Paris at night

Paris at night. I’m missing it like crazy. The damn 6 pm curfew is getting me down. 

Bear is not thrilled either...

B. from CA wrote me. She’s plotting her future travel plans for Paris. Aren’t you doing the same? “I’ll stay outside the city and take the train in everyday”

I said, “What?...the RER at night is not a good idea...”  

B. said, “no problem! I’ll be in bed by 6 pm, worn out from walking Paris.” 

“What?”

This is so WRONG. Paris at night is the best, free, spectacular show anywhere. You simply can not miss it.  I know I’m missing it like crazy these days of the damn curfew :((

I have 550+ photos of Paris taken at night while walking around on my own. Safe as houses. Certain night things like taking the bateaux mouches are a must-do.

Some touristy things can be wondrous. 

  Paris at dusk in its full glory. 

Les Invalides seen from the bus. With over 50,000 street lamps and around 300 illuminated sites.

Including hotels, churches, statues, fountains, national buildings and monuments, no wonder Paris is calle ‘la Ville des Lumieres’.

Plus 33 of the city’s 37 bridges light up at nightfall.

Enough to get Van Gogh excited (even if this is Rouen). 

If you’re feeling down because of the Paris curfew or for any other reason you may need some serious laughter therapy or calming Tai Chi. Please watch these silly videos. I do daily At least until the curfew ends. Cheers😃💋❤️

l'Opera cake at Sadaharu Aoki

Time for a little dessert isn't it? Like the famous l'opera gateaux.I keep thinking about pastry geometrie...

I tried opera cake at Sadaharu Aoki's patisserie

on 35, rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Sadly, I cannot report how it tasted.I was too busy admiring it's perfect architecture and lovely dimensions.

This cake was first created by Louis Clichy in 1903.
But Dalloyau renamed it after the grand Paris Opera
and is reknown for their version.Every French patisserie makes a version of this popular multi-layered chocolate decadence. L'Epicerie has a monster version.
I would love to figure out why a squared cake in the US connotes an office party birthday? Where is the panache? Where's the ganache?
Pierre Herme makes what looks like an opera cake but he changed the equation. It's called the Carrement Chocolat, it is not layered.
Inside is: (biscuit "molleux chocolat", creme onctueuse au chocolat, mousse au chocolat, fine feuilles de chocolat craquant) I see the word feuille / leaves, so it must be layered? I brought the petit four version home to paint...There's nothing like the challenge of painting a square object on a rectangular piece of paper.If you think you'd like to make this cake, Dorie Greenspan has documented Dalloyau's recipe in her book, Paris Sweets. Here's what's inside those layers:
1.Giaconda biscuit
2.Coffee syrup
3.Coffee buttercream
4.Chocolate ganache
5.Chocolate glaze
Not exactly "a piece of cake" to make!
BONJOUR L'Opera GATEAUX!