially the annual 3-day LES MARCHÉS FLOTTANTS DU SUD-OUEST 🤸‍♂️at quai de Montebello, across from Notre Dame

What we ate in Villeneuve-les-Avignon

 

Working backwards, sketching on the TGV train heading back to Paris at 10:04 am

Leaving Villeneuve-les-Avignon  far behind us

I want to go paint in Roussillon

 Running to the train at 6am com d’ab 

Eating 2 RELAY madeleines as usual pre-train

Meet: Solli Kanani Food Photographer

Meet Solli Kanani

We have been partners in crime for 10 years…