Creating the Saint-Valentin Map

 

Yesterday after shopping at the art store, I got on line at Au Nom de la Rose to buy roses to paint. 

It appears the New York Times thinks we should cancel Valentines Day!? 

It appears Paris hasn’t heard a thing about it.

 Everyone is tearing around, getting on lines, scooping up chocolates, heart-shaped cakes and heart-shaped balloons. Champagne and roses anyone? 

A while back I posted about Kati Marton’s memoir, Paris, a Love Story

 A quick re-look at the cover...add an umbrella. Add an Eiffel tower. My map sketch was off and running. 

                                     ❤️ Voila! ❤️

Some essential research was required. I ate the milk chocolate lollypop and 2 chocolate hearts in the mini red ❤️ box at Jeff de Bruges. I toyed with getting the pink heart mug but resisted. 

Since Valentines lands on Dimanche, Lenotre got the hot idea to deliver a deluxe Valentines brunch. 

Pierre Hermé miraculously got the same idea. Petit déjeuner + bouquet and Champers are included for 115€

The perfect message T-shirt to gift your guy from the Armand Thierry Love Collection, “Sorry, I already have the perfect woman” And yes Parisiens do mail out Valentines cards. 

They even design a new ❤️ stamp each year in collaboration with luxury houses for the occasion. This year Chanel celebrates the anniversary of No.5 perfume. Your penpal in Paris sent out the maps 📮 on Wednesday by the way. 

The Metro has posters of roses 🌹 as a reminder. 

Back at Au Nom de la Rose, red and pink is the color of the day.

I bought 3 roses to paint and they threw in little rose buds as a gift. Hopefully you can use your Valentine map next February PBers🙏🤞

 ❤️ Have a lovely Day ❤️ 🐻💋🌹

Brussels Valentine

I arrived in Brussels Thursday for their Salon du chocolat.

How did I forget it was Valentines.

Brussels' chocolate shops did not. They were ready to entice.

Elaborate marionettes fill many candy shop windows.

Elaborate is a good word to describe Brussels' displays.

Mary Chocolat celebrated Valentines with big red painted bows.

Inside delicate pale pink heart-shaped boxes and loads of satin ribbons.

A wonderful excess of guimauve(marshmallow) makes my heart beat faster.

Pierre Marcolini, as always, the more restrained and elegant of Belgian chocolatiers.

The best place to see many fine Belgian chocolatiers is the Galerie de Reine, speaking of elegance. It was early morning so not crowded.

A massive heart from Corne-Port Royal.

I prefer my chocolates identified and described in detail. Remember Whitman's Sampler with the details on the back of the box? Of course you never went down, like a mouse, early morning to raid the chocolate box drawer. Taking bites out of this and that chocolate searching for a caramel. No never.

Red velvet heart boxes are everywhere in Brussels and all sizes.

Leonidas has a smooching Mini on their boxes.

The tall tin Belgian house is another favored candy container along with the cone.

I went out of my way to visit the famous Patisserie Wittamer (pronounced Wit-A-Mare) in the Grand Sablon. Big disappointment. Empty and the atmosphere inside as chilly as it was out. They had standing tables but you must take your hot chocolate outside(emporte) or go up to the tea salon next door. Frankly I couldn't be bothered.

I do wish I'd gone out to the store of Debailleul now at Grand Place 37. I was so impressed by them at the Paris chocolate salon in 2008. and again at the Brussels Salon Thursday night.
Exquisite in everyway taste-wise and packaging.

Do visit their website and sign up for their delightful mailings - truly a joy to receive. Next time I'll visit Debailleul !

I'd like to send a great big valentine to De Noordzee at Saint Catherine for their fabulously warming, delicious soupe de poisson (5€). They serve all day and night sans cease. I saw soup-eaters next morning slurping happily. That's a hunk of garlicky toast with grated cheese plus a squiggle of mayo of all things afloat in the bowl.

You stand at the counter outside in the bitter cold. No tables or chairs. Yet the staff could not be more friendly, happy to explain the dishes. Food is served instantly. Their fresh fish counter is to the right.
Perfection in my eyes.

Naturally I felt a mad attraction to Belgian red postboxes even if somewhat defaced.
If you'd like to give your true love (or yourself) a Valentines gift of  Sketch letters I can easily scan February's monogrammed art.
You simply print it out to deliver on the 14th.
The letter will arrive from Paris soon after.
Et voila!

Mon Petit Valentin

Jeudi 14 fevrier Ma petit cho

There is something about anything petit that wins the heart/♥

Well this ♥ is easily won over by these petit feve of Hugo et Victor

I discovered that Guerlain has a plus petit version of their La Petit Robe Noire. What's not to love?

Maman et bebe ensemble

Petit striped Sonia gloves/gant = tres adorb

Pierre Herme has a well kept secret petit boite of bonbons de chocolat

The price has remained the same for ages petit10 euros and the flavors are as divine as ever

Another tiny treasure from the petit Limoge boutique next to Angelina

I've been thinking I'd like to paint petit plateau de petit dejeuner again.

 I used to paint all the time. I miss having those breakfasts in Paris. If you have a good shot of a petit dejeuner you want painted let me know.

A petit pup of the day

Have a GRAND VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!