paris: bhv

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Citron Meringuee Deconstructed

Don't think for one second since I'm showing you a list of ingredients I'm about to start baking citron tartes meringuees EVER.

Beaten eggwhites/meringue and I have parted company permanently...

Even so I tried to taste, shoot or eat a citron tarte meringuee almost daily last trip in Paris.

My expertise has risen quite a few notches. This version from Monop is one you can pass up without remorse. Lackluster and not lemony enough. Plus the meringue lacked structure (it was mushy) and panache (whatever that is..). Still the high crust is an interesting innovation and merits 1*.

Tres chic MIYOU's version at La Bon Marche was much more lemony but the meringue again was too mushy.

In the end, after two weeks of intensive research, I must sadly conclude that we're dealing with a tarte au citron i.e. a lemon curd pie plus a dollop of meringue of varying sizes. In some cases this is can be a mere smidge of meringue.

No doubt the citron meringuee is 'in' right now in Paris. I saw it everywhere.

But how different is this from ordering a plain bagel?

Or a bagel with a 'schmear'?

Sorry that's how I see it PBers.

I suggest you pick up this tarte-shaped cookbook at BHV(9.90 euros) and get cracking on the lemon tarte and call it a day. Making a good meringue can be hellish.

Now this tarte can be called meringuee in my opinion.

Le Loir dan la Theiere is another true source and I missed it.

I must go back!

Le Loir dans la Theiere, watercolor, 9" x 11"

Here's another miss at CDG airport by the way.

Perhaps the best solution of all: a French citron meringuee candle from Comptoir de Famille - no calories.

BONJOUR CITRON MERINGUEE!

Fr Girls Apartment3

Time for the latest update on French Girl's apartment.

There are always changes and restoration going on. In March the milk jug hung on the right side of the cuisine wall.

Now it hangs on left.

(I did not question this major decor decision since I'm not fond of a trip to the guillotine)

French Girl is evidently milk jug-happy.

But so is Le Boulanger des Invalides Jocteur

so can you be in better company? I think not.

I love these new hand-made lavender sachets on the radiator.

Plus a bouquet of dried lavender straight from French Girl's mothers jardin. The sale du bain smells pretty wonderful.

Another new detail noted - this witty lamp shade from BHV.

Isn't this perfection?

Your scarves lined up ready to go instead of folded and stacked in a pile.

French Girl, like some American girls is crazy for souvenir trash (in this case New York residue). Shouldn't French Girl consider giving up her Parisien fashion PR job and come to New York to help us all get Frenchified? She'd instantly have a booming decor biz. When she was here for two days the witty ideas came pouring out. I must make an effort to put them into action!

It's true that French Girl's father is a maitre of bricolage/DIY. He can create and assemble whatever her heart desires in a matter of days. I suggested that Fr. Girl's pere might like to visit New York but so far no go :(

I'm quite proud to have been deemed worthy to grace Fr Girls' walls. She is one of my best painting subjects.

BONJOUR Fr Girl!

Golden Hook

Is it possible for the Parisien l'esharpe/scarf to get any bigger than it already is?

Oui! Absolutement oui!
Knitting is HUGE in Paris right now, so get out your needles.

BHV's vitrines were full of balls of wool and hand-knitted scarves waiting for crafty Parisiens...

If you haven't heard of Golden Hook, here's your chance.

Golden Hook is a bunch of les French grand-meres who will knit anything your heart desires in whatever color you dream of. You can even choose the grand-mere you would like to do the knitting.

Or you could turn up at BHV and take knitting lecons and DIY directly from les grand-meres.

There are a gazillion knitting books out on French Amazon for the DIYers who read French. I even saw a girl knitting in the Metro station, but forgot to take a picture - Eeeek!

Of course les vitrines/shop windows are full of hand-knitted items...

Winter hats included. And Parisiens are notorious for not wearing hats in zero temperatures (which they may be having right this minute...)

French bebes have always worn knits, but now it's a must-do.

As for Paris dogs, their knitted winter scarves and coats are being tricotee toute a suite.

BONJOUR PARIS KNITTERS!!

Cupcake Flow

Who knew?

I just made cupcakes!

This morning!!

Lemon-scented Blueberry cuppies with lemony icing.

Yay

I now bow down in sheer idolatry to all cupcake makers including Parisien bakers.

The TOPS!
Superb!

I don't think I've baked since Home Ec class...

Oh why didn't I get this cookbook in Paris...

I used Jiffy :(

But I got 'creative' :)
I added loads of lemon zest and lemon juice and tiny Maine blueberries up the whazoo AND some Greek Fage yogurt to cut the sweetness of the mix.
We're having our workshop luncheon today and I wanted to make a little surprise - mini cupcakes. No one else in my house was interested in pitching in.
"Don't forget to cleanup!", they reminded me.
HMPH...
They didn't refuse to taste-test the results.
Especially with the scent of lemony-blueberry wafting through the house...
c'est toujour comme ca

Back to painting - we went to nearby Port Clyde yesterday. The scene to be painted doesn't look like much?

David starts with a pile of clear water flowing on his 300 pound watercolor paper....

First color to flow down is yellowy...

Then a pile of cobalt + verrditerre + lavender blues are mixed on the palette...

Then flowed onto the still-wet paper. Much tilting to and frow of the board spreads the wet paint around to get lovely atmospheric glowy skies. That's all there is to it!