Salon du...Designers!

These are the shoes of a brilliant designer. And a brilliant chocolatier, Jean-Paul Hevin.

Every detail is carefully considered. *When M. Hevin signs his new hot chocolate book, he uses his pen backside up (it's a Muji pen btw).

J-P Hevin could not be more charming and he giggled when I asked whose elegant shoes he was wearing.

"Zara" he whispered and smiled.

Naturalement post-Salon I ran to Zara to find the same baskets, but non plus/no more. I bought a wooly scarf and matching bonnet instead.

Hevin's stand at the salon is like a giant chocolate bar/tablette.

Has Hevin a propensity for grids? His hot chocolate won best in Le Figaro. You don't have to be French to figure out his recipes. This has to be easier than $#@! macarons.

But how to decide what to buy?

Another top Parisien chocolatier-designer, Sadaharu Aoki.

I love his egg-shaped packaging.

 The Pantone-colored chocolate bonbons.

Who would not kill for an ultra chic library of chocolate bars from Bouillet-Lyon?

Or super elegant tablettes from Jean-Charles Rouchoux

I loved these witty macaron boxes from Arnaud Larhrer.

 Salon du Chocolat 2011 was an homage to maitre chocolatier Robert Linxe of La Maison du Chocolat - the first to bring Parisien couture design to chocolate in 1977.

In the end it's all about how the chocolate tastes in your mouth no matter what the design.

 We're all 5 years old when confronted with incredible delights the annual Paris Salon du Chocolat offers.

 Now I'm listening to Graham Robb's completely engaging and informative History of Parisians - the perfect intimate backdrop to a trip to Paris.

Bonjour All French Chocolatiers!

Salon du...MACARONS!

There were many macarons at this years Salon du Chocolat. True these are chocolate miniatures. The box is 4" square and I should have bought it. This tiny box will make me return to the salon.

I loved Gregory Renard - Cacao et Macarons tall colorful piece de monte... I bought so many boxes the fridge is overflowing

Pierre Marcolini designed such a clever box - no way can your macarons break in this box!

Sebastien Bouillet - Lyon had lush chocolate covered macarons...

If you're going to visit Salon du Chocolat (but really macarons) there's no better companion than Jill Colonna, macaron expert par excellence.

Bleu macarons!

I bought these from Un Dimanche a Paris...

I bought this adorable box - original style macarons from the Ardeche.

I would buy cellophane covering if I could...

These too...

A trendy slate tray with faux macarons - miam

MOF patissier Arnaud Lahrer made a chocolate gown covered with macarons.

I've no idea who made this edible macaron necklace but I want it!

I did buy this charming macaron charm bracelet.

Monkey see, monkey want.

Pssst..word out is the chou/creme puff is the next big thing in Paris. Will 2012 be the Salon de la Chou?

Post-Salon I went to Susan Hochbaum's book signing at W.H. Smith. This idiot camera is akk she used to shoot her lovely photos for PastryParis.

Of course Susan served macarons.

 I went home to recuperate.

*More Salon du Chocolat over the weekend at PB.

BON NUIT!

The et Chocolat!

Bonjour PBers from Irene City.

I thought I'd post today because:

A. There could be a power outage at any moment. What would you read on Monday?

And... B. NY Time's Elaine Sciolino of the divinely informative La Seduction emailed me this week seeking info on Paris' salons des thes. Don't miss her article ! Besides she gave Parisbreakfast a nice mention.

Big merci Elaine! Bet you think you're in a Paris tea shop...
Looking at banks...

And gorgeous banks of tea tins?

WRONG!

You're in a chocolate shop (Duo Trio on 88 rue de Rennes, La Bonbonnière de la Trinité in the 9ème, Les Bonbons). Bet you think you're at a tea festival here...

Don't you love how the French make fun of themselves showing elegant frogs delicately sipping tea? Thank you NestleT.

Kusmi tea creates a maze of tins for sniffing

(clue: U R not at a tea tasting).

Chloe Doutre-Roussel, famous chocolate connoisseure now has her own tea to boot. Chloe filled me in. Thé/tea is a gourmet's drink in Europe and has been for 5-10 years now. More and more gourmets are choosing tea over coffee. We're talking really good teas, not flavored teas. Coffee bean aromas are too strong for chocolate. No way will you find coffee beans in a Parisian chocolate shop. et voila!
That's why all these tea tastings are happening at the Salon du Chocolat. If you're going to Paris this Fall don't miss it.

Plan accordingly - it's a chocolate lover and tea tasters ball.

Jugetsudo had this elegant booth at last year's chocolate salon...

Elaine mentions them in her article - why didn't I visit? I loved the design of their map enough to shoot it...

French Girl, like most French Girls, adores her tea. She insists I bring back fresh bags of Fortnum & Mason Breakfast tea from London to refill her precious tins on the shelf. And she's mad for her Japanese tetsubin cast iron tea pot.

Naturally as soon as I got home I rushed down to the Bowery kitchen supply stores to buy one (they're way less expensive than in Paris!). Naturally I have never used the darn thing :(

I told Elaine about Kusmi's adorable shopping bag. Whatever you do, DO NOT put your Japanese teapot inside this bag or you'll be sporting a broken toe! My bag broke just outside customs at CDG :(

BONJOUR THE et CHOCOLAT PBers!