Carette

I HEART Carette Trocadero big time.

I was browsing Sweet Paris , when I saw her post on Carette I melted - remembrances of Paris tea salons past.

Lots of French people like to go to Carette.

Lots of French pols or corporate types like to go to Carette.

BEAR likes to go to Carette and what BEAR likes, Bear gets.

We ordered a salade vegitarienne.

Next time we'll skip the demi-bouteille d'eau and buy some macarons - a la prochaine.

BEAR nudges me,

"Can we puleeze visit the pastry counter?"

Perfect irresistable macarons.

Lovely paintable petit fours say take us chez toi.

You can sit in the main tea salon or the enclosed cafe area at Carette.

Or you can sit outside.

Stacks of menu books at Carette - you will never lack reading material at this salon de the.

The 6/9 Metro entrance is right there at Carette, 4 Place du Trocadero 75016

Don't forget your box of irresistable macarons...

BONJOUR CARETTE!

"The Caillebotte Brothers"

Before I left Paris I saw 'The Caillbotte Brothers Private World' at the Musee Jacquemart-Andre. 

Well-to-do brothers, Gustave painted while brother Martial took endless photographs, both recording daily quotidienne life in the mid-19th century, opening an intimate window into their priviledged Parisien lives.

Each brother visually influenced and mirrored the other's images. *Note the backlite silhouetted figure, the result of the slow view camera.

Echoed here in Gustave's painted silhouetted figure at the window.

Just like these two sharply delineated visitors at the musee Jacquemart-Andre. 

Two figures from Gustave's famous big painting, 'Paris Street, Rainy Day' in the Art Institute of Chicago, again backlit.

A preparatory etude/study for that painting.

Looking down from the balcon at promenaders dans la rue.

Again silhouetted figures contrasted against a light background.

And Martial's photo.

150 photos of Martial's were recently discovered and are grandly displayed actual size against wall-sized blowups immersing you in the atmosphere of their times.

Lots of eating included, like brother Gustave's petite niece licking out the copper jam cooking pot.

Or the family caught mid-slurp at dejeuner.

I loved all the glass in this 'Dejeuner' painting of Gustave's.

And was inspired to try my hand at some champagne glasses.

Champagne Celebration, art on Etsy, 9" x 11"

The Salon du The at the Jacquemart has terrific desserts. *Note the eaters are backlit on the terrace.

Miam-miam

Dessert Boxes(backlit), art on Etsy, 9" x 11"

~

BONJOUR BROTHERS CAILLBOTTE!

Nestlé Special at Salon de Chocolat

It seems that Nestlé has decided to let 'Alice' launch their new Special T rather than dear George Clooney of Nespresso. Nestlé Special T was launched at the Salon du Chocolat with these quite dreamy, surreal posters... A flowery fantasia of tea... A Panda offers flowery tea to all... BEAR is fascinated and wants to take Panda home. He likes the tea as well. The new gizmo takes pods of tea in 25 parfums/flavors. Selection rouges - oui absolutement!

Very clever indeed - the berries and cherries are inside the birdcage, whilst hummingbirds flutter and hum around dreaming of getting inside...

These birds prefer their cherries un-caged thank you very much...

But frogs don't mind a bit serving up cups of tea.

Move over cat servers!

Giraffes wearing teacup hats made of tea leaves?

Pourquoi pas! Too perfect for Easter.

I know I have a hedge skirt in the closet somewhere - must look again.

M. gave her seal of approval on the Rooibus Orange.

I am no tea expert but it tasted fine to moi...

Japanese green tea is of course included in the collection...

A cupcake made of tea leaves?

Non! Pas possible!!!

This is taking things too, too far, surreal or not!

One does have limits you know...

BONJOUR SPECIAL T!

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!!