Easter at Laduree, Paris

 

NYC Louise asked me, “Do the French have an Easter Parade?” No way.

Solli and others asked me, “what was I doing for Easter?” 

Bunnies in the house/Part 2

 

I don’t know but only 1/2 the post went out. Go figure. I went into the toy shop of course looking for an automated rouge gorge/robin. This is proving challenging, even in a town with many, many toy shops, but I am not giving up. My parents used to frequently say,”Carol, when are you going to grow up?” Not any time soon 😃 

Just because I’ve told you all these glorious and rather pricy chocolate Easter rabbits,  chickens and eggs are filled with tiny chocolate fish/friture doesn’t mean you believe me. I didn’t believe it either when I first came here. It implies an element of not so friendly destruction is essential. 

But here it is. New rabbit is no more. A view of the inside is necessary. The two halves of the chocolate molds/moulage are held together with big jazzy ribbon bows. Simply untie et voila. More chocolate to eat as if it wasn’t enough already. In France, if someone calls you a ‘gourmande’ it means ‘greedy’ but in a good way. It means you like good things. 

There are many ways to practice this skill here. Right now I’m greedy to paint the new irises in town. There is always something to be ‘greedy’ about in Paris.

                  🐥 Joyeuse Paques dear PBers 🐰 

A Suitable...Bunny

Apologies to readers of the eminent Indian novel, A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth...

Last week in the midst of a wifi blackout and a looming visa appointment, I went in mad pursuit of a suitable chocolate bunny to draw for the March Sketch letter.

You would think in Paris, abound in chocolate bunnies at this time of the year, this would be an easy task.

You would be wrong. Many of Paris' witty bunnies are unsuitable for painting, decked out in only skivvies.

This Bon Marché bunny had possibilities.

But the ears were disproportionately enormous in my opinion to fit into my tea time still life.

These Bunny ears were too askew in my opinion.

Bunny ears sans bod would never do.

There were many suitable rabbits in London, probably dressed by Savile Row,

The Fortnum Masons bun was a dream come true, perfect for my still life setup. I wish I'd taken more pictures.

Another pretty British bunny. Evidently the English are not so inclined to go off the deep end when it comes to creating Easter bunnies as the French. Quelle surprise!

I went looking in children's shops on rue Cherche-Midi.

At last a suitable bunny even if not chocolate in Marie Puce at #60.

But my bunny light sketches were not pleasing sadly :((

Finally I gave up on the bunny idea and decided to go with a macaron watercolor that only required re-doing since I couldn't find the original. The original art naturally turned up once the re-do was done and printed out. Isn't that how it always goes. You can see the March print on ETSY.

Want to see more Paris Easter windows?

 Let us know.

Someone came out of the mad bunny pursuit best pleased.

Bear's outing and The Making of the Paris April Letter

A PBer emailed me suggesting Bear should get out to see Easter and Spring in Paris.

Friday was overcast, rainy and gloomy but some green buds are showing up on the trees. Hooray!

We followed the kids walking to school in the morning.

On our way to La Poste.

Then into the Metro to read important news.

We are both dying to see Shaun The Sheep even if it is in French :(

Are there gigantic strawberry posters in your subway/underground? This is strictly a French phenomenon. It's taken me 2 years to realize the berries are not in the snow but WHIPPED CREME!
Getting acclimated is not so easy.

Bear thinks we should grab the first strawberries coming into the market. Too soon mon amis.

Bear is having a pink moment. Or else he's excited because he's going to AMSTERDAM next week! All suggestions are welcome PBers.

More pink. I say no way Jose.

I have already sampled too much Easter candy.

The Making of the Paris April letter - inspiration comes from every window.

Papillon from perfumer Annick Goutal.

Gerard Mulot's sign out front got me thinking...

And sketching...

Planning out the colors.

Bear suggests Andy Warhol's big Springy flowers.

I 'borrow' just the grass.

The April Paris Sketch letter is personalized with your name on it and comes with very nice chocolate brochures.
Meanwhile Bear is dreaming of Dutch bears...
Happy Holidays Everyone!

La Grande Chasse aux Oeufs

Are you a chicken or egg person?
Another sneak preview of April's Paris Sketch letter, this time the almighty French hen (poule).

It's not easy to say whether the fish, the chicken, the bell, the egg or the Anglo newcomer, the bunny, holds supreme reign over Paris during Paques (Easter).

La Mere de Famille Paris' oldest confectionary has every possibility covered.

A very nice chocolate Teddy has been added to their 2015 collection.

Sadaharu Aoki marches to a different drummer, so the classic French hen has a Matcha green chocolate tail and is tied up with a black and white polka-dot ribbon. Tres chic and unique.

Back at La Mere de Famille a huge rooster crows for Easter.

Mad decorations are not just for Parisian haute couture chocolatiers. This scruffy chicken adorns a humble boulangerie vitrine surrounded by abundant spring flowers and faux grass in the elite 7th arron.

Monoprix has a collection of chicken/bunny egg cups for the occasion under 5 euros.

Neither fish nor fowl, from a past Easter collection of Jean-Paul Hevin - a witty unforgettable image.

Gerard Mulot has big eggs of Valrhona Dulcy chocolate - a blond caramel-tasting version.

Nestled lattice milk chocolate eggs at Jean-Paul Hevin.
Did you know milk chocolate is much harder to create? To get the balance right takes a deft hand. I've come to prefer it over dark.

These eggs are waiting in the window to be taken home

They are not chocolate at all, but made of cheese (petits oeufs de Mimolette extra vieille et Tomme de Brebis) from the excellent affineur fromager Griffon. They are tied up with bows of raffia straw not colorful silk. 

Fromager Griffon, 23 bis avenue de la Motte Picquet.

The egg hunts have begun. Each Paris arrondissement has their own authorized egg hunt (chasse aux oeufs), usually held in a public park but you must reserve. 'Les enfants doivent etre accompagnes pendant toute la duree de l'evenment' What about adults who'd like to hunt some eggs? Must they bring a kiddie?

FYI* An important egg fact. Did you know almost all French 'filled' eggs have Praliné inside - A mix of finely ground almonds, and or hazelnuts plus sugar, cocoa butter. Do not expect strawberry or maple fillings!

Another eggy fact I discovered yesterday - Belgian chocolatier Leonidas fill their eggs with smaller eggs.
No seafood-shaped fritures. Perhaps France is the only country to put chocolate fish inside? If you know more do tell.

I passed this drawing in a gallery window today by artist Jean-Jacques Loup of traditional French bells delivering Easter eggs.
If you  haven't heard David Sedaris' version of
“The rabbit of Easter. He bring of the chocolate.”
Do give a listen.
Thank you dear anonymous PBer of Hobart, WA who kindly sent me a Spork! She must have seen my comment of never leaving home without a spoon. Now I'm set for all occasions.
BIG MERCI et Joyeues Paques PBers!!