French Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Another French bone of contention today. I got steamed up over the weekend after reading Raids-Patisserie's evaluation of the best chocolate chip cookies in Paris(!?) You're looking at a Laura Todd 'classique' (burp) chocolat noir here.. Here's your basic New York chocolate chip($3.) from City Bakery. OK maybe the sugar is too carmelized etc. but the texture and surface is day and night from those Frenchie chocolate chips.
How could it be otherwise, when the flour, water, eggs, bla, bla, bla are completement different. Even the altitude counts I was told in France. Not to mention the chocolate...ahem

These sad looking samples were being sold dans le rue in Montmartre...

For a celebration of terroir/regional products. OUCH

I know the French love new trends and maybe choc-chip cookies are 'cool', but I'm very chauvinistic about these. Disclosure: I'm not a chocolate chip cookie connosisseur. I'll eat a chocolate-chocolate chip before I go for the classic. My fav is at Cafe Petrossian but they were cleaned out by 2 pm on Saturday (and they're a FRENCH cafe). Even mass-market Whole Foods cookies look better than the Fr samples. Wish I'd gotten the pumpkin-walnut...

Union Sq. Farmers Market gets them right.

Laura Todd is a huge very clever chain that introduced choc chips to France. I broil when I see their stands at the salon du chocolat or Galeries Lafayette Gourmet. Grrrrr

HMPH

Did you know New York cheese cake is big in Paris?

Fortunately our pound cake (or is it British) they will never get but that's another post...

Why the French can't be satisfied making the most seductive pastry on the planet..

Is beyond me...

Photo by Robyn Lee

If you want to know the 10 best choc chip cookies in New York here's a list from Serious Eats.

Au Revoir French Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Jean-Paul Goude/Paris!

I bought this book 'cause I love the cover. Paris graphics are terrific.

 No one does it better in Paris than Jean-Paul Goude

© Photo de Jean-Paul Goude pour Galeries LafayetteThis morning surfing around a link took me to a Galeries Lafayette page full of Goude..

© Photo de Jean-Paul Goude pour Galeries Lafayette © Photo de Jean-Paul Goude pour Galeries Lafayette © Photo de Jean-Paul Goude pour Galeries Lafayette

It's impossible to take a Metro without meeting up with Goude enroute.

© Photo de Jean-Paul Goude pour Galeries Lafayette
© Photo de Jean-Paul Goude pour Galeries Lafayette

© Photo de Jean-Paul Goude pour Galeries Lafayette © Photo de Jean-Paul Goude pour Galeries Lafayette © Photo de Jean-Paul Goude pour Galeries Lafayette

© Photo de Jean-Paul Goude pour Galeries Lafayette!

BONJOUR J-P GOUDE/PARIS!

Parisian Chic 2

Just before I traipsed off to Paris I told you about Ines de la Fressange's new book, Parisian Chic. How thrilling to see Galeries Lafayette do an homage to Ines and her book (called LA PARISIENNE in the French version). No surprise either. Ines is quite the icon for the French. They even awarded her the presigious Legion d'honneur. All the vitrines/windows were filled with Ines-like mannikins set in classic iconic Parisian spots like Cafe du Flore in St.-Germain du Pres...

Including the perfect classic afternoon tea from Cafe du Flore...

The iconic Parisian street lamps were filled with miniature Eiffel Towers and L'Arc de Triomphes..

The iconic street bench painted pink...

Chaise from the jardin du Luxumborg also pink and laden with l'aire du Temps perfume (is that Ines' favorite?)

In the video Ines was nattering on about Parisian chicness:

'On her hair:

'Without product, I am like Olive Oyl.'

The Asian press call: "What is Inès's favourite restaurant?"

I never go to the restaurant!

Who goes to the restaurant?'

On being recognised:

'People imagine I am always in a Bentley with pearls and diamonds and black glasses and Karl Lagerfeld next to me. And usually people say, "It is incredible how you look like Inès de la Fressange." And then usually I say, "She is much older, isn't she?" And they say, "Maybe." ' BIG MERCI PBers for being so patient and buying Ines' book when it finally came out. I'm still struggling with the French version and must get a copy in English a toute a suite!

As I was grabbing a pile of black clothes to throw in my suitcase, I had a Parisian Chic epiphany when I noticed I had one of FRENCH GIRL's cardigans in the pile. I took a good long look and it hit me. Such amusing details! Faux leather patches at the elbows! Little brass buttons down the front! Why the heck was my black cardi so plain vanilla blah?

It made perfect sense. This flat bow is adorable on the back of French Girl's Paul Ka jacket non?

And could the details on this skirt be more charmant? Are you getting it too?

A last word from BEAR (who is working like mad on his own Le Bearsian Chic book).

Think CHIC ET PRATIQUE PBers!

And while you're tossing these thoughts around have a petit bouche/little bite of religieuse chocolat why not?

BONJOUR PARISIAN CHIC2!

Petit Parisien Dogs

More dogs today because both Amy, the harpist and I would like to own one and don't. And because Jilly on the Riviera takes the most gorgeous photos of dogs ever. So I went looking to see what dogs I discovered last trip in Paris...
Toy dogs are definitely king in Paris.
You can take them almost anywhere...
You can jam them into a purse if need be...
Or hold them on the bus...
Or just drag them down the rue - dommage...
Larger dogs are the rarity in Paris - here a Parisien is being walked by two standard poodles.

Small dogs do make perfect shopping companions...

This discerning little dog insists his owner patronize tres rafinee Dalloyau in Galeries Lafayette...

Angelina draws some of the most discerning of dogs in fact...

The Dachshund is evidently the dog of choice these days...

Even as an objet decoratif...

Handsome and spunky, what's not to love?An OFG (older French Girl) prefers her miniature poodle, whose red leash smartly co-ordinates with her owners jacket and the red awning beyond...

It is true the small dog is easier to dress up, say in a scarf...

Or a fancy collar...

But we can not preclude that larger dogs do not long to go to Paris. They do, very much indeed. They are eagerly lining up and yearn to be seen in all the best places, shopping, browsing or reading Le Figero.

Has your large dog (or cat) dropped a hint?

BONJOUR PETIT PARISIEN DOGS!