Salon de la Patisserie 2018

Last Friday I went to the opening of the new SALON DE LA PATISSIERIE at Porte de versailles. Here's my haul of irresistable goodies + tons of envelope stuffers. I came home loaded.

This stunning tin i got for 5€ minus the macarons made by BRUNO LAFFARGUE.

I raided the Italian stand, AGRIMONTANA from the Piedmonte area. This wild, black cherry jam is seriously dangerous.

So was their panettone (the small one) long gone.

The absolute best chocolate in the world and a well-kept secret is Italian, DOMORI. Only selling 1-pound slabs of this amazing chocolate made from the best beans in the world, Venezuelan Criolla. I was chipping away at it, hourly and finally unloaded it on my guy at the copyshop. He will never eat bad chockie bars again. Ruined for life. This is a must-taste if you're lucky enough to come across it.

I deeply admired DALLOYAU's exquisite pastries like this cherry number.

And painted it later without tasting. You have to know your limits at these events.

The Salon was heaven for anyone who actually bakes.

Though there was plenty to keep snackers occupied.

Many, many free demos

And grand pastry chefs sharing their secrets.

Special small ateliers were offered by the Ritz, Fauchon, Valrhona chocolat and other top-drawer brands. Note the elegant Ritz chef in the background foraging in the fridge. They don't appear to eat do they...?

Have any of you tried this tumeric sirop? It looked so enticing color-wise and the packaging.

Meanwhile the rest of Paris was picnicking by the Seine. The ravaged grass yet to recover from our March floods didn't seem to make a bit of difference to Parisians, always happy to lounge outdoors and eat at the drop of a hat.

More picnicking in the adorable windows of toy shop, L'EPEE DE BOIS, near rue Mouffetard. I'm running back there soon as I finish painting a tiny enamel child's cup and saucer I fell in love with yesterday..more my cup of tea than cake molds truth be told, but if you love cake do plan to attend next year's SALON DE LA PATISSERIE by all means. 

My Letters, maps and cherries from Paris are on Etsy. 

Get French cerises 🍒in your 📮mailbox. 

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Bonne Monday 🍒

Aix = Apricots

This was going to be a post about the marchés in Aix. Instead its a study of the color apricot/abricot. You never know.

Aix is such a warm beautiful town in Provence.

There are many areas with no tourists...especially if you get lost

Just you and the warm, apricot architecture.

Une homme toute en abricot.

An apricot pup visiting SALON COTE SUD. Next year I will wear apricot too

An apricot wall inside Cezanne's house from a year ago. I'm in good company.

I fell in love with this apricot wall on rue Mazarine a year ago. I went back and its still as beautiful.

This year I painted it.

Voila.

The apricot view out my window, over the central marché at Place Richelm, after climbing 5 tortuous flights.

Rows and rows of apricot houses.

Rows of tarte d'abricot at Salon Cote Sud

These unforgettable, apricot figures line the Cours Mirabeau. A don't miss!

An exhibit of French artist, Nicholas de Staël's Provence paintings on 

At musée HOTEL DE CAUMONT. Plenty of delicious apricot.

Drop-dead gorgeous color blocks of slathered paint. My first encounter with his sumptuous works. 

On till Sept 28. Don't miss it in Aix.

Back out in the street - warm, toasty colors.

I didn't expect to fall for a Paul Boulangerie pot of apricot jam. After numerous visits, I succumbed and it tasted very good. Don't ask why I left the half-eaten jar behind, thinking it would be so easy to find in Paris. Not. Only mini-sized jars so far. I'll have to go back to Aix. The new June pique-nique letter is on Etsy. Get French abricots in your mailbox. Thanks for reading Parisbreakfast.  If you liked this post please share with another Francophile. Bonne Week-end

Salon Cote Sud - Aix 2018

Last year I missed out on SALON COTE SUD AIX. Not this year. And it was the 20th aniversary to boot celebrated with their own sparkling water.

Its always a bright, uplifting 4-days of color, color, color. Here BENSIMON shows they do more than shoes.

The architectural, decorative fair is always held in Aix's Parc Jourdan - Avenue Anatole France with 260 exhibitors onhand to entice you.

I fell hard for these gypsy floral prints.

From VENT DE BOHEME.com sold totally online. I'd happily do my whole place in their pink roses.

BLOOMON.fr delivers fresh flower bouquets with vase to your door monthly from the Netherlands lasting 10 days. I ordered one. Report to follow.

Natural fibers, straw used inventively

More color, more pattern. All giving off positive, summery vibes.

À table! Everything for the right Frenchie atmosphere.

The Talents area displays the latest from the hottest French designers.

So playful.

This year I was not going to miss out on the miles of savory/sweet tartes from JOUVAUD LA MAISON.

I ate lunch early to miss the lines.

A plethora of sweets, ice creams.

',

I loved FRUIDORAIX.com perfect illustration of what exactly the famous Aix calisson consists of - a base of 46% melon confit! Their candies have varied flavored icing on top - citron, framboise, abricot, pistache, cassis, all provençal flavors.

Like all of Aix, SALON COTÉ SUD's centerpiece in its refreshing fountains.

Aix, once a roman spa town, is home to over 100 fountains! Have you been? It's Cezanne's home too. A must if you love Provence. More Aix-en-Provence to come. Parisbreakfast letters, maps and watercolors are on Etsy. Let me know if you'd like to receive Paris in your mailbox. Cheers, Carolg