Sadaharu Aoki Macha

Sadaharu Aoki Macha, original watercolor

About a week ago I got a package from KAT in Japan full of Macha green tea goodies - like 2 green square chocolates I could kill for and these little faux green tea cones that are sort of chocolatey and cookies and...and... THANK YOU KAT in Japan. Kat has great recipes on her site - Please visit.

All that Macha tea made me think of Paris pâtisserie Sadaharu Aoki and his green tea goodies like this opera cake.

Here's a green Mille-feuille à la the vert

Eclair Machas lined up like soldiers.

Macha rollades full of a sweet red bean paste.

I spotted these extraterrestrials called the Duomo (after the Florence Duomo?) at Sadaharu Aoki's boutique at Lafayette Gourmet.
My resistance broke down.

A peek inside - a mousse-like outer-igloo with red bean filling inside.  AND don't forget the Matcha macaron stuck onto the side...heaven on earth. I'm having palpitations just describing it to you.

Inside Sadaharu Aoki's shop on 35 rue de Vaugirard, Paris 6è the walls are Mâtcha as well as green tea jam.

Here is the divine Sadaharu Aoki himself, offering me a macaron at the Salon du Chocolat in October - 

a day never to be forgot!

And here, his fabulous box of macarons! 12 to a box. All flavors are labeled on the lid. So kind. 

BONNE JOURNEE

DIY Madeleines

DIY Madeleine pans, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

I'm gearing up to make my own madeleines. It's about time I moved into the kitchen.

Sometimes you fall on something much more wonderful than what you were looking for, like I fell on this no-name boulangerie.

Peeking in this window, who could resist going inside?

Did you ever see a more traditional old fashioned bakery? And this is in Paris

Look at the lace doilies in the straw baskets. I bet in the French countryside there aren't places like this anymore. Are there?

The painted ceiling is DIVINE. And a chandelier too. Was this once a very grande boulangerie.

Wall flowers...daisies...

Divine bow-tied croissants. And did you notice the butterflies along the ceiling up above? Are these Belle Epoch style? What's your guess?Oh and they have macarons naturalment! THIS is PARIS afterall.

A lovely old painted mirror sign, as fresh as when it was first put up too... This is what I bought - 3 madeleines and for just 1.10 Euros Prices from 1890's too.

Here's how to find my no-name boulangerie. It's in the 18th arrondissement on rue Caulaincourt and you take the Metro: Lamark Caulaincourt
If you know of other forgotten but still wonderful old Paris boulangeries PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

BONNE JOURNEE

Paris Chairs

French Fauteuile with macaron, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

Along with all the macarons and pastry shops and French scarves and...and..and..
The French chair can not be overlooked!
You'll see them worldwide, but they look the best on their home turf. Does a bistro chair look as good anywhere else? I ask you...
Look at this unique love seat Philippe Stark came up with for the Hotel Meurice!
Two drama queens front row and center, sitting in an antique shop along the Seine at night...
This bow embroidered chaise is waiting for you at the Musee Carnavalet.
Is this Aubusson upholstery on this beautiful Louis XV armchair at Chateau Vaux le Vicomte?
I brought my new French bear along on the Chateau visit.
He adored the gift shop especially and picked out this number to try out for size when no one was looking...ahem
Another French chair - this time doubling up as a tiny Limoge box.
Back to realite at chez bear on rue de Buci, bear had to make do with his old armchair and even share the scene with chat...
WHERE'S MY PETIT DEJEUNER!? he yelled acting like Louis XV...
BONNE JOURNEE

Paris Books

Macaron Bookmark, original watercolor 9" x 11"

One of the fun things to do in Paris is haunt bookstores.

 French guides to Paris are bound to have more secrets lurking within.

I love this series by PARISGRAMME - not hard to figure out no matter how meager your Fr. + only 100 pages long. And they fit nicely in your handbag. I have the chocolate + tea salon of this series(6 Euros).

 I love are the CARNET DE PARIS by Equinoxe. Little sketchbooks of the different arrondissements in Paris.

I bought this cookbook with high hopes. HA! My baking skills are nill but the pictures are nice.

In French so you get a lecon thrown in.

Sometimes I take quickie shots of pictures that inspire me.

What is it about jam jars - Nostalgia for times past?

If I see an inspiring watercolor how-to book I'll grab a shot, this one in W.H.Smith on rue de Rivoli near Angelina. They always have the latest Brit how-to books.

The French version of a Jean Dobie book - I was hoping this could jump-start my painting in Paris.

I love the cover of this catalog in Galignani's on rue de Rivoli.

I bought Art Buchwald's book this morning on Amazon for $0.01. Long overdue reading it. Do you have favorite books you bought in Paris?

BONNE JOURNEE

Paris en Couleur - Hotel de Ville

Remember back in March I showed you this arresting poster for the Paris in Color exhibit at the Hotel de Ville (city hall)? Exhibits are FREE at the Hotel de Ville by the way.Well I did get to attend the show and it was well worth it!A photo exhibit celebrating the 100-year anniversary of color photography.
Since it was invented by the Lumière.But even more so a visual history of Paris and how it used to look... The pictures speak for themselves. Old Paris. With it's low roof tops and narrow streets.Hasn't change that much where Rick lives, in the 13th arrondissement - La Butte Aux Cailles But the dogs have definitely gotten smaller! Watch the video for more Paris!
BONNE JOURNEE