Boxology

                       Some days I after posting, I make mini boxes. 

In the Pro section of Salon du Chocolat -many candy and pastry boxes.
A pile of ballotins waiting to filled up with chocolates with your name on them.

These were all from the king of French Boxology, Embaline.
Also known as Cartonnage De Luxe (luxury box makers)
Here their heart within a heart for Saint Valentin day.More lovely stacks of candy boxes in cinnamon / Cannelle.
Do you think I was cut out to be a box-maker?

Very popular with the macaron makers are these transparent boxes - you can see the goodies instantly. Angelina uses them.

The newest box at Chez PB is of course classic green, and the newest critter in the house is amused.

Hmmm..the other PB critters are not amused to have more competition for their macarons. Do you blame them?

Just don't go away hungry. Here are some macarons to nibble on from Patisserie Stohrer on 51, rue Montorgueil.

Cacao Bar

Little Bear Hearts Hot Chocolate, 9" x 11" Original Watercolor...

Little Bear loves hot chocolate first thing in the morning...

I guess it's from hanging around me!?

If you walk down any rue in Paris hot chocolate practically falls on your head or you'll trip over tins of it. But here in New York ya gotta search for GOOD HOT CHOCOLATE! Not the stuff that's all sugary and comes in packets called Swiss Miss by the way...Ahem I go down to 484 Broom street in Soho to get my supply from Marie Belle.She has chocolate bonbons in beautiful boxes but it's the hot chockie I come for...More pretty boxes...There's even a delightful CACAO BAR where you can relax over your freshly brewed cuppa...
But I came to get my "Dark" and off I go... I will take a cup next visit I promise so I can report back to you. It does look very sweet.Marie Belle sells real French chocolatiers tooAnd even silvery ones...

Pre-Valentines, Marie Belle's windows were full of this lovely hodge-podge of boxes...

And more boxes...

And chandleliers and crystals and...

Other flea market treasures...

FABULOUS non?!

I'm big on the "Dark" though there is Aztec and a multitude of other flavors at Marie Belle - this one is in chips of chocolate and I've even seen it in shops in FRANCE!!! Wooee

Hmmm...I'm much better at drawing bears and chocolates than I am at drawing arrows, so please excuse, but here is our morning brew. I add Marie Belle to a scoop of Les Confitures a l'Ancienne (from France) and if I can find it some really good cacao powder from Michel Cluizel or La Maison du Chocolat if I'm feeling flush.. Oh and a cup of hot milk!

Et Voila!

Bonne Breakfast!

Pink Breakfast

PINK PINK PINK on a gray, rainy, chilly day. It can't hurt?
A stroll down rue Dauphine in the 6th, full of pink like these giant meringues. A pink wedding cake. A kid's shop with mostly pink things.
Boys, go some where else! Pink twirling silliness.

In honor of the Westminster Dog Show.. a very silly doggie in a pink chapeau..

From the Salon du Chocolat, piles of pink (framboise or fraise?) nougat. YUM

Doesn't anyone need pink ink?
YES!

For grownups on 26, rue Vavin in the 7th - Baby pink cashmeres from Eric Bompard - miam

Why can't grownups have bracelets like this?

Or pink purses like this?
All from the rue Dauphine boutique...

Well at least we can have baby pink macarons...

Well we could if we happen to be in Paris! Hmmm..

BONNE JOURNEE !

NEW YORK REDS

I went out to get a haircut yesterday and thought I'd give you

The New York Valentine's Day report...
I kept getting smacked with bouquets of roses everywhere I walked...
Here the classic New York guy with red roses trying to track down his honey...
Since I was in the neighborhood I stopped in F.A.O. Schwartz to return those two horridly expensive doll's house floral bouquets...
While waiting on line at the cashier, I noticed the guy behind me clutching an "Ugly Doll" I asked him if it was for his "Valentine"?
He sheepishly said, "No".
Then the cashier pipes in, "I wish I had a Valentine...sigh".
The other cashier said, "OK, I'll be your valentine, Robert!"
"Then buy me an $80 box of Godiva Chocolates puleeze?"

Godiva on Lexington Avenue was jam-packed as always with last minute valentine-givers...

Leonidas on Madison Avenue was chocolate-a-block with buyers...

Piles of pretty red Leonidas boxes everywhere!

And on Park Avenue, the most pricy chocolatier of all New York - Pierre Marcolini

Was hand-selecting each precious gem of a chocolate for their line of buyers...

I have to admit their jewels are pretty damn yummy...

But yours truly, really HEARTS those red jelly hearts...

In this kind of candy store...

Little Bear and I are on the same wave length at heart, when it comes to Valentine's candies...

Swedish Raspberries!

Is there anything better?

What's your favorite Valentine candy?