Caramels at Le Bonbon au Palais

On Wednesday I needed a pick me up.

Is there a better place than Le Bonbon au Palais when your spirits need raising? 19, rue Monge 75005

Plus it turns out Le Bonbon is a one-stop-shop for a vast variety of caramels. How did I miss this? Go spoil yourself.

I caught owner Georges Marques in the midst of giving a lecon on caramel lollipops. I did not know that the very best sucettes/lollies, Les Niniches come from the Quiberon in Brittany. How did I miss this?

Georges is a big fan of Les Caramels d'Isigny.

"Normandy has the best butter you know", he told me.

Then of course there are the caramels from Brittany where the fabulous sel de Guerande is harvested. Georges reminded me that Henri Le Roux invented this heavenly sauce, caramel au beurre sale, in 1977. Did you know that 'soft' caramels are the hot trend these days? I suppose it is nice to keep all your teeth in your mouth. How thoughtful of the confiseries. Georges prefers the traditional harder/dur caramels but offers both in his shop.

The newest kid on the block at Le Bonbon au Palais - caramel au beurre salé guimauves/marshmallows. Woo woo

I'm a fan of these because you can buy just one and get 4 bites out of it. They're an 1 1/2" square but they do not come from Caramel land in the North West (Brittany or Normandy) sadly.

I was eager to try out this creme de Caramel a la Fleur de sel from Breizh /Brittany (a hotbed of crepes and caramel). I must go there soon!

Back in the reseach lab this tasty sauce passed the 'Standing Spoon' test with flying colors. Not a good thing it turns out. I prefer my sauce liquidy like Le Roux' (sans Almonds) or Frederic Cassel's.

Here's something I haven't seen before - nougat CBS!?

La piece de resistance in Georges eyes is this well kept secret caramel of Nevers, Le Negus.

Surprisingly, it's a hard candy. But let it rest in your mouth. Once the outer shell dissolves, inside awaits a chunk of very soft out-of-this-world caramel. TDF (to die for).

The tin is traditional old French candy style and worth hanging on to (designed in 1904). You'll only find this candy at 2-3 places in Paris by the way. I dated a guy from Nevers for 2 1/2 years in NYC and he never once mentioned this candy from his home town. I'm making up for lost time hanging out at Le Bonbon surely...

Do visit French candy websites online. Every single one of them has a 'historie' tab with loads of fun info on how they started, where and when like Maison Armorine.

Les Caramels d'Isigny has this fab map of all the caramels and flavors in France. An essential reference for caramel lovers. They say Arabs invented caramel in the year 1000. Who knew?

If caramels are not your thing I'm sure Georges will find something else for you to taste like dents de l'ours/ or bears teeth - pistachio and melon marzipan with a chocolate almond on top.

Next week the Salon du Chocolat opens on Wednesday at Porte de Versailles. Georges is head of the new Forum de la Confiserie at the show - a separate floor on the rez-de chausée. Please stop by and say Bonjour if you go.

I shall be coloring my hair caramel au beurre sale especially for the show. Why not? If you can't make it to the Salon please stop by Le Bonbon. Say you're from PB & you'll get extra tastes I bet 👍

Ma Sucette, my lollipop

I'm a big fan of Karen le Billon's book, French Kids Eat Everything. It's on my Kindle and everytime I see a crèche weekly menu posted I take a picture of it, hoping I can match what these French kids are eating. Ha

But let's face it food is a big distraction. I've been assiduously researching the lollipop 🍭 The opportunities are endless. Lollipops/sucettes are BIG in Paris. I mean it. And Le Grand Epicerie is Lollipop Central outside of a proper candy shop.

You better bring your 'lolly' with you (lolly being slang for money, dough, green etc.). These Jean-Paul Hevin chocolate pops are 4,20€ a pop and no chance of buying just one. They are sold in pairs.

Not far from Epicerie on rue du Bac at Patisserie des Reves you can pick up a pair of lollies for a mere 4,75€ sitting in flavored sugar. Framboise peut-être?

The dark chocolate and white chocolate lollies at Un Dimanche are priceless no doubt...

At Epicerie evidently the newest, hottest thing are the brochette lollipops 🍭 

They may cost an arm and a leg but if you want to be IN in Paris you need this brochette lollie.

When in Rome the saying goes...

Remember the dear old Sugar Daddy from the 70's? For some unknown reason these have not hit French shores. Go figure.

American artist Wayne Thiebaud was mad for lollies 🍭 Is his name French?

I've broken down and tried a lolly or two. I like the caramel au beurre salé. I've seen lollies that are 'Madeleine' flavored. What next? Basic honey lollies at my marche and reasonable.

A rare occasion I've caught a person eating a lolly but it was at the Bretonne fair so OK. There was a guy selling ONLY lollies. I kid you not. The same guy turned up at the Agricultural Fair. I hope I've convinced you the lolly is an essential accessory when in France. Is a lolly 🍭 a substitute for the cigarette?

I'm working on this theory.