Rick's Place

Trois Poires, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

Two Autumn pears.



Rick lives in a part of Paris that's surprisingly romantic.



 The 13th arrondissement is the perfect artist's enclave too. Did Jean Gabin walk these streets? It feels like it.

Rick's stairwell reminds me of Chez Mondrian's when he lived in Paris.

The apartment looks so French. Artist Rick created the wonderful book, Paris Cafe: The Select Crowd. If you love Paris, you'll love Rick's book. His lace curtains are to die for. I went looking all over for them. I found some in BHV but I had no measurements nor clue how to figure sizes etc. I love the stripped French dish towels/curtains in the cuisine. An everyday still life on the table. *Note the pear tile. This kitchen painting spoke to me, "Go home and paint PEARS!" Did you know there is a fresh water well in the Butte aux Cailles park?

And the Molitor swimming pool nearby has fresh water - no chlorine.

La Butte is full of charming restaurants like Les Temps Des Cerises and tea salons like L’Oisive Thé, every bit as nice in a more homie way. Will you remember to visit?

Who is Rick?

The artist who sketches in Paris' best cafe.
BONJOUR PARIS!

Rue Bonaparte

Boxes with Cerises, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

Holiday over.Back to work.UGH Don't we all need a brief respite like a little cup of tea at an imaginary tea salon?

YUM A nice glass of champers would definitely blot out reality.

And just a tiny snack to go a petit four or two...

Religieuse Chocolat?

Or a Saint-Honore Rose-Framboise?

Oh Guimauve (Frenchie marshmallows) and pink.
Now where do we sit?
You pour please...
Shall we take a snack home?
Oh, Little Bear is soooooo slow. It takes him forever to eat one silly macaron! Can't take him anywhere
BONJOUR PARIS

Ice Cream Fourth

Old fashioned Sundae, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

YIKES When was the last time I had a Sundae.

The Fourth of July means eating all the ice cream you want, doesn't it?Ice Cream Trio, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

These days I mostly only get to "paint" ice cream. Though I did "cheat" yesterday...ahem I told myself I could have some and I bought a pint! HECK it was YOGURT ice cream. It even had LIVE cultures in it. Well that's what they put on the Hagen-daz carton. Hmm...why don't I believe them?

I was only going to have a "normal" portion - i.e. a quarter of a pint. Well you know how Hagen-daz tastes soooo much better when it's all melty. And who eats ice cream in a dish these days?

OK This discussion is gonna END right here!

BONJOUR PARIS & EVERYWHERE ELSE!

July Desserts

Four French Desserts, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

July is when we break out the whipped cream and strawberries. I thought I'd break out whipped cream desserts from Master patisserie chef, Gerard Mulot to put you in the right frame of mind for coping with Strawberry shortcake on the 4th, tomorrow. Searching for Gerard Mulot desserts is a bit like searching for a Paris apartment. You look in the window and drool... Then you go in for a closer look...still drooling Then ask the price... Then faint...
Then pick yourself off the floor and throw caution to the wind, rush to the cash register and commit to buy. Then eat it. YUM!
BONJOUR PARIS!

NY Fancy Food Show

First and foremost THANK YOU dear PB readers for your FAB response to my request for help in Paris. I think I've found some great possiblities thanks very much to you! Keep posted
Meanwhile yesterday I had to go THE NY FANCY FOOD SHOW at the Javits. I had to go walze through a gazillion purveyors of yummy foods and taste them too when I should have been perusing all your terrific email Paris suggestions!
Life can be tough as a food-bloggeur-journalist. Yep it's true. Now I'm a journalist because of you all and I get to go to these foodie events freeeee! Another MERCI to y'all. Oh yes I had to taste Bindi's Gelato for you...for research...ahem
Haloumi Cypriot cheese fresh off the grill - a bloggeur's work is hard!
Naturally I had to shoot these French jams wearing their granny hats...
And mini French jams from dear Bonne Maman...
There was definitely an "Election" trend going on at the show..adorable non? These donkeys and elefants were from MOONSTRUCK Chocolates.
Our dear candidates done up in hummos and super-life size!
French salted caramels from where else but? Chicago! They still tasted very French!
A flower trend too was going on in my opinion..You drop this hibiscus flower into your glass of champers. Add a bit of syrup...et voila! The flower was delicious by the way.
Adorable candied pansies!
And look at this cake full of candied flowers!
One of my fav things at the show was "Eco" bag owner Australian Belinda Tooze is demonstrating here. Light as a feather and you can stuff all your free show goodies inside and then later roll it up into a small ball. Perfect for the new annoying air travel bag restrictions too.
I didn't take home any champers. Just a ton of chocolate and..and..
Now back to studying over the divine Paris digs you all told me about...
BONJOUR PARIS!

Where Do I Stay In Paris?

FIRST of all THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for making the SUMMER WATERCOLOR SALE a HUGE success! Oui, bien sur! Remember we started filling up our piggy bank when we got home in April for the next trip - October 28 /November 11, just in time for the Salon du Chocolat bien sur!
Well the piggy bank is looking pretty good these days. We've even been celebrating a tiny bit. Blue Bird and I...ahem. AND we even broke down and we finally bought our plane ticket 

Now here's the problem.
WHERE TO STAY IN PARIS?

Sometimes you ask me questions.

Where's the best Paris tea salon?

Where can you buy the striped shoes I showed?

Could I please buy 2 pairs in size 8 for you and your mother, etc..You get the picture.

So I thought I'd turn the tables and ask for some help from you dear PB readers.

 I've been looking online and off.

 The prices bien sur, have gone WAY UP, like in the stratosphere...And the $ ain't what it used to be, bla bla bla...
I would like to stay in an apartment (a STUDIO would be great). That way I can stock up on yogurt and macarons and sardines in the fridge. Gotta stay on that EURO DIET after all. I don't need much space. Nothing deluxe PULEEZE. Hey I'm an artist! Internet would be great, so I can keep you all up to date. I don't care WHERE that little studio is. What counts is COST. LOW cost would be so lovely...sigh
 Please let me know if you have any good ideas. I read that Craigslist PARIS is way too full of scamers, so I'm not going that route. A hotel would do in a pinch.
You can leave your ideas here or contact me by email

. I want to get back to those Paris cafes. Then PDQ (pretty damn quick), I'll be home bitching about unpacking and Jet Lag etc. THANKS for your patience this morning and your tolerance for my plight.

I'm open to all your suggestions dear PB readers

BONJOUR PARIS APPART!