Les Danseurs 💃 Update Opening Ceremony 🎉

I went out to pay my Free Mobile bill…and to catch some real live tourists. I found them immediately rolling their suitcases 🧳 looking weary & jetlaged.

Evidently the expected 11,000,000 Olympic guests are arriving today! These two (from España?) are devouring FOUR pastries from PAUL...hmm

bleu, blanc & rouge 🇫🇷

I walked into BHV Marais & there was today’s post 🇫🇷 

I’ve been looking for signs. Olympics signs everywhere. These tartes are from Galeries Lafayette Gourmet. And unintentionally patriotic 🤷‍♀️

Escape to Bon Marché

 

While everyone escaped to Saint Malo, Trouville-sur-mer, Aix-en-Provence, etc. etc. I escaped to Bon Marché after the pool 🏊 on Saturday.

A short Métro ride away to Sévres-Babylon to browse patisserie & anything else that caught my fancy…

Messy Nessy’s Cabinet, 19 rue de Biévre, 75005

 I meant to go the day Messy Nessy’s new shop, Cabinet opened in April, at 19, rue de Bièvre, 75005. On Wednesday the 86 bus threw us off at Mutualité Maubert. I checked Google..Cabinet is a 3 minute walk 🏃‍♀️ from bd. Saint Germain. Allons-y! 

 I’m not sure what I was expecting but this was so much more…

Louvre, Olympism - Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy

Unknown5:25 PM 

A wonderful post, as are ALL of yours!! I especially love your photos taken at art exhibitions! I feel as though I am there. In the Olympic spirit, would you consider a post devoted to the Olympism show at the Louvre?

I said sure and got on the #7 headed to the Louvre (open till 9 pm Friday nights). FYI during the Olympics everyone must have designated time slot. Staff are helpful navigating the process.

Naturalement I brought along the Olympics Letter to check athletic poses for accuracy. 

Creating Paris 2024 Olympics Letter 🤸‍♂️

 

I know I’ve been MIA/missing in action..TA DAH! Bear🐻Olympics!

The 2024 Olympics is everywhere. I’m getting excited. 

Fu Castello, Pierre Hermé Infiniment Chocolat, Louis Fouquet, Laduree, Angiolo

 

New places open up every day in Paris. Who can keep up?

This past week by chance I fell into a few. Yesterday I past a green door with an unusual name, Fu Castello.

Bourse de commerce, Baguett, Bibliotèque Forney, Stéphane Humbert-Basset

 

It’s been a bearish 🐻 week

First stop, Bourse du Commerce. 

Vogue World, 23 Juin 2024, La Terrasse des Roses - Hotel Westin

Sunday night, the fashion world took over Place Vendôme in Paris for the 3rd edition of Vogue World, a runway experience so extravagant it boasts 100s of looks & multiple performances.

I was not there on Sunday…too busy painting roses 🌹

La Roseraie du Val-de-Marne, 3-Day 🌹Sale, Confiture Parisienne, Lancôme Cafe de la Rose

This past week was ROSE WEEK 🌹

Last Sunday I headed out to La Roseraie de Val-de-Marne to paint the roses 🌹 Take ligne 7 to last stop, Villejuif-LouisAragon end of the line. Then bus 172 (in front) for 10+ minutes to Sous-Prefecteur Eglise etc. It was windy, cold and looked about to rain any second. I got back on the 7train & came home 🏡 

Salon International de la Maison de Poupée /SIMP-Expo

 

Yesterday, on Sunday, I went to the 1-day Summer doll house fair, Salon International de la Maison de Poupée /SIMP-EXPO.

I was looking for tiny roses 🌹 my current obsession 

Centre Pompidou, La BD à toutes les Étages

 

Yesterday, after giving up finding a new hairdresser ✂️ (suggestions are welcome)I wandered into the Centre Pompidou museum nearby.

I know most PBers are not wild about the French obsession with marshmallows/guimauve .

Peonies in Paris

On Friday someone commented,” Carol, i just love your peony watercolour sketches! Will you be offering them for purchase? I think of them as "A Suggestion of Peonies." 🌸 

A seed was planted. Late at the Sunday Bastille marché, finally headed home, loaded with pamplemousse, I noticed the flower stand was packing up. 

