La Croix Verte

Have you also wondered why ALL pharmacies in Paris are green/verte? Have you found taking pictures of them addictive?

Bonjour Fraises!

Au nom de la Rose Sketch, 6" x 9"

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Since I cannot yet make it out to sketch in New York's Frenchie pastry salons (with my whacked back) I thought at the very least I would bring in a few elements to help get me into fighting shape for mid-March Paris...

i.e. The rose and strawberry still life setup.

A macaron candle comes in handy at last!

I must be ready to face up to Paris' best tartes! Strawberries have no season in Paris... Just as roses can ALWAYS be found at Au Nom de la Rose.

French Strawberry Sketch, 6" x 9"

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Plate of Fraise sketch, 6" x 9"

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Where aire you look...

Les fraises abound.

Fantin-Latour certainement knew how to paint up a plate full of fraises...

Artist shop, Sennelier too is fond of the almight red berry...

But beware the gigantic Fraise-Tagada - faux strawberry-flavored in name only!

BONJOUR FRAISES!

Rose Petal Tea

Comptoir Richard Rose Tea, watercolor  9"x11"

Friday we were wiggling our toes in the hot pool so we forgot to post.

But never mind BEAR has been busy busy busy. Busy making setups for me to paint. Bleu willow Rose Tea, watercolor, 9" x 11"
~ Marie wanted to know where the rose bud tea came from.

I see the rose tea and it looks like a bunch of tiny rosebuds bunched together. Is it one of those flower teas or is it actually roses that open to make the tea?
It's from Fauchon in Paris and I have an old jar of withered buds still. Comptoir Richard has rose bud tea too.

Pink Peony, 9" x 11"

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Red Rose macaron, 9" x 11"

We plan to do more 'rose' shopping whilst in Paris next month.BONJOUR ROSE PETAL TEA!

 

More on Tarte au Citron

                  the winner of the best tarte au citron in Paris is PIERRE HERME!

I thought Gerard Mulot would be the best with his flat lake of a tarte.

I was convinced one should not desecrate a citron tarte's smooth surface. Boy was I WRONG!

Those generous pieces of lemon zest in Pierre Herme's tarte are NOT candied, but super tart. This tarte was the tartest of all. And the most lemony. Herme calls his tarte, "Tarte Citron au Citron" with good reason.

                   Tarte au Citron,watercolor 9" x 11"

Many of the test tarts were too darn sweet even if pretty. Where's the lemon?  Quite a few tasted too much of the lemon curd jar (Paul's). Some had almost no lemony taste at all (Saduharu Aoki).

Here the results of Gerard Mulot vs. Pierre Herme (on the right). The picture speaks a thousand words.

But the tarte au citron contest is not over!

Talk about pastry geometry. Look at this squared lemon tart from Fauchon. I have more research to do. For other Tarte au Citron obsessed fools out there:

Laura Mercier Tarte au Citron Body and Bath Collection

The Club Citron (even has a lemon diet, loads of lemon photos and of course a recipe

Bonne Journee du Citron!

French Bleus

Russian cup with blue jug,9" x 11"

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I'm on a blue milk jug painting jag.

I got this blue crockery jug at a vintage kitchen shop in the Marais.

Cuisinophilie on 28, rue du Bourg Tibourg

They have a plethora of French blue items.

And they are right nextdoor to Mariage Freres!

Chocolat Marquise de Sevigne is also gaga for true French bleu.

Naturalement chocolatier Jean-Paul Hevin is Parisien King of French Ultramarine bleu!

Jean-Paul Hevin chocolate box, watercolor on Etsy, 9" x 11"

His metal boxes make perfect gifts and last forever true bleu.

Speaking of French bleus - this is me gazing out the living room window wistfully at the junk food/candy store on the corner. I have ventured out to the postbox to mail off your paintings. Fortunately no junk food urges overtook me at the time.

Not to worry.

I booked my seat to Paris/Venice for mid-March yesterday.

One MUST think positive!!

Confit de Rose, watercolor on Etsy, 9" x 11"

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So everything is coming up roses...or it will be!

BONJOUR FRENCH BLEUS!

Fetish Ispahan!

Pierre Herme's Pink Ispahan, Watercolor, 9" x 11"

THANK YOU for all the well-wishes To Get In The Pink of Health. I've got PINK on the brain.

So much 'pink' to taste. Herme even has miniature pink gateaux. Along with le monstre Ispahan.

Et bien sur les individuals.

Beaucoup du individuals.

But it only takes one.

This Ispahan verrine is toooo pretty!

Paris taught me to love roses. They're on almost every street corner. Merci au Nom de la Rose. French Pink Tea, watercolor 9" x 11"

One visit I went wild and bought everything rose in sight. The In The Pink Report:

My MRI says I have quite a few herniated disks but,  no surgery required.

GRAND MERCI!

I am crazy for my new physical therapist - he gave me ultra-sound/accupressure/massage + heat yesterday.
I feel newborn.
I'm feeling much better thanks to all your kind words.

BONJOUR FETISH ISPAHAN!