U comme Un Macaron

 Here's a presie you can give yourself this holiday.

From me to you.

 Course you'll need to be in Paris ahem...

 If you are right now you can sashay into any patisserie no matter how couture or grandiose and ask for just ONE macaron.

 It's true.

Here's living proof.
I went to many patisseries to test this out.

 What knocks me out is all these patisseries have special mini sized bags to hold that ONE macaron. Is that not amazing or what? Could this happen in New York? Not on your life.

 Frowns and serious looking down the nose is all you will get. But sweet little ONE macaron bags plus pretty booklets listing flavors with pictures? Not happening. Ya gotta buy a box of them..

 Extra points go to witty top dog patissiere, Pierre Herme, who knows you may crush your ONE macaron in transit. Broken macarons beautifully shot on the cover of his flavor chart/ livret explicatif. Pretty terrific no?

 With your ONE macaron you get a little bag + a signature napkin + a booklet. What's not to love? The French adore their peche mignon/quilty pleasures. Why not make an afternoon snack as delightful as possible?

 Here's an ancient cousin of the macaron Parisian - the old fashioned meringue cookie - just sugar + egg whites.

No resistance to such a pretty pink bag from Fossier. Besides it had the word 'macaron' on it...

 So there it is PBers. No need to feel intimidated waltzing into any darn fancy-shmancy pastry shop in Paris. It's perfectly OK to buy just one macaron. That's my gift to you this holiday season.

Who knew?

Or perhaps you'd rather DYI and make as many macarons as you like? Jill Colonna has a 2nd edition out of her FAB Mad About Macarons. It includes a troubleshooting section, a glossary of UK-US terms, and another new section with US ingredient stockists. By the way it may not say it's the 2nd edition on Amazon but it is. Jill says so.

Have a wonderful weekend and Holiday PBers!

xxcg

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L comme Livret Explicatif

 Do you have a large collection of livret explicatif?

 Do you even know what a livret explicatif is?

 I didn't until this morning when L. set me straight.

 FYI a livret explicatif is any kind of paper 'guide' or brochure that tells you about a product. It can be in an accordion format or like this fancy fan-thing of Christophe Roussel.

 You find them inside your box of Parisian macarons much to your delight.

 This one from Jean-Paul Hevin tells you of all the fabulous flavors you forgot to buy so you're wishing for more even as you polish off what you have.

 By the way Jean-Paul Hevin has some of the best packaging out there if you want your darling Paris macarons to survive the trip home intact and in lovely condition. It's true.

 La creme de la creme macaron creator Pierre Herme has been creating the best livret explicatif from day one. He understands we love to dream of macarons long after they are gone. He even understands how fragile and delicate they are and has plastered some broken macs on the cover of his wonderous guides. So witty. So wise.

Are there other mad collectors of these livret explicatifs out there?

And do you find yourself bereft of your formerly full fridge of edible macarons?

Are you now reduced to simply gazing with intense longing at little paper accordion guides with nothing to munch on?

Do tell. Fess up PBers!

Bonne Week-end!

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Joyeux Anniversaire!

Today is Norwegian Independence Day.

It's also my birthday.

Today Le Figaro was awfully kind to send me good wishes. Who knew if you subscribed you'd get a card and a virtual  'gateaux'?

I've been cleaning out my closets (preparing for Paris I hope...). I found this long lost map-of-Tokyo-workman's glove! Like a gift really.

I found  my lost swim ticket!!
Ages old but always good in Paris. Yay

Today I found this tax refund check in the GARBAGE!
Hello?

It will pay for my traditional B'day lunch - a steamed lobster at Chelsea Market.

I won't be eating my traditional B'day dessert - lemon meringue tarte

That will have to wait till July and Paris.

I'm on my latest regime -
The smaller fork/forchette diet.

Why is it the last days of a trip you go hog wild spending and buying yourself presies? Does this happen to you too?

I bought this adorable T-shirt at Anne Maisonneuve.

I've long admired the Red Riding Hood jewelry at Point Central on 47, rue Cler

After much leche-vitrine of the big red riding hood ring (20 euros).

I fell in love with the little Red (38 euros). Clearly meant for a 10-year old or a tween.

At my little diner party we all admired D'arcy's curly locks. Natch D'arcy said she'd like to have straight hair like Meg Zimbeck and moi. Meg  mentioned when she wakes up her hair is standing straight up. Me too.

I decided to do something about it and went looking for goop to make my hair stand up straight full time. I found Osis you sprinkle on your head like salt in a hair supply shop in the Marais.

I fell in love with the vendeuse's haircut.

She sent me out the back door to Zazen - 38, rue Roi de Sicile 75004 Florent took me right away and now my hair stands up straight all the time.

A great Paris presie!

Not to worry. I bought plenty of macarons for research.
One-mac-a-day is the rule (sometimes broken).

Today someone in Paris asked me to BAKE them a piece monte!!!

My Metro horoscope yesterday said:

Although each might require a bit of effort, several important objectives can be attained. Don't hesitate to go all out in order to achieve what you want.

!!!

I'd like to request a presie from PB readers.

Now I've spent countless HOURS on Pinterest could you please

'Follow me'?

I promise Friday will be an ALL MACARON Day!

It will anyway :)

Cheers Carolgxxx

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If I Lived in Paris...

 So should I?
I'm thinking about it seriously.

 In 2 days I'll be back in New York.

 Looking at Paris street magnets on the fridge...

 Instead of the REAL thing dans le rue.

 If I lived in Paris I could show you les fleurs grande et petite.

 And more French handwriting.

By the way my French has improved a lot. People consistently respond to me in French (!) I just wish I understood what they were saying%$#@!

 I would show you many more ballerinas.

 Once a week I'd shoot with Mes VitrinesNYC the latest Paris fashion windows.

 And shoot more Paris backs regularly.

 I'd shoot more architecture...

 And more reflections in windows/vitrines.

 I could do more dessert research at Angelina's and other yummy places.

 And more coccinelle research.
I know you're all waiting for that. But honestly is there another town on the planet so smitten with this little red and black bug?

 Thanks to reading Bringing Up Bebe indepth before I left, I've been eating more fruit compote...

 And a lot less sweets (with a big helping hand from The Power of Habit).

 I will never give up MACARONS!
Don't worry.

I am wondering how Weight Watchers France found me? They're bombarding me with emails!?

 By the way I've become a BIG fan of La Grande Epicerie Paris macarons.

 Ah...Paris dogs.
They would be on my menu daily if I lived here.

 I'd shoot more shoes on the bus and metro.
Thanks to Jill of Mad About Macarons for pointing out that I did this. I didn't realize...

 When I finally finish my book on Paris, the back flap could say
'she's an ex-pat who lives in Paris'.

Wouldn't that be nice!

What do you think?

Should I do it?

reade more... Résuméabuiyad