Salon du Livre 2014

Sunday I made it to the 4-day annual Salon du Livre held in massive pavilion #1 at Porte de Versailles - a yearly reminder of how much the French love books.

I was captivated by a special exhibition of the work of French women illustrators.
 

I wasn't alone.
 

This new comic book/bandes dessignée, Jeune Fille en Dior written and illustrated by Annie Goetzinger can be found all over town in the best bookstores.
 

The detailed, fluid illustrations perfectly capture the creation of Dior's 'New Look'. The tiny pulled-in waistlines and full swingy skirts just after the war must have been a breath of fresh air for women the world over who had suffered such deprivation during1939-1945.
 

The main character, Clara, becomes a model at Dior. You see the backroom goings on at the top couture maison pre-show.

The book is in the much loved French format of a BD or bandes dessinée/comic book but for adults. I hope they translate this one for us.
 

Watch a short film (in French) of the artist, Annie Goetzinger at work discussing her intent to capture a lost time. Remember the fabulous Miss Dior exhibit at the Grand Palais? This book dovetails perfectly filling in behind-the-scene blanks on 20, Ave Montaigne at Maison Dior
 

Flammarion has a new book out on French icon Marguerite Duras
 

Kids 18 & under get in free at the Salon, so Sundays in particular are always overrun with kidlets. Adults pay 10€ for a 4-day entry.
 

So many childrens books.
 

So many children.
 

Avidly reading where ever you walk. It's a delight. And building future readers as well.
 

Tintin is always present. Here his red jeep on display.
 

This is for the public. Not a trade-only show. Every book on display is for sale.
 

Of course there is the Square Culinaire Tons and tons of cookbooks in every format. Does the yellow Trish Deseine book look familiar?
 

So many how-tos

And the chefs on hand who wrote them.
 

The essential accompaniment to book browsing - macarons.
 

I got very excited by, Cafe Society, which came out in 2010 in the US.
 

The illustrations/collages by the Baron de Cabrol from his scrapbook (1948) are fantastic.
 

He perfectly recorded the ambience of the times during 1920s - 60s.
 

The photography too is magnificent. Wallace Simpson looking soigné.
 

Elsa Schiaparelli wearing her famous shoe-hat beside a Dali sculpture.
 

Charming & simple elegant sketches from the Baron's scrapbook in Cafe Societé couldn't
 

Remind me of illustrations by Jean-Philippe Delhomme now on display poster-size in boulevard Saint Germain for Louis Vuitton. What do you think?
 

Salon du Livre

Vendredi 22 Mars Salon du Livre 2013 22 - 25

Paris is a bookish town. Where else do you see signs for a book fair like Salon du Livre plastered on the fronts of all the buses. Or get the catalog attached to your free metro paper? Not in New York I can tell you. Students of all ages get in free too. The joint was jammed.
 

I hung out mostly in the Culinary Square - stand X77. I'm addicted to cooking demos since the Omnivore Festival and what better way to practice your French comprehension?

I was delighted to see my landlady, Rachel Khoo's The Little Paris Kitchen now has a French edition, so the French can learn a few tricks from a Brit.
 

The French publisher tons of novelty cookbooks focused on one subject packaged in a shaped format. Plus stacks of cooking kits with all the essential bits like molds or stamps included.
 

Of course there were real edible macarons for sale
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And macaron-shaped recipe books. This one looks like an open box of macs. Most of these single subject books are quite cheap in the 6€ area and you can find them at Amazon.fr

On to the delectable demos - Friday I caught top star pastry chef Christolphe Felder.
 

Making financiers with a touch of strawberry embedded in them.
 

Christophe Felder has a new iPad app out with demos for 200 recipes called 'Patisserie!'. You might have to be French to download it from the Apple store. Qui sait?
 

Food scientist Hervé This is France's Harold McGee with a big helping of magician thrown in. His area of scientific research is molecular gastronomy. He put on a terrific show for a pack of school kids on how egg whites are actually yellow. If you add a touch of water to your egg 'whites' they will foam up considerably. Demonstrated by turning the bowl upside down over his head. Fortunately the egg white emulsion stayed put. Loads of fun. A real charmer.
 

On Saturday I caught top cooking blogger Pascale Weeks of cest moi qui lai fait! She was perhaps the 1st French blogger to start doing a slew of cookbooks and is hugely popular for her excellent recipes. Do take a look.
Pascale's merinque Pavlovas were to die for. I managed to grab a forkful. If you're in Paris run to Porte de Versailles for the Salon du Livre. Why not?