The Angels of Paris

 We've all probably had our 'angel' periods. Mine lasted while painting Bordeaux chateaux and their baroque/rococco decorations.

 I have a feeling Rosemary Flannery's angel period lasted longer. She moved to Paris in 1989 and became obsessed with it's art and architecture to the point she created over a period of years her newly published book, The Angels of Paris: Looking up in the World’s Most Beautiful City.
 

 Who knew there were macaron angels(circa 1925)? They reside at 14, rue Monge 75005, formerly the boulangerie/patisserie of Benoist et Fils from 1859 - 1940 and an Eric Kayser. The inscription refers to pastry chef Bourbonneux, reknown for his macarons, new to me.
 

 I'll seek out this corner angel next trip, known as the Lighthouse Angel (1860) at 57, rue de Turbigo, 75003. One gets so enthralled with the shops at street level one forgets to look up. Or at least one did in the past. That's changed now with Rosemary's terrific architectural guide, arranged by arrondissement by the way.
 

 Naturally I was drawn to the angels with squirrels in Rosemary's book - there are quite a few - I suppose it's a size factor. This The Knight's Angel (1833) at 4, rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, 75004. When Rosemary isn't looking upward in Paris she's leading private tours where ever you wish.
 

 Flammarion has a new foodie guide to Paris this year.

 Paris Bon Appetite could keep you entertained over the holidays.
 

 It covers mainly bistros and restaurants indepth.
 

 My fav foodie-Paris book is just out here.

 I've spent hours drooling over SWEET PARIS:A love affair with Parisian chocolate, pastries and desserts by British photographer Michael Paul in WH Smith on rue de Rivoli.
 

 I just discovered my own shot (with my old camera) of his cover tartelette fraises des bois from Maison Stohrer on rue Montorgueil. miam
 

 This book makes you feel like you just turned a corner and are there.
 

 You can almost enhale the scent of baba au rhum.
 

 There are recipes to boot. A winner all around for me.

This is my first '50 shades' of something or other but its wildly hysterical. You'll be lolling on every page I promise. The recipes are nothing to sniff at either.

BON APPETITE et bonne reading

French Girl's Books

 I sent a desperate email to French Girl in Shanghai,

'WHERE ARE THE COOKIES?'
 

 Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees.

The COOKIES were in French Girl's book case (still full) holding up her books.
 

 U R what U read.

French Girl reads many cookbooks including Jill Colonna's Mad About Macarons.
 

 I asked her about this one -
The Principle of the little penguin.

It's a book to calm you down.

Oh :O

 Fr Girl is a big fan of cookbook author, Sophie Dudemaine.

So is chef Marthe!

 Elle Magazine is every French girl's bible no matter her age.

Never ever throw one away! R U kidding?

 French girls in general LOVE these aroma bougies/candles.

 Diptyque ('Baies' is Fr Girl's personal flavor).

 Diptyque bougies serve many purposes. Wall decor for one. Along with Repetto bags. No wonder Fr Girl had a fit when I tried to throw mine out.

 

 When the candle burns down it makes a perfect brush holder. I bet FG has enough empties to have a big drinks soiree.
 

 Just in case you think I'm nuts for noticing ladybugs/coccinelle (bringers of happiness) everywhere in Paris, please note FG has one doing happiness duty here.

 Everyone things French Girls have so much confidence. That certain ineffable something or other, that je ne sait quoi and a load of other bla bla bla.

Guess what? French girls read self-help books too.Who knew?

 

 This one illustrated by Soledad Bravi tells you what positive words to tell yourself bla bla bla

 It's also useful to cut up and add to your decor.
 

 French girls do seem very gifted at home decor. Some people are not major clutterers like some other people :(

 I think the French are more crazy for tea than the British. I brought FG this artisanal tea tin from Tay Teas

Tea title:'Better Than Sex' Ha!

 My London assignment - bring back FG a tin of Fortnum and Mason's Earl Grey Classic. Useful too as book ends. I'm sending French Lulu to Fortnum and Masons window for her birthday. That's a switch.

Store Windows #17

 French Girl has her own book out!

 She shoots Paris windows one evening a week et voila!

All French Girls admire FAB icon, Ines de la Fressange. They need to know about Parisian Chic just as much as we do :O

Go figure.

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!

Thank You Chocolate & Zucchini !

An Orchid for Clotilde, watercolor, 5" x 7"
Yesterday I got to meet Clotilde Dusoulier and I was not wearing my pajamas.

Clotilde was signing her brand new cookbook, Chocolate and Zucchini: Daily Adventures in a Parisian Kitchen at Dean & Deluca in Soho. 

Photograph by Clotilde Dusoulier © I found the perfect picture that captured all the intimacy of a Paris cafe breakfast- I followed the photograph back to it's owner and discovered my first blog, Chocolate and Zucchini in October 2005.I found a new friend and a window into everyday Parisien life (while still in my P-Js).Most of my photos of Clotilde are blurry :(
It's one thing to steal a shot of a macaron cart in Galeries Lafayette, but it felt invasive taking pictures of someone I'd only met in my pajamas...I did take this shot of another C&Z fan. Clotilde is every bit as refreshing, natural and charming as you would imagine from reading her blog. And her cookbook is every bit as engaging and addictive.
It's full of the same sweet, funny stories. Clotilde took all her own food photographs making her book much more personal. It's the perfect size for reading in bed too. We all got to taste the real Chocolate and Zucchini cake! The recipe is on page 166...
Thank you Clotilde for sharing your life with us, your wit, your special point of view. How many other readers were so inspired by you to start their own blogs?
Many I'll bet. Here's the funny thing...
Most mornings now, while still in my PJs, still over hot chocolate, I'm busy painting and writing Paris stories to tell you, dear readers. Some of you even think I live in Paris (I wish!) Funny thing is that sometimes I get emails from you telling me how you read Paris Breakfasts over coffee while still in your pajamas...So thank you Clotilde Dusoulier!~And have a GREAT BOOK TOUR :)