Shiny, bight Things (SOS), Carette

I was saying to Vicki (my NYC neighbor for 10 years)the other day, that I always seem to be chasing after some unobtainable carrot 🥕 

Vicki said, “But really, that’s already the basis of your blog, as you seek out and report on one “bright shiny object” after another (think macarons…)

Mariage Freres Tout en Blanc

Mariage Freres Tout en Blanc,watercolor

On the Monday after Palm Sunday I went for lunch at Mariage Freres in the Marais.

It was empty unlike the day before.

The sunny skylight, the ratan chairs and potted palms, help you imagine you're sitting having Afternoon tea with Somerset Maugham at the Raffles Hotel in colonial Singapore...

Not difficult at all

 Everything is ROUND and shiny and reflective. The Mariage Freres Naples yellow logo is all over the white, white porcelain.The teapot is a veritable mirror, reflecting back yourself and the luxe surroundings.

Mariage Freres White tea, watercolor

Their book "The French Art of Tea" is brought to your table so you can choose from their 500 teas. Aiee! Thank Gawd the waiter assisted and suggested a white tea to go with my salmon.

Here's the description of my choice on page 43 of T2223 DOUYUN MAOJIANG:

The tender young leaves of this tea from the Douyun district of Gui Zhou Provice are covered with a very fine down, and must be handled with particular care. Their silvery forms recall dazzling snowflakes. The clear liquor yields a gentle, smooth, sweet aroma.
A distinguished tea.
Who could resist?

I ordered the Assiette de saumon fume de Norvege /plate of Norwegian smoked salmon..

Very fresh, acidic, light and YUM!

A Matcha Green tea bun thing arrived unannounced with my smoked Salmon. Ahem...mushy in texture. I still don't know exactly what this was.

Did I mention that the Mariage Freres waiters are  very tall, very thin, and decked out in colonial-whites. Are they freres? They look like they've drunk tea every single day of their lives.

They were most helpful.

Bergdorf's Vintage Tea Shop

Vintage Tea Cups, original watercolor

It started with a rosebud...and I was thinking PINK again.

Plus browsing in Bergdorf's Vintage Tea Shop on the 7th floor helped, and I mean strictly browsing.

I fell in love again with all these pretty vintage china tea cups. Haviland, Limoges, Lord knows what?

Many one of a kind tea cups and saucers and some sets too.

 

Even some BLUE china! Did it all start with last year's Xmas windows at Bergdorf's? I fell in love ❤️ with this window of piled blue crockery.

My name is Carol and I'm a CUPaholic...and I'm not talking soccer teams here.

 

Glass Teapot...

Gallerie Lafayette Glass Teapot, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

When I visited Paris in October I had no intention of buying a clear glass teapot...

I drink only hot chocolate so I remembered my folly yesterday. I saw this glass teapot at The Tea Box in Takishimaya, my favorite New York browsing store...

I spotted these enticing teapots in the Gallerie Lafayette Gourmet tea department.

Who could resist? Only 15 Eruos. And perfect for painting still lifes I told myself. And I'm always interested in painting glass...

These round glass teapots were on display at the October 3-day Le Festival de The.

I ended up buying loose tea with whole rose buds for my glass teapot at Lafayette. The idea is you watch "the "agony of the leaves" as they unfurl while brewing in hot water. I left my glass teapot in the hotel room for housekeeping to enjoy.

And I'm back to drinking my hot chcolate :)