0 Paris Pop-up Shop

Paris Dreams Shop, watercolor 9" x 11"

I planned to open an 'imaginary' Pop-up Paris souvenir shop pre-Christmas....
I didn't get around to it, but it's not too late right? I planned to import real French bollards to put in front of the shop...
It would be nice to have a little cafe corner...
There will be FREE/gratis petit fours for everyone...
But you will have to pay for the caramels beurre sale
And Carambar caramels...
This 'imaginary' shop will only carry Parisien tchotchkes (under $20). It will include all the junk I meant to pick up in Paris but never got to, like these Comptoir de Famille hot chocolate bowls.

Any tchotcka with 'Paris je t'aime' on it...

Or Paris dogs makes the grade.

Plus those adorable street sign magnets but in bigger sizes...
Paris has much better postcards than NYC I think...

Do you agree?

Very girly...

Very pink.

I bought my ticket to Paris yesterday for March, so maybe next trip I'll bring back tons of Paris junk and really open a pop-up shop...

Wouldn't that be a hoot?

What's YOUR favorite Paris junk? Do tell.

0 Pain de Sucre & Kings of Pastry!

Tonight 'Kings of Pastry' will be playing on PBS...
To get you in the right frame of mind, total immersion in the amazing tartes of Patisserie Pain de Sucre...
Last trip I only peered in the window. I did not go inside.
Admittedly I was munching on a tarte citron from Cupcakes Berko across the street -

An act of betrayal and regret I relive every day since...

Pastry chefs Didier Mathray and Nathalie create shapes, flavors, colors and textures unique among Paris' patisseries.

I can't wait to go back and try these out.

Or at least taste the mini versions - 'tentation'/temptation, the perfect name for this tarte framboise...

"Castanea'- Sablé à la farine de chataigne, pulpe de pomme légèrement caramélisée,praliné croustillant, crémeux au marron, biscuit tendre à la châtaigne, mousse à la pulpe de châtaigne, glacage à la noisette.

Pure poetry no?

What looks like a mini version of the Castanea is really a nounours - chocolate-covered marshmallow on a stick.

I have tasted many of Pain de Sucre's caramel macarons...

Do have the right snacks while you watch Tonight's Kings of Pastry.

Bonjour KINGS & Pain de Sucre!