Sweet Sunday

 Chocolate-laced rugelach take center stage on the counter of a bakery in the Marais district.

 

A small reward

 

 

A classic dating from the 1600s Profiteroles derives its name from "profit," a type of small gratifying reward that arrives at the end a large gratifying meal. - BPJ

 

Below: hot melted chocolate poured over choux pastry filled with vanilla bean ice cream creates a chaud-froid sensation

 

 

 

V is for Valentine

 

Arnaud Larher's scrumptious Valentine's Day chocolate chocolate cake layered with fresh blackberries.

Theme: Le Love Supreme

 💘

 

 

Egg sighting

 

A grand choice of chocolate Easter eggs at À la Mère de Famille, an institution in Paris since 1761.

Joyeuses Pâques - Happy Easter-Pesach 2023

💐

Tarte Tuesday

 

 Dark chocolate tartes studded with strawberries, signed Cédric Grolet.

 

Easter egg

A giant chocolate Easter egg signed Arnaud Larher, Left Bank.

 

 Joyeuses Pâques 2022

 

💐

Chocolate dream

Graffiti of a napping man and next to him, a poem about chocolate.

Angelina autrement

 

Though its beautiful tea room and pâtisserie on rue de Rivoli are closed for now, Angelina has a small boutique on the Left Bank that is, happily, open for takeaway.

 Angelina

108 rue du Bac 75007

Pierre Hermé: Noël en Fête

 

Readers of this blog know by now that I am a great fan of star chef pâtissier-chocolatier Pierre Hermé from Alsace, sometimes called "The Picasso of Pastry." His eye-popping pastries, cakes, chocolates, ice creams, sorbets and macarons are works of art, and this year, once again, and for the holidays, he's managed to re-invent classics and create even more extraordinary surprises.

The first time I sampled his most-buzzed-about macaron, caramel au beurre salé (caramel with salted butter a.k.a. CBS), I became an instant devotee. Despite much competition it was wickedly delicious, and I walked away with a bulging coffret. Since then I've added many more flavors from his macaron repertoire, and this season's holiday collection won't disappoint. - BPJ

Above: magical tasting reception; pink champagne and macarons (exciting new flavors - see website); rich chocolate yule logs (bûches de Noël)

Pierre Hermé Paris

(press preview)

* Upcoming Collection Noël 2020 *

 

***

 

Merci M. Hermé

Chocolate plus chocolate

Rich hot chocolate served with chocolate crêpes warm up cold afternoons at local café.

Sideways heart

A chocolate heart tops my chocolat chaud.

3 hours (or less) from Paris: Prague #2

Casual cafés and restaurants line the banks of the Vltava.

Below: perusing the menu with views of Charles Bridge; chef-helmed restaurants with open kitchens rival Paris' best; dry ice used to dramatic effect; chocolate as art

Profiterole

A  profiterole filled with vanilla ice cream tops off a terrace lunch.

Restaurant Le Vauban

7 Place Vauban 75007

Be mine

Some desserts are irresistible.

Arnaud Larher

Pâtissier et Chocolatier

53 rue Caulaincourt 75018

PH balance

A touch of raspberry helps to make the season bright.

Café Pierre Hermé - Beaupassage

53 rue de Grenelle 75007

Pierre-y Christmas

Pierre Hermé's second tea room / café is tucked away in a foodie passageway.

Café Pierre Hermé - Beaupassage

53 rue de Grenelle 75007

Allez les bleus!

The excitement in the city is palpable as France gears up to fight Belgium in tonight's World Cup semi-final game. 

Above: chocolate footballeurs created by Arnaud Larher

Chocolate and bunnies

Last vestiges of Easter fill the window of historic pâtissier-traiteur Stohrer on rue Montorgueil.

Weekend pastries

A neighborhood pâtisserie displays its weekend dessert selection.

Mousse bar

At least six different "origins" (countries) of chocolate at this delightful chocolate mousse bar.

 

Chocolat Chapon 
69 rue du Bac 75007