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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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M comme Materials de Cuisine

 Even if you're baking-intolerant it's fun to hang out in Paris's pastry supply area 75001. The amusing kitchen gadgets/materials de cuisine are endless.

 Though you probably won't have to do thumbnails to get in...

 A.Simon is one of the top purveyors but you don't want to show up just as their closing their doors.

 Most shop are clustered around rue Montorgueil. Not the 'golden triangle' but maybe the 'panhandle triangle'.

 Mora is top drawer for pastry bakers but it was closed too.

 G.Detou was open. Yahoo

 You want bleu macarons?
You want your macarons to smell of pineapple? You'll find aromas to scent your meringue shells.
Do you prefer to use liquid coloring or powdered? Some say the liquid changes your batter's consistency too much..

 Have you ever tasted macarons a l'ancienne? Old fashioned macarons are available at G.Detou.

 La Bovida is a higher-end supplier of kitchen equipment/materials de cuisine

 They've been doing it since 1921.

 E.Dehillerin is the classic and oldest cuisine shop in the area

 They have every size French whip under the sun - an essential to sucessful macaron making.

And peraps every size duck too. Certainly the essential red checked scarf if you want to look dashing in the kitchen.

Bear wants to look dashing when he becomes a Parisien cafe waiter. You can find that gear as well nearby on rue Saint Etienne.
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La Cite de L'Ecrit et des Metiers du Livre

 September is the time of the French la rentree - pommes for the teacher, pens/plumes, notebooks/cahiers, schoolbooks, you name it...

 Darling Biff insisted on taking myself and Tout Sweet author, Karen Wheeler(his mum) to La Cite de L'Ecrit et des Metiers du Livre - sort of a prep trip for La Rentree.

 It's in the vieille ville of Montmorillon so a pedestrian steep walk up hill and down cobblestone allies was on the menu.

 With Biff leading the way our first stop was La Plume

 An adorable hole-in-the-wall calligraphie shop

 A plethora of plumes/pen points on offer

 And even plume-feather earings!

 Biff is rather bookish you know since his mom is an author of three books so he was in seventh heaven in this old bookish town

 Book shops right and left

 Everything very artsie

 Especially the cobalt bleu art shop

 In the street nearby a mini puce/flea

 What should you wear when visiting a small town in the Poitou-Charente? A flowered chinzt pinafore of course accompanied by a floppy straw hat.

 Biff and Karen take in the view on the vieux pont...

 Quite enchanting...

4:30 pm
C'est l'heure de gouter (snack time!)
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Painting Biff

 Painting darling Biff was no piece of cake it turns out. It took all day to get him right.

 You'd think hanging around Biff for a bit it would make it a cinch.

 NO WAY!

 My 1st go at Biff flopped miserably

 Too many teeth and lacking in oumph perhaps?
 Back to sketching thumbnails (4" x 5 1/2"). Somehow I'm never ready for Prime Time if I skip the 'thumbnail' step. It happens every time.

 Jane's Kumquat and Persimmon were a tad easier. Aren't they adorb?

 They required an Eiffel Tower background, ahem.

 Dempsey looks very regal.

 He deserves to go to Paris bien sur.

 As do Dianne's sweet pups.

 Whether I'm painting Corky in Paris...

 Or Tippy in Hawaii, I like to know your dog's name. It just works that way, don't ask me why. Getting on first-name basis helps the painting for some reason...

Biff is waiting for his watercolor I guess...
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