Absolutely Fabulous Venice

When the #1 vaporetto lets you off at the San Marco stop. You are forced to walk down alleyways lined with deluxe shops. "Name, names, names Sweetie-Darling"
Missoni, Pucci, Cavalli.

Bottega Veneto.

You instantly feel the pinch in your purse.

These diamond-encrusted shoes do not have your name on them.

Not mine anyway.

Italianos or touristas?
What's your guess?

This is why I suggest don't bother with the 3 euro cioccolata.

And ante up 9 euros at Caffe Florian.
At least here you can feel like a principessa.
Fortunately gelato is universally democratic for principessas and the rest of us.

BUON GIORNO FABULOSO VENEZIA!

Sucre Morceaux

Two lumps please, 7 1/4" x 6 1/2"

Here's something else I like to bring back from Paris, but they have minimal shelf life. They fall to bits in no time, these sucre morceaux (café sugar cubes).

Each morceau de sucre blanc weighs in at 6 grammes and they're the perfect companion for the classic cup of coffee.

Café Flore sucre morceau, 7" x 6"

Bet you didn't know these adorable sugar cubes were invented by a Parisian epicier (grocer), named Eugène François in 1875. Formerly you got your sugar chopped off a big loaf, or cone-like hunk. Not very convenient for dropping into a coffee cup... It was in the 1960's that the paper wrapping became a billboard for branding just like French candybox ribbons and stickers.

Sucre morceau, 8 1/2" x 6"

The squared-sugar cube fits right into Cézanne's règle (rule) of géométrie, " if you can draw a cube, a sphere, a pyramid...you can draw anything". These cubes add a nice contrast to round café cups and cast pleasent shadows..

Cafés Ladoux sucre morceaux, 9 1/2" x 6 1/2"

Should you choose to make yourself a cafe royale, you'll need black coffee + a teaspoon holding 1 sugar cube set atop your cup. Pour coqnac over the cube and into the coffee. Then light up the sugar cube with a match, letting it flambé and caramelise enough to be stirred into the brandy-infused coffee. Delicious.

M. tells me "sucrettes" is the name of these long paper sachets of granulated sugar you now see on far too many café table tops for my taste. Are they're preferred by those on a regime (diet) since you can control how much sugar goes into the cup?

Here's a leçon to learn if you're moving to France. Powdered sugar is used strictement for baking. So don't put your best silver sugar bowl filled with Domino on the table and get laughed back to the kitchen. Sucre morceau MUST be served with coffee and tea!

Pretty Paris Boxes

There's a tremendous fuss made over the candy box in France and I'm very glad of it. It's not merely a square box with a lid and bottom.

There's much more involved. It's an architectural wonder with popup leaves and windows and layers and so forth. No imagination is spared coming up with these "jewel boxes". I envision men in white coats fussing about with bits of cardboard in the lab creating these gems. And you can choose the box design appropriate for the occasion. These little darlings from Marquise de Sevigne, are waiting, perhaps for the mother of a new born babe..? A tiny bit resembling diapers...Hmmm Can anyone compete with Ladurée's aray of shapes, sizes and variety in box design? I doubt it. Their designer must be the Yves St. Laurent of candy box couture... This chic turquoise box comes from Patrick Roger . An intensely orange slipcase slides over the blue box...striking. French branding (IMO) is about ribbons, past-on stickers and whymsical boxes. Not giant billboards that knock you over or your car on the highway. And don't forget those signature sacs (bags). Pink is a favored color for Paris boxes but black too is popular. You're probably thinking, Hmmm...I'm more interested in the contents of that box.
I brought home this pile of candy boxes, and I have another bag full of brand name ribbons. They have no sell-by date. One shop can have 2-3 different signature brand ribbons on offer. They only make these in France as far as I can tell. I've often thought how nice to have a ribbon 🎀 with Paris Breakfasts name on it. If I knew where to order them, I would tout suite...