Although may sound nice, it definitely isn’t a good idea to just have macarons and champagne for dinner, not that I’m complaining, it was délicieux! It was not intentional but sometimes you just follow where the evening takes you. Mine started early and led me from an opening with little chairs and little kids, then a little movie screening and live music, to the first evening of a series of parties in the new André apartment space in Paris. He shared his vitamin water, champagne, and his macaron collaboration, in an André designed tin, made by a “very famous baker, do you say baker?” They are red caramel au beurre sel and they are AMAZING! The salt is particularly strong on the outside and adds a really nice contrast to the traditional caramel macaron. Since they were sitting there all night I may have gorged myself on them a bit, meanwhile so many people were wandering around this small space.. Camille Bidault Wadddington! Vanessa Bruno! Jean Touitou, Oliver Zahm (whose photographs lined the walls of the space), Irina Lazareanu… and of course André, who was a very nice host. Above are some dark and blurry photos of my “dinner”.

I love these beautiful cakes I came across last weekend for Dorade magazine at OFR. They looked too good to eat. Who knew among all the other things that go on there, they have tea and cake on Sundays. David has been creating some vignettes of their events recently that you can view here.

Attempting my first pumpkin pie made from real french pumpkins today..

Go see this film Food Inc! I just went to see this and was surprised by how much I didn’t even know about, especially when I consider myself to be fairly conscious of my food and environment. Even if you don’t live in the US, it’s still really important to see what’s happening to our food here, and to help prevent it from spreading to other parts of the world. Especially in France, it might help to prevent the ban on genetically modified seeds from being lifted.
Also while on this topic, check out Eco Trip, it’s entertaining and fascinating to see what goes into making things and their large scale impact.

2nd annual Boudicca Cake off results.

TONIGHT at Papabubble nyc, check out my friend Erica’s opening for her collective crystals project.
Knowing Erica and the Papabubble crew this is going to be good!

Papabubble Presents:
Erica Browne: Collective Crystals
a collaborative growth project
opening: May 27th, 2009 7-10 pm
thru June 20th
papabubble. 380 broome st. new york
(between mott st. and mulberry st.)

The two most beneficial things I have read recently were an article titled Farmer In Chief and a book, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, both by Michael Pollan. They have very simply opened my eyes to what I am eating and really inspired me to cook more and feel good about what I eat. And while on the topic of reading about food, the most enjoyable book I have read that revolves around food is A Year In Provence by Peter Mayle, who is Jane Mayle’s Father. It is a beautiful story that makes you want to move to the South of France and, for me, eat things I would never ever normally want to eat, and yet also consists of a diet and food culture that surely would be Pollan approved.

Alexis Mabille is doing a special bow tie confection collection for Ladurée

One of my favorite places I discovered in Paris on this trip was Rose Bakery. I ended up eating breakfast there 3 days in a row it was so good and has such a great atmosphere. Everything there was delicious, they make the best scones and orange marmalade I have ever had, the strawberry tarts are incredible and I never would have thought a spinach and ricotta omelette could taste so flavorful. I came across this place from reading an article on Martine Sitbon and her favorite places to visit in Paris. While I was there I spotted Rose Carrarini herself in the kitchen several times. I ordered the cookbook by her, Breakfast, Lunch, Tea: The Many Little Meals of Rose Bakery online because I didn’t want to have to carry it in my already heavy luggage. It should be arriving this week, but I was able to flip through it at the bakery and it looks like it might just be my new favorite cookbook.

Apparently Boudica had a Cake contest recently. check out the site for more interesting cake submissions here.
I love good food photos, they can be so pretty sometimes. Even leftovers can be aesthetically pleasing and they tell such a satisfying story.

It has been officially one year since I started this site. Thank you to everyone who drops in every week!

My favorite place to go for breakfast is thé adoré, it feels like you are in a little french japonais country bakery in a miyazake film. It’s so peaceful and there is a view of a beautiful tree out the large window.

tempting us with even more beautiful packaging, apparently Laduree has come out with a line of 6 beauty products containing almonds which are supposed to be good for the skin.

I went to the opening of the candy store Papabubble this weekend, and I didn’t really know what to expect but that candy is AMAZING! It’s such a great gift giving item too. The shop is nicely designed and the candy is really flavorful.

Thank you Erica for telling me about this.