Paris Turkey

Who says there isn't turkey in Paris? 

Just try Le Bon Marché's l'arbre Noel shop on the 2nd floor. Only 15€. A steal for one of these babies.

Most Parisians will be timing their turk-turks with a macaron kitchen timer c/o Monoprix 4,90€

And what will he/she be wearing dans la cusine? Maybe this.

Or this (Mrs. Perfect at the oven).

Driving...

To Grandmere's maison?

Much better to walk. The weather's fine.

Preferably in your Chanel pumpkin sneakers costing about 2 years worth if daily Haribo gummy bears.

There are plenty of pumpkins in Paris. Not to worry.

And you can eat yours inside a Popelino choux (cream puffs) 1,90€.

Want to have your turkey out? I saw this at a restaurant over the bridge.

Or DIY turkey (dinde) at home c/o Fleury Michon for even less.

I had the perfect chaser to a heavy turkey dinner last night c/o Fauchon inside the bulle (bubble) at l'Hotel du Collectionneur 57 rue de Courcelles 75008

A witty Bûche de Noël of lit candles and red Christmas balls called 'Éclat de Lumiere'. (Yes, that's a peonie petal lampshade in Fauchon's signature hot pink).

Inside: passion fruit, mango, white chocolate, creamy milk chocolate mousse, Tahitian vanilla with a caramel and passion fruit lollipop, make for a light, slightly acidic palate cleanser to a heavy meal be it Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

Naturally there was Fauchon bubbly served inside the bulle. Fauchon will do desserts for Afternoon tea in the bulle. I hope to try them.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING PBers !

CHEERS Carolg

Le Perigord à Montmartre

This was the week I went to the Périgord fete at Montmartre.

Posters in the Metro announce the Salon du Cheval, another annual holiday event next weekend looks very tempting. Have you ever been?

Hansel and Gretel time is here.

This week Thursday was Nouveau Beaujolais day.

Even Carrefort supermarché has dozens of bottles handy by the checkout with sausages and sandwiches to go.

Friday through Sunday was the small winter fair with 20 producteurs around Sacre Coeur. The Spring version was full of strawberries and whipped cream.

Each tent represents a farm and their specialties.

A walnut farm had tartes and kilo bags of unshelled walnuts in the shell. I should have bought them.

I did buy the chestnut grower's roasted marrons.

The best I've had and far tastier than those sold by street vendors on boulevard Haussmann (often cold and sometimes rotten).

I wish I knew more about foie gras. The tastes offered are excellent.

Farm goat cheese, some with truffles and walnuts.

Many of the farm stands have B and Bs as well, so you can stay and immerse yourself in the pastoral countryside.

I loved this humble mushroom-shaped wreath (in case you hadn't guessed) at the mushroom (cépes) seller.

They were selling the most intense and warming mushroom soup for 1€!

This week we're still having Fall weather in Paris luckily. Winter is holding off a bit.

This week on Friday at Salon Saveurs I stopped in my tracks at Maison de Chantilly. Butter cookie cones filled with freshly whipped cream. No, I did not taste one. This week I went back to the pool finally after a two month hiatus and whipped cream is off the menu at the moment. They will be opening a boutique on rue Cler end of March 2015...maybe by then I can indulge.

Also at the Salon this wildly imaginative cutup Swiss Xmas tree cheese caught my eye.

This week I got to see Galeries Lafayette upside down Christmas tree. Spectacular.

This week on Tuesday I participated in the Holiday Fair at the American Embassy. They took away my iPad at Security so I can't show you any pictures. Only this Google map.

I sold a lot of macaron and teapot prints at the Embassy, but I made up too many 6-packs of the Paris Sketch Letters, so I having, for a limited time only, A pre-BLACK FRIDAY SALE -$5 off with a surprise gift print included available on Etsy.
THANK YOU PBers!
6-packs are Sold out.
In October someone asked if I would have the December Paris Sketch Letter done by Christmas?
*I'm happy to report this week I got the December Sketch Letter artwork done AHEAD OF TIME.
It will be going out next week! Yahoo
It's been a busy week.
'Bon(ne) Dimanche' as the man in the elevator said to me today after I dropped my bag of apples on his foot.

Made In France Expo MIF

Last weekend was the MIF salon at Porte de Versailles (Paris' Javits convention center) and I finally went after looking at posters in the Metro for two years. These are some of the items I bought. Missing is the miel(honey) from the Ile de Ré and a bar of defoliating soap from Jeanne M.

The 3-day salon is strictly regional French products. 300 entrepreneurs big and small proudly showing decor, fashion, home, cosmetics and of course gastronomie. 

Weekends are when these food salons take place in Paris.

This weekend you can visit;

Le Perigord à Montmartre 21-23 around Sacre Coeur

Salon Saveurs 19-23 Porte de Versailles

Crèations Savoir-Faire (DIY) 19-23 Porte de Versailles.

MIF is at the same location as the Salon du chocolat. It's big.

And crowded on a Sunday afternoon, the last day. I thought I'd just waltz in and waltz out in an hour.

Ha! Not possible. Three hours later...Plus when you go the last day all the red apricot jam from Provence is long gone. Best go early. Did I say there is plenty of degustation (tasting).

My first purchase was this red current (groiseilles) juice. I simply can not resist a big bottle of home-grown fruity juice (65% fruit) especially if it's ruby red. This from Domaine des Rubis from Haut-Alpes.

Gorgeous burnt Sienna vials of Armagnac.

Regional beers on tap.

Like all the rest watching I am fascinated by anyone doing a food shortcut demo.

Somehow I buying this plastic tube thing (5€) unlike the irresistable pineapple cutter or veggie chopper of past shows. You place it in an orange or lemon and easily squeeze out the juice. I saw French kids walking around, well-behaved, clutching oranges and calmly sucking up the juice tube.

Chicken tastes from poulet de Bresse,the best chicken in France.

I tasted so much goat cheese but forgot to buy (end-of-show deals too) from Fromagerie de la Durance. Love to visit a goat farm. Most vendors have guided visits. Some have museums!

Another thing I should have bought - Cancoillotte from Franche-Comté. So creamy yet fat-free (according to Coco Jobard) but It's hard to buy something you can't pronounce.

I tasted this gateau Breton from Pont-Aven Sooo buttery and sugary. I'm always up for a taste at these shows otherwise what's the point of going? Forget your own personal likes and dislikes and go with the flow. It's the only way to discover new things. 

I loved this innovative children's playground equipment from Trigano-EVO. Many new fun products at the show. You sense the pride.

Cosmetics that make you look younger from Jeanne M (her grandmere) made from snail 🐌 slime of La Rochelle. She gave me a bar of soap to try out.

I'm mad for lavender. I have sachets hanging on every door knob and window latch. Plus sachets at my desk to squeeze and kneed (to release the soothing aromas).

They say Lavandre is a de-stressor. I'm convinced. I bought a spray from Les Agnels of Provence. I'd love to visit their lavender museum in the Luberan near Apt.

There is no French food salon without mountains of chocolate, this from Beussent-Lachelle.

Evidently dogs 🐶  are allowed. Do visit MIF next November. You'll have a ball.