0 Cahier d'Ecriture

 I'm always on the lookout for examples of French cursive to bring home.

 I love this postcard by illustrator Claire Franek.

 My attempts at her delightful curvy handwriting, ahem

 More Fr cursive practice...

 Lurve the handwriting on Chez L'Amie Jean's biz card - easy to bring home.

 Big fruitbox with nice writing - not easy to bring home.

 Adorable bonbon/candy jar - too cumbersome to bring home.

 Page ripped from Lenotre's catalog - easy to bring home. Shhh-they keep them by the cash register.

 I Love the handwriting on Michel et Augustin's yogurts.There was a promotion at La Grande Epicerie and I happened to sit at a communal table where Michel et Augustin were eating lunch. I was dying to say I LOVE your packaging, but the cat got my tongue. Go figure.

 You can find plenty kid's how-to-write French cursive on Amazon.fr and FNAC for kids #19 rue Vavin.

 I bought this cahier/notebook at L'Ecritoire but it's a counting book.

An important ardoise/blackboard

Announces gouter/snacktime 3-6pm

I won't forget this handwriting in Paris.

0 R U in France?

How do we know this woman is French?

Baguette - check

Scooter - check

Alice in wonderland long hair - check
+ Scarf bien sur...

The French start taking tests from day one.
Their whole lives are focused on taking their bac for college, so really it's no surprise you must take a test at Salon du Chocolat before tasting? Your skills of discernment will always be tested and sharpened if you are French.

We know this chef is French because his arms are folded across his chest.
True at times a French chef may stand with his hands on his hips. And on occasion with his hands behind his back. These are the 3 positions to look for when identifying a French chef.
No matter that the British probably created the 'Bed Head' several years ago. The French have embraced this sexy hair style whole-heartedly. You will pay good $$ to achieve this look...

I've mentioned before the French love a good silhouette. The straight-legged French Walk as well is illustrated on this tiny expresso cup...

Oh why is it when we name a street after bread it doesn't sound as romantic..?

The French can scribble a few words on a black board/ardoise in the street and get you drooling...

I love that the prices of French pastry are always clearly marked.

Maybe it's the law. There is none of the unspoken snobbery of the US, where 'if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it'. Prices are front row and center in France.

Yet you can go into a French shop, admire the items in the window/vitrine and find out they are not for sale nor does the vendeuse have a clue how you could buy them!?

How do I know this dog is French? You can tell from his look of discernment bien sur. His j'e ne sait quoi...

Well this is a give-away.

These are my stereotypes and I'm sticking with them.

C'est comme ca..

Bon Weekend PBers!

0 Where M I?

OK U got it.
Mignon non? At Monoprix with matching glasses, cups, plates et pas cher...
I love the reflection in Christian Constant's ice cream ardoise
The REAL thing is nice too on rue de Rennes near Monoprix..

I'm sitting in MIYOU - Guy Martin's quickie lunch place on the deuxiem etage 2nd floor in Le Bon Marche

And eating a designer layered salade of quinoa bien sur with shrimp + pomegranate seeds = miam :)

No ones going to mind if I bring out my tarte au citron meringuee of the day, since I bought it next door at La Grand Epicerie, right? Louise says it's No.#4 (3.60 euros) on the best meringue list. I'm working my way through the list this trip. Fortunately I've already eaten Patisserie des Reves last trip so I am a little ahead.

3 down with 9 more tartes to go in 10 days.

wish me luck :)

Rick Tulka, famous Brooklynite-expat cafe artiste waits for me at his fav cafe Le Select. Out comes the chocolate mac Louise says is the best in Paris (I meant to get the mini size but was trop blase when La Grand Epicerie vendeuse burbled something and I just nodded back oui) - quelle idiot moi. Next time I'll note the bag is awfully big for two little macarons. Rick asks me to stop embarrassing him and hide the mac...ahem

We both doodle in unison which is great fun...

Afterwards a stroll down my old haunt, rue Vavin...

An 'Older French Girl (OFG) leche-vitrine/licks the windows browsing...

Perfectly severe yet charmante clothes pour la bebe...

Pink scooters line up outside an ecole...

Giant pink meringues, formerly my dessert of choice before macarons came along - I love the way they crackle when you bit into them and then telltale crumble down your front. Chomp, chomp...

Pink ballerines - icon of Paris...

Only in Paris - DIY Whoopie pies in pink/rose

A final green tea Matcha domo dessert from Sadaharu Aiko just before bed instead of something pink. That green tea kept me up till 2:30 AM :(

Still...what's not to love about being in Paris?

Bonjour PBers!

0 MILLE-FEUILLE!

Jar O' Macarons, watercolor, 9" x 11"
Having a jar packed to the brim with macarons in your vitrine/ window is an essential in any French patisserie...
If your facade looks typically French this is a plus factor. Mille-Feuille has been open just a month but they're hitting their marks again and again.

All the little details of a French patisserie are there, like this ardoise/blackboard are present...

Handwriting/ecriture on the wall is tres correct.

Les porte-etiquettes/little pastry signs are plentiful...

I've read les bon reports on their viennoisserie...

As well as their namesake, the mille-feuille - this one loaded with vanilla beans. They sell the beans as well one by one...

They even have those little Frenchie stickers/auto-collant and pretty boxes...

It's always a delight to see the macarons in the case, freshly made, rather than boxed up and pre-packed. These sell for $1.90 each and come tres pres/very close to the Parisian version. For some reason New York altitude does not encourage the shiny meringue shells you find in Paris...

But the taste and range of flavors is excellent. Chef Olivier Dessyn earned his pastry bones at The Paris Ritz cooking school, The Meurice Hotel and Pierre Herme(!)

Triple Vanilla, Espresso, Pistachio, Rose, Raspberry,Chocolate Praline, Coconut, Chocolate, Passion fruit etc.

I prided myself on getting through last week almost pastry-free (except for les 2 croissants). Then I read about Mille-Feuille and ran out the door to tell you about it this morning. You can find Mille-Feuille in Greenwich Village at 552 LaGuardia Place (Bleecker Street). I suggest you run (literally) home and eat a HUGE salad like this. My eco-friendly petite niece, Louisa Shafia will show you how to make it here.

New York is overflowing with 'REAL' French patisseries but it's still New York.

BONJOUR MILLE-FEUILLE