Salon du Livre 2016

Saturday I went to the annual Salon du Livre out at Porte de Versailles.

Every year it appears bigger and bigger

Or am I shrinking?

So many people. So many books.

So many authors a-signing books.

Most fun are the elaborate drawings some illustrators do for young readers.

French kids learn to love books early.

I too am in love with French kids books. Very free illustrations. Lots of wonderful nonsense.

The cookbooks are especially enticing. Picture books will always win the day for me.

I got to taste a terrific giant scallop at the Ecole Ritz Escoffier demonstration.

La Mere du Famille has a new kids book out

With fun Paris pop-ups.

Loved this book umbrella

After 2 hours I needed to run away. Too many people. Too many books to looks at.

Loved this old gastronomie illustration when my eyes could still focus.

And this tote bag, probably a freebie from the Maison Object show.

Kindle Your Friendships

Photo by Flora Rocco 
My friend Sardi gave me this photo because she thinks I'm consumed with pastry.

I really should put it in a frame. Instead of sticking it on top of my stacks of book.

I have more books than you could shake a stick at. That's what I'm consumed with is BOOKS!

Books support me in so many ways. They even support my laptop... But though books are my best friends, I'm not nice to them. I chopp them up like coleslaw. I blow them up at the copy shop. I write in them with yellow markers. I have to. As an artist/illustrator, I'm constantly researching pictures of whatever I'm painting at the moment and my dear friends, books, hold the answers.

I'm not alone in this act of battering books you know. The NY Public Library used to do it. You could visit The Picture Collection to search for reference shots. You would see all your other illustrator friends pouring over mounted pictures (some ripped out of the finest books). It was a social event to go look at torn-out pictures. But that's changed. The NY Picture Collection is online, so no more chit chat with fellow artist. Quelle dommage. And there's Google bien sur. I needed pictures of a Roasted Shallot Tart Tatin yesterday et voila! Easy as pie/tarte.

I'm working on Maison Blanc's Fall Menu and I needed tarte au citron reference too.

That was a whole lot easier to solve than the shallot tarte. I just headed down to Payard Bakery. Course if I was in Paris I'd be falling over tarte citrons on every corner. They're common as lamposts...

If I was in Paris I wouldn't have to bring my own supply of lemon zest for the shot either. Just head over to M. Pierre Herme for super zesty lemon tarts. Back to my dear friends books. I'm wondering if I should break down and finally get a reader..?

I've been flirting with one for quite some time.

Do you LOVE your Kindle?

Wasn't it clever of Amazon to call it the 'Kindle' like you're curling up at a friendly, homey hearth? If I had a Kindle I could curl up too...

Along with not having a Kindle, I don't have an iPhone either. Shhh, I don't even have a cell/portable(!!!)

I'm probably the only one on the planet, but after seeing David Lebovitz post on iPhone Paris Apps I'm rethinking. Could I get an iPhone just for Apps? I'm in love with the Paris Metro App. It could be my new best friend, and I promise to be really, really nice. No chopping or blowing up or two-timing I swear.

Should I or shouldn't I??

Do tell all PBers. Do you have one? Do you love it?

Bonjour Post-Earthquake!

London Bookshops

Tea it is!

Thank you PBers for all your dynamite suggestions of what to do in London. I'll have to go to at least 3 - 5 afternoon teas per day to keep up. I'll be drowning in tea! You reminded me how much I love to paint teacups. And of my former addiction as a serious cup-aholic. I may soon need a cup intervention. Am I headed for the Recovery Project again? Word out is avoid The London Ritz like the plague.
Brit Chris said, "Do not bother with tea at the Ritz, expensive and sandwiches so pre-prepared and cold they make your teeth ache."
Advice taken. I'll stick with The Paris Ritz svp.
What goes better with tea than books? Show me a London bookshop and I'm happy as a clam. Bear is always dragging me off to W.H.Smith in Paris.
I'll be dragging Bear off to Hatchards in Piccadilly. They have the BEST, newest art books in the world. I've blown many $ at Waterstone's - with every how-to watercolor book under the sun...though I probably could write my own by now. Nevermind. Just a hop and a skip from the Chelsea Arts Club too.

La Seine Miniatures reminded me...One of my favourite places is "Books for Cooks" in Notting Hill (books and cookery classes).

4 Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill, London, W11 1NN

It's been ages since I've visited. The V&A museum bookshop
is not-to-be-missed.
Did I miss any of your favorite London bookshops?

Do tell svp.

BONJOUR MONDAY!

Salon du Livre 2009 Paris

   

Enfin, Porte de Versailles and the SALON DU LIVRE 2009!

So many books and so many people looking at books.

Books on every possible subject including where to "bruncher" in Paris. We need this word in NYC.

Philosophie books for kiddies - what is life, what is happiness?
And so many children. All students get in free.

I wish I knew where he got his great 'Ben' scarf. Anything with French writing on it is the best.

I look up and there it is -Paris is my oyster where ever I go.

Voila! I have to have this. It's karmic destiny.

The "line"...

My huitres...

 I got the "Neptune" special. I need fuel to keep going.

Tiny little books for tiny readers. After 4 hours of browsing I'm ready a gouter...

I head for Angelina.

And a transfusion.

My first Mont Blanc. Two bites is enough. Too much schlag/whipped cream.

Bonsoir Eiffel Tower...
BONJOUR PB READERS!