July 4th at Chateau du Petit Thouars, Waterlogue

Independence Day at the Chateau du Petit Thouars is a 2-day affair in the Loire valley.

I get down on the ground to capture all the turrets.

The castle in Waterlogue app. Have you tried  painting photos with it?

We make an early morning run for the fabulous Mara des Bois berries.

You will have to search far and wide in Paris to find these upper crust strawbs. Maybe at a super fine Primeur at super prices if you're lucky.

They never seem to go off like supermarket berries. No sugar required btw.

My berries are a long way from looking like Waterlogue's.

Strawberries are so hard to capture unlike cherries, July's Paris Sketch Letter subject.

Raspberries are easier - all nice bumps. These were hand-picked by the goat cheese lady in her garden.

You can taste her 3 kinds of chevre - frais, semi-sec, sec.

Finding the  chevre frais in the city is hard. The Summer is when its best.

Cupcake hunting during the day from British Teresa's Tearoom.

Grasshopper hunting in the evening instead of fireworks.

Dimitri keeps watch in the cool tasting room, guarding berries, goat cheese and watercolors. And chateau wines of course. Temperatures reach 35-36!

Marche runs to the village of Montsoreau.

I get blueberries and raspberries. Gather ye berries whilst ye can.

Breakfast is outside under the lime trees. I stay on an extra day. Hard to leave the country. Life is one big picnic in the Loire Vallee. You Must Go!

Taking the Intercity train from Gare l'Austerlitz to Tours takes an hour longer but you get a taste of the Loire while waiting.

I’m Carol Gillott, an artist living in Paris. Every month I send out beautifully illustrated letters that capture the true Parisian experience. 

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Back to my own river Seine. Back to reality...not so easy to make the switch.

Cupcake Flow

Who knew?

I just made cupcakes!

This morning!!

Lemon-scented Blueberry cuppies with lemony icing.

Yay

I now bow down in sheer idolatry to all cupcake makers including Parisien bakers.

Hummingbird Bakery

Rose framboise cupcake, watercolor, 9" x 11"

Nevermind the scorching heat-there was NO internet for 4 days.

On to more important things - the mass invasion of the Cupcake into London!

Did you know British bakers are visiting New York City for just one day, stopping in at least 18 bakeries and then flying home to knock us off in their own inimitable way?The Hummingbird Bakery was on my route from South Ken Station to the Club, so I could not miss this major high point of London gourmandises. The lines are every bit as fraught with anticipation and angst as at Pierre Herme in Paris... In the name of research I too joined the line and bought a red velvet cuppie... Whilst stealing as many shots as possible... All in the name of cupcake research of course... I am not a true devotee of the almighty cupcake but Hummingbird's graphics are out of this world... Plus their cookery book, The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook is praised to the skies on Amazon.uk and the pictures are adorable... I spotted these luscious OTT numbers along Kings Road - our cupcake is EVERYWHERE in London... Even as I was rushing to catch the 'chunnel' back to Paris I found cupcake wrapping paper in St. Pancras station. Why didn't I buy it at 5:20 am?

First stop in Paris, Le Grande Epicerie and what am I greeted by? Cupcakes bien sur. HMPH

One cannot escape these petit bijou sucres hauts en couleurs it seems...

In BHV cupcake cookbooks...

A London shot in Sainsbury (pronounced sanesbrie pls.)

Where do they come up with the term 'muffin cases'? No doubt you'll tell me the Brits invented the cupcake so they can call these whatever they like...

Fasten your pastry seatbelts PBers. London and perhaps Paris (God forbid) has taken to the Whoopee pie. What next? The full scoop on London listen to the BBC Food Program. You'll be enlightened further. This is an adorable video from Hummingbird, not to be missed.

BONJOUR LONDON CUPCAKES!

HUMMINGBIRD BAKERY POP ART VIDEO from Tarmak Films on Vimeo.

Magnolia Bakery

New York Memories, original watercolor, 9" x 12"

I'm back on the streets of New York. I'm on assignment - I'm researching cupcakes at MAGNOLIA BAKERY for a painting commission from PARIS.

I looked in the Magnolia's window at 401 Bleecker Street at West 11th Street. It was Bedlam. Hands grabbing at multi trays of cupcakes. Was a bake sale going on ?

Do they mark down their cuppies after 4PM like at Eleni's NY? I better get in there and buy.

First you grab a box.Then you have to choose.Decisions...decisions.They brought out a fresh tray of cupcakes. YAY
I asked someone, 'are they on sale'?
They looked at me like if I was crazy.Magnolia Bakery is full of signs -CAKE RULES. It's a little bit like going off to summer camp once you enter the bakery.ONLY 12 CUPCAKES PER PERSON!(Or off with your head)ORDER WELL IN ADVANCE FOR HOLIDAYS!BE MINDFUL.
DO NOT REST YOUR PURSE OR CUPCAKE BOX IN THE CAKE DISPLAY WINDOW!

The CAKE DISPLAY WINDOW.

 Hey wait, these cakes are pretty.

Magnolia has very pretty Key lime cheesecakes.

AND chocolate pudding mini pies.

Not to forget this FAB peppermint icebox cake. Very traditional American old fashioned cakery going on here. You can make these if you get The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook.

Back on the street I noticed the cupcake icer applying her pastry arts skillfully to each cuppie.When she saw me taking a picture, she shook her finger at me...just like in France. Hey, I'm out on the street? It's true that there are BIG cupcake wars in New York City. And everyone guards their secrets like diamonds.

My one beautiful cupcake. I don't even like cupcakes, cake or icing, but I admit I gobbled it down. J'adore Les Cupcakes! Temptation is rampant at Paris Breakfast.

What's a girl to do?