Miss Dior Grand Palais

The announcements were up in the bus shelters, my best source of what's on in Paris

An exposition of works by 15 women artists, an homage to Miss Dior perfume at the Grand Palais from 13 to 25 November. Don't ask me why just 12 days and such an elaborate exhibit. I hope they extend it.

Dior's gorgeous textures and patterns.

The source of much inspiration

First day visitor combs her hair and arranges sunglasses on top of head in the mirrors. Look at the painting by Liang Yuanwei, silly!

Dior's sculpted gowns. He longed to be an architect.

Close up, the tiniest of flowers.

A mutual love affair between screen stars and celebrities and Dior.

Bows and ribbons.

Everywhere.

The exhibit is in the back, in the rotunda of the Grand Palais. The restaurant is there as well.

This massive bow by Joana Vasconcelos lorded it over the others.

The mirror placed behind helped spread its message.

Lights placed inside perfume bottles of J'adore. Meanwhile on the audio tape we hear Dior pronounce his great love for bows in any material.

So be it. A bow chair you can sit in, in A Room of One's Own by Nika Zupanc, honoring both Virginia Wolf and Dior..

The Dior pied-de-poule/hounds tooth pattern of the cage-like room is repeated on a tapis on the floor by Polly Apfelbaum.

Design sketches of the original perfume bottle.

The bow again worn aft...

And at the waist by Dovima with the elephants famously shot by Avedon.

I'm a big fan of illustrator Rene Gruau, perfectly suited to get out Dior's message of grace and elegance. Note the bow.

Swanlike Natalie Portman is Dior's face of the brand. She stars in a film especially made by Shirin Neshat. Along with other artworks there is Dior's own private collection of Picassos, Dalis, Buffets on a landing up his signature filligree staircase.
The Miss Dior exhibit is FREE.
Bonne Chance!

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What 2 wear 2 Paris Photo Opening

Yesterday was the 1st day for the Dior exposition at the Grand Palais. It's always a good idea to hit these potentially popular expositions the first day before word is out and you have to fight the crowds. More about Dior tomorrow.

Just around the corner a great gathering of people lining up for something other than the Dior. Any event at fabulous Grand Palais I'm game for, so why not go inside? Paris Photo is opening today through Sunday officially - 136 galleries displaying all manner of au current photography.

The classic archetypal Paris Eiffel tower photo greets you at entry.

Luckily I was wearing black last night.

This space is huge so there's a lot to see. Does it really matter what you're wearing? Even if tout Paris has shown up for the vernissage/opening?

If you have Rapunzel-like long hair (preferably brown) your IN. But really the fun is looking at everyone else IMHO.

Ex-pat Adrianne Leeds was dressed de rigeur head-to-toe black.

Boots matching jeans? Sure even if they're not black.

Head-to-toe red will work with masses of hair.

Masses of hair and leaves in this Italian photo. Why didn't I shoot the name placket?

Big dead leaf bouquets - perfect for a Fall expo.

A giant photo by a British photographer.

Still life photos caught my eye.

Joel Meyerowitz got permission to shoot Cezanne's painting objects and even take them down off the shelf.

Cezanne's studio by Joel Meyerowitz. Ah to be in his shoes...

One whole stand dedicated to Robert Capa's photos caught my eye. This riveting shot was shown at the Branly's Hair exhibit.

Another classic photo by fashion photographer Horst P. Horst.

The range is exhaustive here. I just dipped a toe into the viewing possibilities.

Big globes inside reflect the full November moon outside. If you're a fan of photography, people watching or the Grand Palais, Paris Photo is a don't-miss.

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La Vanille

Choux a la crème vanille but it's not.

It's a choux a la the vert, framboise by Laurent Duchene.



 

Where ever did the expression 'plain vanilla' come from?

There is absolutely nothing 'plain' about vanilla. I was given two pods to paint at Frederic Cassels. That's PODS not beans please.

I didn't know vanilla pods come from orchids. How plain is that?

Europeans first discovered vanilla in Mexico when Cortez offered them unsweetened cocoa with added the black pod or tlilxot chitl.to temper the bitterness. Mexico held the monopoly on vanilla cultivation until the 19th century because of the local Melipona bees used for pollination. Vanilla didn't arrive in France until 1812 and then was used only for decorative purposes. Not till 1836, a Belgian botanist, Charles Morren discovered by chance the process of artificial pollination. A t the same time a slave on Reunion Island crushed a vanilla flower in his hand and a few days later it turned into a pod. This simple manual method is still used today. Each orchid flower is pollinated by hand one by one. Who knew vanilla required as complex a process as wine or chocolate to grow and develop. More information here. 

There were quite a few vanilla suppliers at the Salon du Chocolat.

As usual I got sucked in and bought a glass tube of 10 Bourbon Madagascar pods(10 euros) though I don't bake at all, from Tahitian Vanille du Tahiti.

And I bought a Balsamic-vanilla spray vinaigre which I can actually use, though not this intriguing jar of dehydrated seeds. Must remember to take up baking soon with all these gorgeous ingredients offered.

The absolute Mecca for Vanilla is Epices Roellinger at 51 bis, rue Sainte-Anne 75002. There are two other shops in Brittany.

A whole floor is devoted to a treasure trove of rare vanilla pods.

I must go back and find out more...

The newest issue #10 of Relais Desserts is devoted to La Vanille to pique my curiosity even further. Many of the recipes are and the cover are by MOF pastry chef Laurent Duchene. Late yesterday I went out on a mission to the 13th arr. 2, rue Wurtz.

Searching for vanilla infused desserts though everything looked supremely tempting..

Safe and sound at home after surviving rush hour chrush. I must try to set out earlier on these missions.

I did forget to notice Duchene's baba au rhum graced the new issue's cover...hmmm.

Inside Relais Desserts this smashing photo by photographer Laurent Fau of a mille feuille sitting on a bed of vanilla pods.

If you have the free Relais Desserts app you can see if your local patissiere is a member and run pick up a copy of the latest (free)fabulous issue. And if you bake you're set up for the holidays: glace vanilla et soupe de fruits exotiques, Riz a l'imperatrice, cake vanille, choux a la crème, and crème brulee.  

Meanwhile I'll head back to Laurent Duchene for the baba and to Epices Roellinger for further vanille investigations.

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