Salon du Chocolat - Paris

 

Well, the Salon du Chocolat was fun 🍫

Of course I didn’t resist any chocolate 🍫 offerings until at least an hour in.

Paris is OK

PBer Carolyn wrote and asked if I was OK?
She'd seen pictures of armed soldiers in the streets of Paris.

I've seen Parisians walking their little dogs and eating ice cream cones. No soldiers.

The cafes were full up on Saturday, a nice sunny day.

In the Marais everyone was carrying orange BHV sale bags.

Me too.
I fell hard for this little Cotman travel watercolor box on sale. Reduced from 72€ to 28€. My excuse? I will paint in cafes (my new year's resolution is to sit in a cafe now and then).

I've had these travel sets before.

At least 15 years ago same box in a different color. I wish I could still fit into that Agnes B. top...

Paris pastry chefs are busy gearing up for Easter/Paques so I had to go to a tasting on Friday at Christophe Michalak Masterclass 60 rue Faubourg du Poissonniere. 75010

Michalak always puts a unique, whimsical twist on classic French desserts.

Like this grilled croque monsieur sucre  Michalak created on the spot on his new Panini toaster for us to taste. Inside Valrhona chocolate ganache, citron vert and banana sprinkled with caramelized sugar. Yum.

Sunday night I was running to catch an early show of Whiplash and looked in at Un Dimanche a Paris full of people buying chocolate.

A quick look inside Grim'Art, a pen shop. Addressing lots of envelopes, pens and calligraphy have become a recurring obsession.

By the time I got to the Odeon, Whiplash was sold out. Parisians are going to the movies folks.

Walking home I passed the 3-day vide grenier/brocante(outdoor antique market) at Mutualite-Maubert.

I used to be obsessed with silverware before pens and envelopes took over my life...

I went and saw Whiplash tonight. Excellent.

When I came out of the theatre the cafes were filled with people.
Still no soldiers.
Notre Dame is beautiful as ever too.
Paris IS OK people!

12 things I love about living in Paris

"Everyone complains about the weather but no one does anything about it".

 

So what if it's grey skies in Paris most of the time. 

"Frankly my dear I don't give a damn".

I don't miss the verticality of living in New York City.

.

On the other hand I'm nuts Paris horizontals. Things are on a more human scale.

Pastries are lined up horizontally.

Same goes for chocolate bars and yogurts. They still put me in a trance-like state. Very calming. No need to buy. I get off on reading the labels.

I've fallen for vanilla beans. You can reuse them over and over in your hot chocolate in the morning (even when they dry up rock solid). 

And then put vanille in your tea at bedtime. Or anywhere else for that matter sweet or savoury.

Butter used to be one stick of Land O'Lakes sitting in my freezer 6-8 months. Not anymore thanks to Beillevaire Fromagere.

 

Vermont Cheddar, I've forgotten all about you. There are 300+ cheeses to love in France.

 

Seasonal fashion trends used to be more prominent at PB.

 

Now I'm consumed with what's to eat in season in the marché

 

I ate so many fresh, ripe apricots last Spring, I got a rash and had to wear long sleeves all Summer. It was worth every scratch. Will I ever learn moderation here?

 

GO TO THE MARCHÉ! If you want to see what people are wearing (Raspail on Sunday). What they are eating(far more important). 

What to eat in restaurants (they buy what's in season).
To practice your French.  For so many reasons the marche is one of the best, free experiences you can have in Paris.

 

As for the Metro, I've learned how to push with the best of them. It is the fastest way to get around Paris.
 

Till I learn to ride a bike.
 

Wednesdays are when new movies open in Paris. I read the Metro posters with great anticipation, then the reviews and sometimes I remember to go. Mostly I miss things. There is so much to do in Paris. DON'T miss 'Les Garçons et Guillaume, Á Table' Great fun.

Yesterday I BAKED. This is major milestone. Much thanks to Jill of Mad about Macarons. Her Tarte Tatin d'Oignon Caramelises was so easy and too good not to try. The other day I made Charlotte's Magret de Canard, also easy and trés delish. So yes, I'm still loving Paris for too many reasons to count.

BONNE 2014 PBers. Stay tuned.
 

Are Fr Men More Romantic?

After four months of living in Paris I've come to the conclusion French men are more romantic.
 

If more romantic means openly affectionate and demonstrative.

There seems to be a lot of it going around - displays of affection.

Do French men have 'attachment issues'?

Long term maybe they're like all the other mecs/guys out there.
 

But short term I would say not.
 

Hand holding starts early.

I'm basing my theories on what I see, but it seems French toddlers are out of their strollers much sooner and out and about earlier.

Parents slow down to walk at the child's pace.

Time is taken.
 

And there's lots of hand holding right off the bat.

 

Lots of tactile contact
 

Could this effect later relationships?

Why not?
 

I didn't pose this 'Doisneau Kiss' nor arrange the back lighting...

On the other hand, French dogs seem much less romantically involved with each other or physically attached.
 

Being an extraterrestrial in Paris can lead to odd conclusions.
 

What do you think PBers?

Your opinion requested.