Paris Café Festival 2024 (9-11 March)

 

Sunday I went to the 5th edition of Paris Café Festival at Carreau du Temple in the Marais.

My first time to the Coffee Festival but definitely not my last. 

Coutume Cafe

Cuppa Coutume Cafe Coffee, 9" x 11" On Monday, Paris photographer Carla Coulson posted where to get a decent cuppa of coffee. I'm always on the lookout for a decent cuppa hot chocolate, I thought I better show you brand new Coutume Cafe (opened just in March) 

Luckily we had a poster explaining what to look for whilst tasting.

Coutume Cafe is a new concept in decor (pared down) and the beans are roasted onsite by co-owner Master torréfacteur (best roaster) Antoine Netien. 

Pick your beans.

Then head to the lab - front counter to watch US barista Kevin Ayers to make your cup to order.

The process is enthraling.

The results: prefection.

Bubble, bubble

Co-owner Aussie Tom Clark is onsite and happy to answer all your coffee questions. 

Cafe Coutume is in the 7th a quick sprint from Le Bon Marche on 47 rue de Babylon. 

Oh why did I leave my petit pain au chocolats (pastries are from FAB Patisserie des Reves)? I'll go back soon.

BON WEEKEND!

 

Il fait beau...

When I came back to Paris I got an email from Vicki, still in London, asking me,

"How's the weather in Paris?"

I always find this a funny question. In one day in Paris you can have brilliant sunlight... Parisiens, like New Yorkers, at the first hint of sunshine shed their clothes... Or not - this Parisien is ready for any possible inclement weather...

The Essence of Style

It's that time of year...

3, rue Saint Sulpice, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

Breaking out the Champagne. And where does the good stuff comes from - France bien sur. But how come?
And how come cafes are the most authentic in France? Nowhere else does the cafe experience even come close.

Did you know the first silverware came from France?
The perfume industry - no mystery = France.
Meringues - we have Louis XIV to thank. Mirrors too. In fact most everything that attracts us to France and French ways came about and was instituted during Louis XVI's reign. The legions of expert craftsmen creating the finest of furniture. The finest of just about everything deluxe that we adore and covet got it's start during this era...

Joan DeJean's book, The Essence of Style tells the story in detail with wit and dash. Subtitled; How the French Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, Chic Cafes, Style, Sophistication and Glamour.
Why is it that people all over the world share the conviction that a special occasion only becomes really special when a champagne cork pops -- and even more special when that cork comes from a bottle of Dom Perignon? Why are diamonds the status symbol gemstone, instantly signifying wealth, power, and even emotional commitment? What makes fashionistas willing to pay a small fortune for a particular designer accessory like the luxe bag.

DeJean explains how a handsome and charismatic young king with a great sense of style and an even greater sense of history decided to make both himself and his country legendary. When the reign of Louis XIV began, his nation had no particular association with elegance, yet by its end, the French had become accepted all over the world as the arbiters in matters of taste and style and had established a dominance in the luxury trade that continues to this day.

The birth of haute cuisine, the first appearance of celebrity hairdressers, chic cafes, nightlife, and fashion in elegant dress that extended well beyond the limited confines of court circles. Paris was the magical center -- the destination of travelers all across Europe. Who knew the parapluie (umbrella) was created by the French?

Fashion? The French. They have every right to be arrogant - their street cred goes back centuries.

Shoes oui! The j'e ne sais quoi, the certain indefinable something or other they have and that we want so - it's all explained and it's origins are mapped out here.

DeJean's latest, The Age of Comfort, takes the French story further into our homes and not so luxe quotidian activities.

DeJean is professor of romance Languages at University of Pennsylvania. Here's a NYTimes review of Essence. You can hear Joan chat on NPR.

I'm still searching for the origins of French jam. I'm sure it lurks within the confines of one or the other book...
BONJOUR ESSENCE OF STYLE!

Dog Story

There seems to be a daily pattern forming here:

Dogs, flowers, cafes, facades, street signs and the Eiffel Tower are turning up on a regular basis.

Like these two Parisien dogs greeting each other on rue St.-Dominique..

While this hound across the street looks longingly... I've even seen combinations of dogs and flower shops... Dogs and cafes... Dogs plastered on pastry shops (on SECCO at 20, rue Jean Nicot, 75007) This is the only cat I have seen to date..!?I've been shooting quite a few wine shop facades...And I like to take the signs announcing their hours...
The shop owner came outside and wanted to know why I was taking a picture of his ugly sign and invited me in. Natch he had a little doggie...
The interior was filled with wine antiques etc...

Did I mention there was a "greve" (general strike) yesterday?

I was mainly walking around my neighborhood, the 7th, then I headed across the Pont d'Alma to Avenue Montaigne to catch some posh facades like Dior and Chanel...

After, I headed over to the Champs-Elysees and the cafes were packed!

Time for a transfusion on the Champs-Elysee.

I'm troubled by a serious question in my patisserie ventures this trip...

Why don't these places offer any apples. If we saw an apple beside these desserts plus if they listed the calories like in NYC, we might do the right thing.

Taking 500 photos daily and traipsing all over town is wearing me out and these hot chocolate and macarons "transfusions" are NOT doing the trick. But there is solution, besides heading home, climbing 6 flights and falling into a coma.
Go to the movies.

I had a wonderful snooze at LAST CHANCE HARVEY, was all fired and completely refreshed.

I even took the bus. The #87 goes right to Champs du Mars from bvd. St.-Germain.

Easy as pie.
There's a sign in the middle of the bus announcing the next stop and how many minutes till they arrive. Perfect for type As.

I ended up quite near the Eiffel tower...
WOWZA!

BONJOUR WEEK-END!