Les Lebey de la Gastronomie

Last night les Lebey de la Gastronomie gave out the French 'oscars' to the creme de la creme.

I was invited to come taste by la creme de la creme, Il Gelato del Marchese

Tasting is a serious matter. Attention must be paid.

Especially to framboise et pistache. I did.

I paid a lot of attention to the mountain of fromage. I hardly touched the stuff in the US. So funny

Stacks of fat pods of vanille

Rum infused with vanilla pods.

Le Beurre Bordier offered endless

Flavored butters.

Saucissons anyone?

Vanilla madeleine-flavored honey in portable pouches by Honly.

The old fashioned stuff still in glass jars.

British jams by Tea Together supplies The Ritz and other top Paris names. I'll take the pineapple canelle

Épices

Demos..watch and wait to taste. The angst is too much for me. I'd rather grab a fromage triangle.

What they were wearing - short, black lacy skirts with bare legs.

What souvenirs I brought home. I'm addicted to tasting spoons and toothpick flags. They mount up in the silverware drawer. I didn't realize I'd also grabbed a cheese cow. Oh dear. Tasting mania!

Paris in Bloom

Is winter still hanging round in your doorstep? Then you need THIS BOOK.

IF Spring is beginning to show up you still need THIS BOOK.

If you have a mother, you need this book. Georgianna Lane's PARIS IN BLOOM is simply divine.

It inspired me to look for Paris pinks. Le Bonbon au Palais confiserie has perfect pink marshmallow.

They have deep pink framboise chocolate fish! This is a first.

Anne Maisoneuve is ready for Spring with peony Ts.

I thought of buying pretty pink ranunculus to paint inspired by Georgianna's book.

Every picture is a painting, evocative, inspiring, dreamy. I was shooting in Paul Langevin parc under a swath of cherry trees. Bloosoms were falling.

Paris in Bloom has useful information like Georgianna's favored flower boutiques. Quite a few were in last May's flower shop map.

She likes Au Nome de La Rose.

A Metro poster announcing Easter egg events I found yesterday.

No pastries in Georgianna's book, but many how-tos like Creating your own Parisian-style bouquet. And a field guide to recognizing common Paris spring-blooming trees.

There's a DIY tour of Georgianna's favorite locations for flowering trees and plants in central Paris.

Bear and I met up with Georgiannas.

We were lucky to get her to come take a look at our tiny secret garden.

Who knew there were Camellias in my own back yard till Georgianna identified them?

I've been painting Camellias ever since. If you want/need a fabulous uplift, a taste of Spring, inspiration, oh anything ar all, do get PARIS IN BLOOM. (Link above) Thank you for reading Parisbreakfast. If you enjoyed this post and would like to support it, subscribe to Paris letters, maps and watercolors or forward to a friend. Cheers

Esprit Jardins, Potager du roi in Versailles

More Spring garden stories from the Potager du Roi, Versailles.

I didn’t inherit my mother's green thumb but who doesn't love PEONIES?

These are from a fleurist in Versailles, Arbre à Pivoines on 19, rue Hoche.

The past weekend was the annual 'Esprit Jardins' at the Potager du Roi in Versailles 

70-80 venders selling plants, tools, landscaping design, garden antiques and jam

Simply lush and the perfect day with temperatures in the high 70s. Sunhats and sunglasses required.

Exquisite prints

From the musee de la Toile de Jouy in Jouy-en-Josas. The time I visited the shop was closed. Such temptation!

A shop on the square was selling proper 17th century outfits though everyone was mostly wearing jeans.

Endless jars of jams in unusual flavors like pears with chocolate and lemon Cointreau. I am a jam fan since moving to France, though I mostly browse…

The official boutique at the king's kitchen gardens offers rhubarbe nectar. 

*Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturday morning you can buy fresh organic produce fom their gardens.

Rose 🌹 soaps along with rose syrups, scents & jam.

After walking around the huge square visiting tents 

You must go into the kitchen gardens.

Designed and constructed by Jean-Baptiste La Quintinie from 1678-1683 at the request of Louis XIV. The 22 acres was originally a swamp completely unsuitable to be a kitchen garden. Drained and with fresh soil brought in, La Quintinie produced:

50 varieties of pears

20 varieties of apples

16 types of lettuce.

Parsley, rocket, mint, tarragon & violets were grown for the king's salad. He developed ingenious methods for producing fruits out-of-season with sunken gardens.

A parapet walk was created, so the king and his entourage could survey the team of 30 gardeners at work.

RER C Train takes you back from Versailles -> Notre Dame-St Michel in a mere 25 minutes. Yesterday was glorious. Everyone was out enjoying the good weather & eating ice creams🍦 

Yours truly included (pistachio). 

Thank you for reading Parisbreakfast. 

If you enjoyed this post and want to support it, subscribe to Paris letters, maps and watercolors or forward to a friend. Cheers 🌸🌸🌸 Carolg