Kindle Your Friendships

Photo by Flora Rocco

My friend Sardi gave me this photo because she thinks I'm consumed with pastry... I really should put it in a frame... Instead of sticking it on top of my stacks of book...

I have more books than you could shake a stick at. That's what I'm consumed with is BOOKS!

Books support me in so many ways. They even support my laptop... But though books are my best friends, I'm not nice to them. I chopp them up like coleslaw. I blow them up at the copy shop. I write in them with yellow markers. I have to. As an artist/illustrator, I'm constantly researching pictures of whatever I'm painting at the moment and my dear friends, books, hold the answers.

I'm not alone in this act of battering books you know. The NY Public Library used to do it. You could visit The Picture Collection to search for reference shots. You would see all your other illustrator friends pouring over mounted pictures (some ripped out of the finest books). It was a social event to go look at torn-out pictures. But that's changed. The NY Picture Collection is online, so no more chit chat with fellow artist. Quelle dommage. And there's Google bien sur. I needed pictures of a Roasted Shallot Tart Tatin yesterday et voila! Easy as pie/tarte.

I'm working on Maison Blanc's Fall Menu and I needed tarte au citron reference too.

That was a whole lot easier to solve than the shallot tarte. I just headed down to Payard Bakery. Course if I was in Paris I'd be falling over tarte citrons on every corner. They're common as lamposts...

If I was in Paris I wouldn't have to bring my own supply of lemon zest for the shot either. Just head over to M. Pierre Herme for super zesty lemon tarts. Back to my dear friends books. I'm wondering if I should break down and finally get a reader..?

I've been flirting with one for quite some time.

Do you LOVE your Kindle?

Wasn't it clever of Amazon to call it the 'Kindle' like you're curling up at a friendly, homey hearth? If I had a Kindle I could curl up too...

Along with not having a Kindle, I don't have an iPhone either. Shhh, I don't even have a cell/portable(!!!)

I'm probably the only one on the planet, but after seeing David Lebovitz post on iPhone Paris Apps I'm rethinking. Could I get an iPhone just for Apps? I'm in love with the Paris Metro App. It could be my new best friend, and I promise to be really, really nice. No chopping or blowing up or two-timing I swear.

Should I or shouldn't I??

Do tell all PBers. Do you have one? Do you love it?

Bonjour Post-Earthquake!

l'Hôtel Drouot

No, today's post is NOT going to be another recipe for pumpkin or butternut squash soup, though I admit to downing two bowls of the stuff whilst posting and even more whilst nursing this $#@! cold. I'm turning orange from all the butternut, sweet potatoes and carrots I've eaten the last few weeks.
In fact I'm taking you along to Hotel Drouot for a grand tour of just one of their exhibition rooms...
Full of everything chef related and restaurant related.
On the AirFrance flight over I happened to notice a tiny column on an exhibit of Henri Marquet sketches taking place at Drouot in Le Figaro and I thought why not?
Little did I know I would walk into floor upon floor of amazing exhibits of all manner of objects. Including a Mickey Mouse/Disney collection, antique furniture and jewels of course, Art Deco travel memorabilia, plus this glorious huge collection of cooking/chef stuff...
Hotel Drouot is Paris' main auction house since 1852 consisting of 16 exhibit hall. The exhibits change all the time and are completely free to enter.

If your hearts desire is to own a tiny chef cat waving a spoon you've come to the right place.

Though you will have to return for the auction and take your chances of winning this prize chat...

Artworks galore all chef related...

Are you mad for jellied eels in aspic?

You're in the right place...

A mini fore/stove outfitted with mini copper molds?

Absolutement parfait!

The joy is you can touch and examine all items to your hearts content. And photograph too.

It's expected - no one will say one word to you.

Never mind that from the outside of Hotel Drouot does not look so inviting or convivial. Once inside all is forgotten. It really is one of the best exhibit halls in Paris. Details of forthcoming auctions are published in the weekly Gazette de l'Hôtel Drouot, sold at newsstands and by subscription.

9, rue Drouot 75009

Metro:Drouot-Richelieu

Bien sur, BEAR was moaning couldn't we please stay on for the Teddy Bear expo? Pas possible cheri..dommage.

BONJOUR HOTEL DROUOT!