Macaron 2-Do List

Deluxe Eiffel Tower Stack ( thanks to Sybil G.),watercolor, 9x11

This time tomorrow I'll be tearing around trying to figure out what to pack. Today I'm relaxed AND I SHOULDN'T BE. I'm toying with various and sundry macaron to-dos in Paris.

Near the top of the list is find some macaron pillows. My big plans for an 'eiffel Tower' decor have not progressed. It's time to switch to a macaron theme and see what goes. Your suggestions are welcome.
Mimi kindly sent me a picture of this adorable key ring at Les Fleurs.
I could waft around the apartment wearing Marc Jacobs' new Splash for atmosphere, which I read are scented Basil, Grapefruit, Pear.
I am planning to visit Gerard Mulots' macaron cuisine .
For the macaron-obsessed this is a must-do.
Another macaron course is on the agenda. This time in Lyon at Patisserie Bouillet. I'm working myself up to actually make these cuties someday... Well that's my rationalization for charging around, pretending I know how to bake...
A BIG HUGE THANK YOU PBers for all
your terrific suggestion on Londons' tea salons.
I will search out some in Paris as well.
You've got me itching to paint cups and macarons again. This trip the paintbox gets to come along.
I'll be waiting on a few Paris lines as always - the perfect opp to check what Parisiens are wearing.

I could pretend and try out for this macaron position while in London.
It's back to the 'macaron' salt mines. More hard labor for Bear et moi. We'll be slogging from patisserie to patisserie keeping your hungry appetites appeased. Any special macaron requests?

BONJOUR MACARON TO-DO LIST!
 

Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster

Deluxe Tea time, 9" x 11"

I'm reading a thriller and there's no blood or guts like Girl with The Dragon Macaron Tatoo, which I dropped in the bin after 10 pages.

A wine expert told me about Dana Thomas' Deluxe:How luxury Lost Its Luster. I'm enthralled. It's the perfect summer read or plane read or anytime read and a page-turner. Deluxe gives you the inside scoop on major high-end fashion brands, particularly Louis Vuitton. Remember I took you inside the grand Avenue de Champs-Elysee flagship store?
There's a huge new branch in Bloomies.Photo c/o Elle Japan
Author Thomas takes you behind the scenes of these best name status brands we've come to associate with must-have luxury. She tears out the lining and looks inside. Things are not what they once were. Formerly family-owned companies have been gobbled up by the conglomerates and the picture ain't pretty. Certainly past quality for the select few has made way for quantity for the masses. Is it all 'Dreckitude' now? Read the book. Dana Thomas says, "Marc Jacobs is King of Paris fashion." I caught him leche-vitrine. The King with Miss Piggy. Another point Deluxe makes is the essential role of perfume to support top luxury fashion brands. Don't we feel great when we own a few ounces of a brand name no matter how tiny the bottle or how costly? Everyone on the planet knows SATC2 is opening today - an OTT excess of conspicuous luxury consumption if ever there was one. Nevermind that. W.H. Smith, my favorite hangout in Paris, is having a slew of fun events starting yesterday!
Dana Thomas will be reading at Cafe Etienne Marcel next Thursday. I'll try to catch her before I board the Chunnel. Elizabeth Bard of Lunch in Paris, Jamie Cat Callan of French Women Don't Sleep Alone and David Lebovitz of Ready For Dessert will be there on various days too. So if you're in Paris for Gawd's sake high tail it over there. It's bound to be great fun! In honor of Sex and The City 2 Bergdorfs has put on some splendid windows full of luxe items. Window designer David Hoey loves camels and they pop up frequently in the windows for no reason at all. OK so there's a camel or three in the movie. Cary's closet full of stuff that Thomas talks about in Deluxe...ahem One terrific thing Deluxe did for me was demystify the big name brands. I have every intention of waltzing into all the posh Paris joints and acting like I own the place. I will be FEARLESS! Very fearless. Well I'm gonna try. Famous last words...
I have absolutement pas no fear waltzing into any posh Parisien pastry shop. I feel right at home. I know I don't have to worry about being served up any ersats counterfeit macarons bien sur. Have you read this book?
Do tell.
PS *note Parisbreakfast has had a face lift-it's the REAL thing too.
BONJOUR DELUXE!

L'Epi d'Or Paris

Bear spies old charmant bistro, L'Epi D'or on 25 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau 7 Christian Louboutin frequents this joint! Bear would love to drop in for cote d'ageau etc.But Carolg, who isfearless in a pastry shop, is a total wimp when it comes to bistros and cafes :(

Louboutin's FAB shoe shop is practically nextdoor-no wonder! Whilst Carolg browses the deluxe pricey LB shoes... Bear chats up Louboutin's bear in the passage.
"Bonjour M. ours" Together they happily browse patisserie Au Delice de Manon on rue St. Honore. Browsing the terribly chic Frenchies,
Bear thinks he sees MARC JACOBS!
Gold earring - check
Burburry scarf - check
5 O'clock shadow - check
Looking a tad rough about the edges - check
Baggy jeans? A non, non
What do YOU think?
Is that you Marc?
Carolg wants to take a bite out of the Boucheron macaron rings which go for many thousands of $$$. A girl can dream can't she?

Meanwhile everyone and their mother is sunning themselves on any spare chair at any cafe available. SPRING has finally arrived in Paris!

At 4 pm Carolg & Bear go to Toraya tea salon at 10, Rue St-Florentin, 75001

To meetup with fellow bloggeurs, Rebecca of Fleur de Paris and D'arcy of Chicsetera. Both live in Paris FULL TIME! They talk blogger talk a mile a minute...

The wheels are turning crazily inside Bear's head.

He's furiously taking mental notes.

Just maybe he will start HIS OWN BLOG. Hello?

Later as night falls they meet French Girl and shoot the Paris vitrines/windows...

Paris at night! Does it get any better than this?

Especially Hediard's vitrine full of Easter chocolates.

It's a coup de foudre/instant love for bear...sigh

More Paris night at Opera Garnier...more sighs

At home the very sharp Sabatier knife does the job and cuts cleanly through the Pierre Herme macaron. BRAVO! The perfect end to a perfect day.

BONJOUR DEHILLERAN!!

Inside Louis Vuitton

 Let's go inside Louis Vuitton, 101 avenue des Champs-Elysees The vitrine are full of summer clothes. And bags, bags, bags. Note the visiting fashionistas in Galignani have the latest edition. Entre! There are many levels rather than floors inside LV - it seems like you can go on forever. Note the classic Vuitton suitcases hanging on the walls.

Even a fashion bookshop.

 The interior design is sleek and elegant.

Hatless chic Parisiens browse.
I am now hatless too by the way.

Marc Jacobs designs accessories, everything for LV since 1997 and is completely adored by Parisiens. Some Americans are loved in Paris...go figure

The BIG shoes here are covered with black roses. A red shiny trench has toil de Jouy cuffs and lining! How clever you are Marc.

This looks to me like a very chic maids uniform non?

A boudoir maids outfit..?

A mini bag even we may be able to afford. 250 euros-that's a lot of macarons.

If you are a VIP at LV, waiting for your girlfriend to finish in the dressing rooms, they serve you an elegant demi-tasse of espresso. Go up the street to McDo cafe to try their macarons(made by Laduree-Paul). These are not bad, (except for the too-sweet caramel). At McDo you can hand them a 50€ note for 6€ bill and no one raises a fuss. A BIG plus in Paris.

BONJOUR LOUIS VUITTON!