Bonjour Blanche

More Summer whites for the weekend, even if they predict stormy weather...Painting white objects is no piece of cake it turns out...Hmmmm I am up the whazoo with gateaux blanche here thanks to my greediness for mini this and that.. A Mozartian white wedding gateau.*Note the 2 shades of white - cream plus a little touch of pink - the heart. When there's a transportation strikes in Paris you discover new things! Like these fabulous and gorgeous ceramic pear sculptures...The pears sit in Restaurant Benoit's windows on 20, rue St. Martin, noted for it's turn-of-the-century Belle Epoque bistrot decor.And artichokes...This handsome huge snail resides in L'Escargot's window on rue Montorgueil.Another Benoit window display..
So what's the point of all this white?
Well that's just it! There is a lot of color in white. Warm and cool colors depending... White is the combination of all colors of the visible light spectrum.
Like these tarts from PAUL Boulangerie are warm in tone.And there is a bit of blue and warm tones in this gelato.
Gelato for breakfast anyone? I hope it's lemon.

White roses are the perfect color subject.

As Henri Fantin-Latour
demonstrates in this lush still life painting.
Talk about lush whites.

This Illy poster was outside my front door in Paris and I was ever amazed by all the colors!

Now it's your turn. Name some colors you see in all these whites.

BONJOUR BLANCHE

Summer Whites...

Is it steamy hot where you are too? Don't these tall glass containers make you think of lemonade...Yum It would be nice to throw on this Victoria Bruno drapy dress wouldn't it? It would not be nice in my opinion to throw on these thigh high white boots. White flowers are always summery and cool looking...

Even if they're faux, they still look cool and you don't have to get up to water them :)

Who wants to get in the kitchen and make bread, even if it is at Paul's boulangerie..?

Who wants to order in from Galeries Lafayette Gourmet? I do!

Who else is eating lots of cool yogurt these days? I make a smoothie every morning with banana, apple, blueberries and blackberries YUM!

On the other hand a pile of whipped cream even if it is at Angelinas does not turn me on.

I wish this cluster of meringues was vanilla gelato.

White chocolate in this heat? NO WAY!!!

I would love to steal the red berries off this snowy white gateaux...

BONJOUR BLANCS!

Gateaux

freefalling said the other day... You're a very cruel person, aren't you? Tantalizing all us poor antipodeans with the enormous variety of hot chocolate available in the northern hemisphere. I've just had to wipe the drool off the keyboard!

I thought I'd lay it on with a trowel today
Especially since I know you're still in your "jim-jams"...
Look these are "healthy" desserts right - all fruity...
And if you don't eat the crust, these might be considered part of your daily fruit and veg quota..non? We'll just ignore the glossy l'abricotage coating on them.

Ok Enough of these fruity desserts you say...I'll take my grapefruit in a bowl with a spoon, thank you very much!There's something here for everyone...Chocolate anyone? Et voila!

CHOCOLATE GANACHE TARTE!

This is the patisserie where you can find all these divine creations on rue Lobineau. Gerard Mulot is every bit as creative as M. Herme or J-P Hevin.
Maybe his gateaux look more traditional but they are right up there with the best!
And now a snack / gouter for the blogger posting this drool-worthy post..
Click on this picture and jump in. The water's (Tarte au Citron) fine. I'm going to the pool to work off these vicarious calories...BONJOUR TARTES!

Bandes Dessinée

Have you heard of Adele Blanc-Sec?

Have you ever picked up any B.D.s (pronounced Bay-Days)while in Paris?

J'adore Les Cupcakes!

J'adore les cupcakes sounds so...well, FRENCH!

I was the "picky eater" in the family. I refused to eat cake, including birthday cake and CUPCAKES! I mostly played with my food, lining things up in rows, making designs etc. How I wish I was still a "picky eater" :(
The French really do adore the American cupcake. Look at these unique cupcake/cones from Helene of Tartelette! Helene took this beautiful photo.
I found this interesting 2-layer birthday cupcake from Robyn of The Girl who Ate Everything.
I love the anatomical view Robyn took of her own birthday cupcake
I'm not the world's biggest cupcake eater, But when ParisBreakfasts reader, Paige L. wrote me, You don't like cupcakes? But they're cakes made for one!
You can put them on little pedestals with glass domes... And, they can sit out in view all day without going stale, so the anticipation builds.
They're art! So I had to go out and get a CUPCAKE for Gawd's sake...
and paint it...
Just around the corner IL BAMBINO has CUPCAKE ART
on their walls.
Plus trays and trays full of CUPCAKES.
I think I may be fonder of the Crayola birthday candles than actually
eating cupcakes.
I must admit they are fun to paint :)

BONJOUR CUPCAKES!

Patisseries Religieuse

After much research, I wanted to share with you my observation: the French are obsessed with puffy, airy things...
Firstly patisserie Religieuse- made of puff or pate chou pastry - really 2 cream puffs, one sitting on top of the other and filled with flavored pastry cream. The Religieuse got it's name from it's violet-colored icing matching the cardinal's robes.
There's a long tradition of "puffy" cuisine in France. Here a soup en croute..hidden under pâte feuilletée. Plus profiteroles, croquembouches, eclairs, beignets, eclairs, gougères
Height seems to be a desirable thing in France..
Not to be left out of the picture, French painters love to paint these puffy creations, like Manet's "La Brioche."
Manet was inspired by Chardin's "Brioche" in the Louvre
As well as what appreared on his dinner table...
And where would we be without airy, bubbly, fizzy French Champagne???
Another example of the French propensity for puffery - Marie Antoinette had a very puffy hairdo...
The master of puffy dresses = Christian Lacroix, French of course.
Here's an exam on French pastry !
You'll find out if French patisserie is
Your cup of tea/votre tasse de thé
and if you have CHEF potential!

Bonjour Pouffismo !