Le Meurice

Croissants and Chocolat Chaud at Le Meurice, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

The old style china at Le Meurice pre-Starck days. Everyone needs at least one grand breakfast when visiting another town.

Paris offers many choices - few better than Hotel Meurice.

Chocolat Chaud at Le Meurice, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

I visited a year ago and was curious to see the interior changes made by French designer, Philippe Starck, best known for his New Design style.

Some changes were subtle - the dining room is lighter, brighter, but still just as grand as ever.

Even a new menu cover.

The hot chocolate is still 12 euros.

The roses are now deep red instead of pink.

The croissant is the same. Thanks M. Starck :)

The pots of chocolat chaud are HUGE! Too much for one person.

The pour in a soup bowl-sized cup...YUM

My dining companion wanted the works. An omelette and the "continental petit dejeuner". I stayed true to THE EURO DIET with just the chocolat chaud. C'est la vie.

Getting ready for the lunch guests.

After breakfast we walked through the new "Le Dali" dining area. I love the quirky Empire touches Starck added like this rocking chair - did Josephine ever sit in a silver rocking chair?

More unusual details, like these metal faux wood tables in reception.

Reception awaits you at the Le Meurice for your grand breakfast.  And thank you Danielle Centoni for featuring PB on The Oregonian FoodDay!

BONJOUR FALL Petite Deje'!

"La Rentree"

It's that time of year when the French talk about "La Rentree", a new beginning and a return from their August month-long vacance...

Time to get out your pencils and start sharpening... Especially if they are solid chocolate from Paris chocolatier Patrick Roger! "The it-accessory for Fall. A bunch of coloring crayons in black and milk chocolate, made with chocolates from 6 glam destinations: Venezuela, the Caribbean, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Brazil and Tanzania. In order to have an early feel for the next vacation while biting off the tip of his crayons..." More newsletters for you!

This time from Parisien chocolatiers and patisseriers(sp)...

Or if you just happen to be in Paris go to his new chocolate bar here -

Patrick Roger 199, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré 75008

And this weekend is Eclair fest again at Fauchon!

You can get Fauchon's newletter here. Mustn't forget Pierre Herme's not-to-be-missed announcements of his new seasonal collections!

You have until September 27th to taste the Millefeuille Infiniment Vanille Eeeek! HURRY UP!

Boulangerie PAUL would love to let you know about their 120th anniversery! Plus you can win a trip to Paris or a PAUL bag or something or other!!!

Do visit for a tiny animated Frenchie lesson... BONJOUR "La Rentree"

l'Opera cake at Sadaharu Aoki

Time for a little dessert isn't it? Like the famous l'opera gateaux.I keep thinking about pastry geometrie...

I tried opera cake at Sadaharu Aoki's patisserie

on 35, rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Sadly, I cannot report how it tasted.I was too busy admiring it's perfect architecture and lovely dimensions.

This cake was first created by Louis Clichy in 1903.
But Dalloyau renamed it after the grand Paris Opera
and is reknown for their version.Every French patisserie makes a version of this popular multi-layered chocolate decadence. L'Epicerie has a monster version.
I would love to figure out why a squared cake in the US connotes an office party birthday? Where is the panache? Where's the ganache?
Pierre Herme makes what looks like an opera cake but he changed the equation. It's called the Carrement Chocolat, it is not layered.
Inside is: (biscuit "molleux chocolat", creme onctueuse au chocolat, mousse au chocolat, fine feuilles de chocolat craquant) I see the word feuille / leaves, so it must be layered? I brought the petit four version home to paint...There's nothing like the challenge of painting a square object on a rectangular piece of paper.If you think you'd like to make this cake, Dorie Greenspan has documented Dalloyau's recipe in her book, Paris Sweets. Here's what's inside those layers:
1.Giaconda biscuit
2.Coffee syrup
3.Coffee buttercream
4.Chocolate ganache
5.Chocolate glaze
Not exactly "a piece of cake" to make!
BONJOUR L'Opera GATEAUX!

BONJOUR FALL!

Yesterday I went looking for the new Fall looks - hoping to catch some good street shots like The Sartorialist...haha
Remember last Fall I showed you some Paris looks like this fur shrug..?

Well guess what was in Bergdorf's windows???

And last Fall mauve was all the rage in Paris...

Erm...mauve has made it over here it seems...

Isn't the Trench so last spring? At least in Paris it was...

Here's something new! Chanel's ear muffs - can we afford these at least puleeeze!

Barney's was full of skinny legging-like jeans...

As was Linternaute's current newsletter, so at least we're neck and neck with the French when it comes to jeans!

Big grey scarf and ze jeans in Linternaute...

I subscribe to a bunch of Frenchie newsletters to keep abreast - My Little Paris is loaded with tips and loads of fun and comes in english too...

Right up there with it is Do It In Paris newsletter...

For strictly fashion news - Fr.Fashion Mag will do it in all languages...

Fashions-Addicts is another though this one will test your French skills...

The Sartorialist's new FAB! book is finally out for looks guidence on Amazon. I got it yesterday....

Here's my sorry attempt at a street fashion shot - blurry, from the back and &^%$#!

At least I always know I can get a good shot of some apples - Hey they're the new Fall look too...or munch rather

BONJOUR FALL!

"The September Issue"

Still from The September Issue

Last Friday (opening day) I saw.

R.J.Cutler's documentary, "THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE" and I loved every minute of it.The main diva is editor and chief of Vogue magazine, Anna Wintour. When Wintour says "No" you can hear it round the fashion world. As for Meryl Streep's character in The Devil Wears Prada, a suggestion it was based on Anna Wintour is dismissed by director, RJ Cutler,

"Their offices look alike but Meryl's performance is very theatrical and histrionic. She jumps up and down and throws her coat all over the place. Anna Wintour doesn't need to do that. She is a very economical with her gestures. It is in the nuance, a glance, but you know how she feels. Everyone around her knows how she feels." But the real star of the movie is Wintour's creative director, brilliant Grace Coddington, seen taking copious notes.c/o The September Issue

There's plenty of Paris in the movie, not just New York's Fashion Ave. I particularly loved a scene of Grace in the back seat of a Paris limo recalling that mentor and famed Brit photographer, Norman Parkinson told her,
"Never shut your eyes or go to sleep in a car, train, anywhere. You might miss something inspiring..."
That's my M.O. too. In Paris I'm too busy looking and being inspired every damn second of the day.

Still from The September Issue

I loved all the scenes of how the "book"/issue is put together.

Still from The September Issue

The constant editing process to come up with the most vibrant issue possible

Scrapbook upon scrapbook of color and trend ideas - it takes a lot of work to get that thing out. Inspiring!

Grace directs the fashion shoots and comes up with ideas at the last minute that save the day.

Still from The September Issue

And leans towards the wildly romantic spread you sometimes see in Vogue.

Care of Vogue Magazine

Grace is a mad cat lover.

Photo by Steven Meisel of look-alike-Grace-model

And formerly a Brit model, so she's been on both sides of the camera.

Care of Vogue Magazine

Plus she draws her cats and co-produced this fabulous cat book - The Catwalk Cats.

Grace loves to give the models treats at the shoot and there's a delicious moment where cherry tarts are on offer (in Paris bien sur) to a model being tied into a tight, tight satin corset - not-to-be-missed!
BONJOUR SEPTEMBER!