Then and Now

Yesterday I went back to my old nabe/quartier the 19th for a number of reasons.

Where I live now is quite a step up...understatement.

My old stairway (52 steps that kept my derriere smaller).

My grand stairway has a 17th century history I can't begin to imagine and many more steps. I live on the 7th floor. Resolved: take the stairs more and the l’encenser less!

The old place was TEAL city.

My Brit landlady Rachel Khoo, of The Little Paris Kitchen fame showed me how to light the hob (a frightening mystery to me as an American).

"Now remember, if you go away 1-2 weeks, do turn off the gas" she warned me.

I didn't get up the nerve to 'light the hob' for THREE WHOLE MONTHS. I never 'turned off the gas' either. Fortunately I did not burn down the house

Once I got the hang of lighting the hob, it became my BBF. I adored that little cooker. So much better than the electric burners I have now.

Bear loved our work area.

I dragged an ‘objet trouvé’, a pink secretary chair found in the street, to the new digs. Bear 🐻 settled in nicely.

The old place had it's charms but I don't think I could have managed many tea parties there.

The new diggs are streamline. A place for everything and everything in it's place, if only I could remember where I put stuff. If you've ever lived on a yacht please advise.

My raison d'etre for visiting the 19th was to join piscine Pailleron.

This has to be the most gorgeous pool in a city with many divine pools. I grew attached to the 5 heated pools and local families attending. 

Now I have Art Déco 🏊🏽‍♀️ PONTOISE Piscine in - pas mal. 

I really miss Parc Butte de Chaumont just a few steps away.

So many wishes made here came true.

Lovely flowers 🌺 too.

Franprix next to my old apartment may be the ONLY place in all Paris to have chunky peanut butter (from Nicaragua no less). Believe me I have looked 👁️ 

I will never complain about living next to la Seine.

It's life-changing. An experience words can't describe. 

6:44 AM this morning the view out my window is pretty spectacular.

Big Merci to all who subscribed to the Paris Sketch Letters!

You've helped make my life in Paris unforgettable.

Rouge Tomate

I often passed by restaurant Rouge Tomate on East 60th street in New York planning to stop in sometime.

In Paris the color rouge tomate knocks me over everyday.

Justine Red carries bags and accessories matching perfectly with a mignon red V-W.

Your tomato red carriage waits you while you shop at Zadig et Voltaire on rue Saint Sulpice in the chichi 6th. Boy could I have used one of those yesterday...

Someone else is waiting patiently, his champagne bucket full, his tomato red bandana tied just so. Hey he's Parisian and just 10 months old - a very big sweet puppy.

I hope I make it to the Lucio Fontana exhibit before it closes.

Parisian kids love tomato red, preferably with strawberry sprinkles at Sargent Major on rue de Seine.

Your doudou needs a red shirt if you shop at Agnes B.

At Marche Maubert Mutualité heritage tomatoes are rampant.

Hand pick out the varieties and colors you want.

My haul cost about 2€. Now my NY friend Allie says I must only eat GREEN tomatoes. More antioxidants than the red tomatoes. Who knew?

I tried salade de tomate variéiee at La Rotisserie de la Tour. They're famous for their grilled chicken natch and part of the La Tour d'Argent group.

At marché Maubert pick up plenty of tomato red polka-dot dresses for not much more than the tomates on offer. Wear what you eat!

Or doll up as a bottle of pop in Coke's famous red. Wild no?

Patisserie Pierre Hermé has bright red in the window.

Inside his classic Ispahan is available all summer long. No vacation for this beauty.

What caught Bear's eye was PH's fabbie tomato red 'freezer bag'(sac isotherme)! A mere 12 euros.

It goes perfectly with the Decathlon watch Rosemary gave me after I drooled on it (around 10€). Good thing it's waterproof.

PH's freezer bag, the watch and red nails polished my outfit for afternoon tea at The Mandarin Oriental. The bag has a ziplock top, is waterproof, so ideal for delivering Paris Sketch Letters to La Poste.  Renewing your subscription. You can still get a cherry or tomato bonus watercolor. Why not?

I’m Carol Gillott, an artist living in Paris. Every month I send out beautifully illustrated letters that capture the true Parisian experience. Sign up to receive these whimsical treasures in the mail.

Thanks for reading PB ❤️

☕️ If you’d like to support my work, you can buy me a KO-FI here  ☕️  ❤️ Thank you so much! 🤸🏾‍♀️🎉🥂

Mandarin Oriental Paris

Another afternoon tea, another tarte citron.

This time at the absolutely divine Mandarin Oriental Paris . 251, rue Saint Honoré 75001

The hotel opened 3 years ago in Paris, one of 10 Mandarin Oriental hotels throughout the world. Their symbol is always the Asian Fan. This one specially created by Chanel's embroidery maison Lesage.

The butterfly is the symbol for the Paris hotel and can be found delicately placed throughout the hotel. It's a treasure hunt to find them.

Butterflies decorating various and sundry. Their sumptuous bouquets are by Baptiste Fleurs.

Deep magenta purple is the signature color theme throughout. All the main areas were created by Sybille de Margerie of SM design - an homage to the eternal feminin

As you enter you're facing a serenely quiet courtyard - the heart of the hotel. Parisians love their terrasses and this a special one. Easy to pretend you are not in the center of a major city of the world when you sit here..serenity now.

B

Everywhere flowers tie areas together and lead you to the next space. Simply lush.

To the very modern Bar 8 designed by Patrick Jouin, designer of Christophe Michalak's Choux d'Enfer near the Eiffel Tower.

The 8, a magic Asian number and an infinity symbol.

Nearby one of France's top, top chefs,Thierry Marx has his own  innovative, exclusive restaurant, Sur Measure - seating only 40 guests each night.

The avant garde interior is designed by Patrick Jouin, the space sculpted with almost couture-like draperies. Many fashion houses are in the vicinity. What fashionistas wouldn't love the Mandarin Oriental with it's sleek, elegant design.

We go up to see a room - more 'Blade Runner' than 'Marie-Antoinette'. Fabulous!

An atmospheric Dita von Teese portrait by artist-photographer Ali Mahdavi graces the entrance of one suite.

French artists work adorns walls, elevators, everywhere - here a Man Ray negative blown up huge.

The bedroom is lush yet so comfortable.

The bathroom...what can one say? This hotel is fabulous. I'd stay here in an instant.

Time for our afternoon tea in the Camélia restaurant.

We decide to eat in the serene, green courtyard

Time for an iced mint fizzy spritzer bien sur.

The special tea menu is served only on weekends by the way.(45 euros)

My afternoon tea companion, Swedish blogger Solli Kanini joins me in wonder. The attention to the smallest details at the Mandarin Oriental. We're in awe. We were guests of the hotel.

Tea is served uniquely in 3 golden stacked bento boxes. Subtle Asian touches are everywhere.

Much like a Japanese kaiseki meal, each bite is petite, exquisite, elegant. To finish, a pastry from Pierre Mathieu's cake shop in the hotel. Solli has a fresh peach tarte and you know what I have. We left walking on air. Heaven. This is a don't miss experience PBers. I'd love to go back for a cocktail and I don't even drink.