le Festival du livre culinaire

Vendredi 22 fevrier Festival du Livre Culinaire

The day I arrived back in Paris, the 22nd I immediately ran to the Festival du Livre Culinaire at the Carrousel in the Louvre. The same space where many fashion shows take place and the Spa fair. Of course there are tons of famous chef cookbooks on view at the festival. 

There were antiquarian cookbook sellers too, some of my favorite..

Like this home cook book

There are far more kids cookbooks abroad than in the US evidently. No wonder French tastebuds are advanced if they learn to boil water while still in shorts.

There were gorgeous cookbooks of every region in the world on view...

Attend any conference or fair in Europe and you'll see the attendees dragging wheelie suitcases. These are for all the heavy catalogs handed out. Who knew?

Any cookbook expo has to have cooking demos.

They were nonstop at the Salon du Livre Culinaire. Here a Japanese chef used every fin and scale in his presentation.

My favorite book of the show was this lush guide to London tea salons, Tea Time: London's Best Afternoon Teas by reknown food photographer Jean Cazals.

It brought back memories of past tea cups I have painted...

It almost makes one want to rush off to the Eurostar and head for the nearest afternood tea with all the trimmings.

Still one mustn't grumble. There are plenty of fine tea salons right here in Paris some with a view of the Eiffel Tower. All in all the Paris Cookbook Fair was a spendid event.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

The Angels of Paris Etc.

 We've all probably had our 'angel' periods. Mine lasted while painting Bordeaux chateaux and their baroque/rococco decorations.

 I have a feeling Rosemary Flannery's angel period lasted longer. She moved to Paris in 1989 and became obsessed with it's art and architecture to the point she created over a period of years her newly published book, The Angels of Paris: Looking up in the World’s Most Beautiful City.

 Who knew there were macaron angels(circa 1925)? They reside at 14, rue Monge 75005, formerly the boulangerie/patisserie of Benoist et Fils from 1859 - 1940 and an Eric Kayser. The inscription refers to pastry chef Bourbonneux, reknown for his macarons, new to me.

 I'll seek out this corner angel next trip, known as the Lighthouse Angel (1860) at 57, rue de Turbigo, 75003. One gets so enthralled with the shops at street level one forgets to look up. Or at least one did in the past. That's changed now with Rosemary's terrific architectural guide, arranged by arrondissement by the way.

 Naturally I was drawn to the angels with squirrels in Rosemary's book - there are quite a few - I suppose it's a size factor. This The Knight's Angel (1833) at 4, rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, 75004. When Rosemary isn't looking upward in Paris she's leading private tours where ever you wish.

 Flammarion has a new foodie guide to Paris this year

 Paris Bon Appetite could keep you entertained over the holidays

 It covers mainly bistros and restaurants indepth.

 My fav foodie-Paris book is just out here

 I've spent hours drooling over SWEET PARIS:A love affair with Parisian chocolate, pastries and desserts by British photographer Michael Paul in WH Smith on rue de Rivoli.

 I just discovered my own shot (with my old camera) of his cover tartelette fraises des bois from Maison Stohrer on rue Montorgueil. miam

 This book makes you feel like you just turned a corner and are there.

 You can almost enhale the scent of baba au rhum.

 There are recipes to boot. A winner all around for me.

This is my first '50 shades' of something or other but its wildly hysterical. You'll be lolling on every page I promise. The recipes are nothing to sniff at either.

BON APPETITE et bonne reading!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

French Girl's Books

 I sent a desperate email to French Girl in Shanghai,

'WHERE R THE COOKIES?'

 Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees.

The COOKIES were in French Girl's book case (still full) holding up her books.

 U R what U read.

French Girl reads many cookbooks including Jill Colonna's Mad About Macarons.

 I asked her about this one -
The Principle of the little penguin.

It's a book to calm you down.

Oh :O

 Fr Girl is a big fan of cookbook author, Sophie Dudemaine.

So is chef Marthe!

 Elle Magazine is every French girl's bible no matter her age.

Never ever throw one away!

R U kidding?

 French girls in general LURVE these aroma bougies/candles.

 Diptyque ('Baies' is Fr Girl's personal flavor).

 Diptyque bougies serve many purposes.

Wall decor for one. Along with Repetto bags.

No wonder Fr Girl had a fit when I tried to throw mine out.

 When the candle burns down it makes a perfect brush holder. I bet FG has enough of these empties to have a big drinks soiree...

 By the way, just in case you think I'm nuts for noticing ladybugs/coccinelle (bringers of happiness) everywhere in Paris, please note FG has one doing happiness duty here.

 Everyone things French Girls have so much confidence. That certain ineffable something or other, that je ne sait quoi and a load of other bla bla bla.

Guess what?

French girls read self-help books too.

Who knew?

 This one illustrated by Soledad Bravi tells you what positive words to tell yourself bla bla bla

 It's also useful to cut up and add to the decor of your apartment...

 French girls do seem very gifted at home decor.

Some people are not major clutterers
like some other people :(

 I think the French are more crazy for tea than the British.

I brought FG this artisanal tea tin from Tay Teas

Tea title:'Better Than Sex'
Ha!

 My London assignment - bring back FG a tin of Fortnum and Mason's Earl Grey Classic. Useful too as book ends.

 I'm sending French Lulu to Fortnum and Masons window for her birthday. That's a switch.

Store Windows #17

 French Girl has her own book out in fact!

 She shoots Paris windows one evening a week et voila!

All French Girls admire FAB icon, Ines de la Fressange. They need to know about Parisian Chic just as much as we do :O

Go figure...

reade more... Résuméabuiyad