Le Chariot à Glaces

Yes it is HOT in Paris (90 degrees). But not as hot as July (104 degrees). The buses were free yesterday (so Parisians won't faint in the street)? What better antidote to the heat then ice cream/glace? 

On Saturday post-pool I went to the new Pierre Hermé cafe at Odeon, 125 bd Saint Germain. They have an chariot à glaces outside. All flavors are based on Hermé's macarons. I got the 'Montebello'; pistachio + strawberry (3€) 'Ispahan'; rose, raspberry, litchi is their most popular. Inquiring minds etc.

The smallest size goes down fast. Go bigger. Paris is 'Ice Cream City' second only to any town in Italy.

Paris is first when it comes to chariots, ice cream or other-wise. Tell me this isn't so. Daily I have been hunting ice cream. 

Sunday I bought small pots to paint from Picard,(no chariot) the frozen food specialist (2€ each). Their cerise/griotte studded with black cherries is divine. Blueberry/mure - a good runner-up. 

I saved my Hermé orange cup for painting still lives. 

Yesterday I made chariot de glaces rounds in the 6th arron.

Lots of chariot de glaces in sight.

I ended up with an all-pistache from Grom (who has no chariot de glaces). You're entitled to 2 flavors. I have not tried any other flavor in 12 years. Call me unadventurous. If Pozzetto was next door like they are on rue de roi de Sicile, their pistachio wins the day.  Suggestions for today's ice cream are welcome. Thanks for reading and sharing Parisbreakfast. Subscription Paris letters 💌, maps and ice cream chariot Paris Map are in my Etsy shop. With love💋from Paris🐻🍦

Les Invitees

Sometimes bad things happen to good people and they turn out not to be so bad after all.

I was coming down the stairs, all 115 of them. I decided not to take the elevator since I need more exercise and it was beginning to show...ahem. On the way down I noticed a nice standing fan in the hallway...hmmm

Still dreaming of fans I forgot to notice the last two steps, plus with a touch of vertigo I let go and went boom. Sprained my ankle fractured my fibula I did whilst dreaming of cool summer nites...hmmm

The next day Lois B and I planned a jaunt to paint in a Paris park, now out of the question. 

My treasures from Lois and Picard - frozen peas to put on my swollen ankle broken leg and quiche Lorraine to eat. Perfect!

The next day I'd planned to meet up with divine Mme Z. who prefers to remain nameless. We'd planned to go to a museum etc. instead it was tea at chez yours truly. YUM

I'm allowed to show her practical Timex watch. I instantly fell in love.

We're both calligraphy nuts so she saved her napkin.

Major Miam !

My sister is in town and had no idea I was incapacitated. She brought me what I'll wildly guess is a Camellia plant? You tell me, expert PB plant people. Isn't it funny I had to buy so-called 'flowerpot' insurance for my studio here.

We had petit fours with tea. Of course my sister and her husband don't eat sweets.

Guess who was left with the responsibility of cleaning up the plate. Tomorrow Susan Hochbaum, author of the fabulous Pastry Paris book is coming to tea. I asked her to bring a diet cookie please and then thought who am I kidding?!

Picard 101

Listen up PBers. This could be an important Paris leçon. If you plan to rent an apartment in Paris, even for one week, you NEED to know about Picard. Who wants to eat out every night?

Granted I rented apartments in Paris short-term many times but Never figured out Picard. I used to go in, look around, always when it was empty and think,

"What is this? A dental surgery? Get me outta here vite!"

But Bear and I know dear Picard quite well these past months. We're in there almost daily. On occasion twice daily just to check the ice cream case. More about that later...

Here's a special fav of ours - Alaskan cod. Just pan fry it and add their Provençal roasted vegetables (microwave em) and you'll be sooo happy. Picard's frozen food is like nothing you've seen in the US or elsewhere imo. They have canard if you've got an fore. The selection is humungous and pas cher de tout (cheap).

Tons of BIO (organic to us) stuff like these veggies under 2€ for a big supply of spinach. I'm addicted to their epinards branches bio.

How bad can that be for you PBers?

Clever Picard portions out spinach and other products into nuggets instead of one massive clump. They must love single peeps and couples. Personally this could be a good pickup place IMHO. I see lots of cute guys/beau mec shopping.

Picard is Paris' Trader Joe's (900 stores in France). They always have new tempting seasonal stuff. Whole cooked lobsters from Canada during holiday season. Coquille Saint-Jacques in the shell. All kinds of deluxe mushrooms ready for the micro. It's well known many a fancy Parisian dinner party got their fare at Picard. Chef Marthe said she was eating at her daughter's and asked how she made the main course.

"Oh it's Picard. I tweaked it".

About their ice cream...ahem

It just may be the best on the planet. I kid you not. Please try coffee/cafe (only 2.80 for a litre) and let me know. Inquiring minds etc,

They have 'dixie' cups if you're watching your weight and don't trust yourself with a full litre (2 euros). Vanilla with macadamia caramel is to-die-for. 

Top chef Francois Theron creates special flavors like Spéculos for 4.50€. Same price as une bol de Bertillon 🍦 you can hardly see.

Disclosure: I am not in the pay of Picard nor do I get any free ice cream (quelle dommage). 

Don't get the wrong idea PBers.

Bear's favorite bedtime reading 📕 Picards latest newsletter  Mine too. 

Good way to practice your French non?

"Palette de rouges, de jaunes et verts. Les légumes bruts ont la part belle chez Picard. Cueillis au meilleur de leur maturité, bla bla bla