Culinary Retreat with Shannon & Wlady Grochowski

Meet Shannon Grochowski, our hostess at the culinary retreat. I will post mostly photos..the wi-fi at Abbaye de Reigny was a tad slow…

The aroma of molten Valrhona chocolat is in the air. We inhale 👃 only the best chocolate 🍫 

Jardins, Jardin - Bois de Bologne, Chanel l’Iris

 

For 4 days, May 30 - June 2, the Bois de Boulogne became an olfactory experience. Usually it’s held at Tuileries but because of the Olympics 

Plus total immersion in Chanel’s purple irises in bloom at Jardins, Jardin. 

Landline General Supply Store, Baguette 🥖 Stamp Letter

Last night a triple book 📚 party, ‘Food for Thought’ night at Landlines General Supply store in the 11th Arrondissement  at 107 Avenue de Parmentier.

Jane Bertch of French Ingredient was there chatting, along with cookbook author, Carrie Solomon of Bohème Cooking, French Vegetarian Recipes. Carrie will be officiating at the French Summer Olympics.

Marché Normand, Baguette Stamp 🥖 Letter

Last weekend , another foodie Fête 🤸‍♂️Marché Normand for 3 days of feasting.

On Saturday after morning Butter 🧈 Class, an afternoon Champagne 🥂🍾 Tasting, & a book 📕 signing in the Marais, when I got home 🏠 I spotted tents ⛺️ along the Seine. 

French Girl’s Apartment

Yesterday Bethany said...I love your blog. 

Its absolutely sensational and the highlight of my days!! I was wondering if you could do a post on the typical French girls apartment. In the movies it always looks very thrown together, simple and chic. I know you must have insight on this!!!! That would be fantastic.

(This is a repost from 2010)

At first I thought no. But after careful reconsideration, I decided yes! I should show you that French girls are not so casual. In fact the opposite.This is the lovely clear entryway where I was allowed to drop my bag 💼 on arrival.

Caroline Mignot - L’atelier de Beurre

Yesterday I went to butter class 

L’atelier de beurre s’il vous plaît with Caroline Mignot. I got lucky 🍀 and won 🏆 a place.  Caroline is a delightful instructor. She is an expert at sharing the complexity of French flavors. She is, after all from Nantes, a vrai Nantais.

Carol Gillott ✍️ a Blog, ParisBreakfast-HuffPost Life

 

Bonjour PBers! This is a repost tell-all interview from 2015 in HuffPost written by watercolor artist Susan Fogwell.

I’m Carol Gillott, an artist living in Paris. Every month I send out beautifully illustrated letters that capture the true Parisian experience. Sign up to receive these whimsical treasures in the mail.

Thanks for reading PB ❤️

☕️ If you’d like to support my work, you can buy me a KO-FI here  ☕️  ❤️ Thank you so much! 

There is only one blog I subscribe to and it's Paris Breakfasts by watercolor artist Carol Gillott. Gillott, a Francophile at heart, moved to Paris over a year 11 years ago, where she opens the door to her daily quintessential Parisian experience. 

My Last day in Nantes, La Cigale

My last day in Nantes.

Began with a 9:30 reservation 

Birthday 🎂 Lunch in Nantes

 Nantes is not a bad place to spend your birthday 🎉 🎂 🥳

Especially when you dream of plateau de mer 

Bear 🐻 On Board, Tea ☕️ with Lis Watkins, Nicole stitches 🧵

 

Yesterday I returned to Cafe Varenne for tea ☕️ with Lis Watkins. I’m working on sketches ✍️ for the next PARIS Letter. 3 guesses?

Bear 🐻 came along! 🤸‍♂️

What I ate this week in Paris

 

Last night I did more dessert research 🔬 with Joyce (visiting from New York)

On Profiteroles. Joyce got a choux Chantilly, a simpler version sans sauce chocolat noir et glace 🍨 vanille.

Profiteroles I have eaten, Chez Clément Montparnasse

Last night with PBers Nicole & DeeAnn we had profiteroles for dessert 

At Cafe Varenne.

We left a little bit on the plate, the way you are supposed to in France 🇫🇷 OK not much 🙄