Breaking boules

Nothing compares to fresh artisan bread straight from local boulangerie ovens, still warm. The small round loaves or boules - look for them on upper or back shelves - can be tranchés (sliced) but for the asking. Paris has so many bakeries that unique specialty breads, some available only on certain days of the week, are created to stand out among the competition.

 Above: Pain Scandinave w/hazelnuts, walnuts, dried apricots and currants

 Below: a Pavé (cobblestone) Caulaincourt ready for the toaster

Autumn theater

The real show here is the profusion of bright leaves over the door of this small theater in Montmartre.

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Autumn in Montmartre

Five steps

A warming new coffeehouse / salon de thé just steps from Place Dalida became my new coffee meetup spot but has temporarily closed due to the latest lockdown, except for takeaway.

 Les Cinq Marches

Café-Cantine 

12 rue Girardon 75018 

Halloween spirits

Two perfect beers for Halloween.

Jovian: "brewed w/buckwheat; cranberries and kumquat added" 

La Roja: "deep amber w/earthy caramel, spice and sour fruit notes"

 Jolly Pumpkin artisan ales

American craft beers

Merci Planète Bière 2020 Paris

 

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- Happy Halloween 2020 - 

🎃

 

La Toussaint: Day of the Dead / All Saints' Day 

1st November

 

Now you see them

Now you don't.

 

No sooner had fresh oysters made a comeback Paris goes back into its shell.

 

Tonight at midnight.

Smoke out

Chef steps outside for a quick clope before lunch service.

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Yes, the French still smoke. A lot. At least from an American point of view, but a lot less than before. Since 2007, smoking has been strictly prohibited inside restaurants, cafés and bars, any and all enclosed and covered public spaces such as supermarkets, boutiques, hospitals and clinics, schools, public transportation, airports and in work spaces and offices (sorry "Emily In Paris") unless a company sets aside an area exclusively for fumeurs.

 I was about to say that the stereotype sultry Frenchman of films noirs seated alone on a café terrasse--where smoking is allowed--quietly observing as he takes a drag is long passé, but astute habitués of this blog have pointed out the gentleman in the background behind Clotilde in my recent posting, “Messy French buns" (bottom photo). - BPJ

Paris popovers

 With another confinement looming it's time to preheat the oven.

 

Above and Below: French popovers - smaller, detached, more self-assured

 

 

 

Above: homemade whole wheat popovers w/hints of nutmeg

Below: this morning's lemon zest merveilles (accompanied by butter, jams, honey, coffee, tea)

 

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Recipes November newsletter