Paris Summer Fruit tartes

Les Tartes de l'Eté

Today's post is strictly for your edification so don't start salivating. I was running 🏃‍♀️ by my local boulangerie (Alsacian R.Maeder) on the corner.

And I noticed a ton of fruity tartes glowing in the window. I went back for a second look.

I met Veronique Marot and Carla Carlson for tea last week (none of us had fruit tartes or any dessert by the way). They mentioned, in passing, how French summer desserts were so much better. They are just a pâte sablée base (like a shortbread cookie) piled high with fresh fruit and not much sugar. Hmm, interesting.

This seems to be the case. Could they pile any more fruit on these things? I doubt it.

This picture was shot by the young man behind the counter! 

He took pity on me,

'Give me your iPad".

I think he was thrilled to try out the new mini.

I asked for a box for my 2 small fruity pastries. No way. You have to buy more than two.That's how it goes in a boulangerie. They don't just give away their boxes and fancy ribbons like that.

My pastries made it home safe and sound but take a good look. These are a bit 'plain Jane'. The fruit is a tad uniform and ordinaire.

Unlike the architecturally constructed works of art by Frederic Cassel Head of the French team that won at Lyon. Definitely haut couture in the pastry world. The point being there is quite a difference in quality and design between a boulangerie and a top patisserie. The price tag is different too. But in both cases you're getting a lot of fruit and not a ton of icing or other sugary stuff.

Something else came to mind. How come Parisian pastries get to stay nice an cool in glass cases, but Parisians suffer the blasted heat sans cesse?

After looking at fans all week and deciding on none, late yesterday I went foraging. It was cooking out there. But Castorama, the Home-Depot of Paris was cleaned out.

"Oh we had 100 fans this weekend but they went. We hope to get more on Monday or Tuesday".

What? 100 fans only? When I returned to the apartment I noticed among the renovations rubbish next to the building what looked like a perfectly good fan. I took it upstairs.

 'Ca marche'. It works! OK so it does make a TERRIBLE racket.
Any hints how to fix a noisy fan? Does it need A-1 oil or is that steak sauce?

I spotted the Dog-of-the-day on the Metro looking relaxed on the very cool aclimatizatee #2 train. 

*Leçon learned: Don't wait for a heat wave to buy a fan. And eat fruity French tartes. It can't hurt.

Pub Mania

In this very hot weather can you think of anything better to do (besides sleeping in a darkened cool movie theatre) than go to a couple of fan/eventail exhibits?

The exhibit in the musee des arts decoratifs is titled 'Pub Mania' so if you love trivia, you'll have a ball. There's loads more than just advertising fans but I was captivated being a longtime fan of fans. They're so femme aren't they?

Fans were the one thing I did not leave behind in NYC you better believe it.

Paris' reputation for unbearable heat goes before it...

I just read on MyLittleParis today how wonderful it is that TWO Metro stations have air currents flowing! Voila:La station de métro spéciale courants d'air 10 mois qu'on se les caille dans ces stations à rhume. On peut enfin les remercier d'exister : réfugiez-vous dans les stations Colonel Fabien, et à la sortie 5 de la station Hôtel de Ville.
Definitely something to write home about no?

The innovation and fab designs of these fans is quite delightful in my opinion.

It can't have been too comfortable to wear all that clothing back in the day.
 

Thank goodness for fans!

Just a few doors down at 111, rue de Rivoli 75001 in the museum's library is another fan exhibit honoring La Maison Duvelleroy.

Dating back to 1827 and founded originally by Jean-Pierre Duvelleroy, the house has recently been revived by two young enterprising eventaillistes, Raphaelle de Panafieu and Eloise Gilles.

They are doing some very snappy, fun fans I can tell you.

I spotted their fans in Bergdorfs a while back and swooned but they are in the museum's gift shop as well as 67, rue du Bac 75007.

I wish I'd known. I was on rue du Bac today and tried to buy this paper parasol at la Nom de la Rose but they said it was just for decoration :(

Another person with a fan besides myself on rue du Bac.
 

I planned to double-dip at the pool today but they close at 5pm the meanies so I'll just have to fan myself and take a cold shower.
 

Who knew that Evian conveniently makes water misters to spray yourself and others? This is news to me.
 

In the London Underground they made an announcement (at least at Covent Garden)
"Please carry a water bottle with you at all times. And if you do feel faint on the train, do get off at the next stop"
(and don't collapse and inconvenience others I guess). Fortunately the Paris Metro provides nice vending machines at every station (which London does not). Note the bottle of Badoit in the upper right corner did not make it down to the tray. Sometimes bad things can happen to good people when it's hot.
 

The Paris Metro also provides you with chilled chips (or 'ships' as they call them here) for a mere 1 euro. Quelle deal no?
 

I checked out the fans at Castorama yesterday, a huge home depot kind of place. They had exactly 5 fans on display and no one was giving them the time of day except me. Go figure.
I think the boucherie across the street should give this poor cow a break and remove those knee socks don't you?
Stay cool PBers