French Library Exhibit - Boston Nov '09

MesVitrines NYC

Tea at Petrossian, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

Not many admit to 'doing windows', but that's exactly what Parisian Anne Conners does. Anne goes around NYC, analyzing, shooting the fashion windows for her blog, MesVitrinesNYC and for a French online fashion publication, Fashion- Addict.

Anne visited PB. After several blog visits back and forth we agreed to meet for tea. I suggested Petrossian Boutique, one of New York's Frenchiest cafs - 911 7th Avenue. We did not get Petrossian's caviar proudly displayed in the windows - it's sitting on faux diamonds not ice. Nor did I buy these lovely Petrossian cups for a still life. Quelle triste. Instead we go to their tiny tea salon and get tea for two.

The staff sends us down to the front window to pick out desserts. Anne chose the gateau coulant au chocolat on the right.Miam miam!

I'm passionate for anything passion fruit since gobbling Pierre Herme's divine passion fruit macarons so I get the passion tarte on the right.

Competing desserts - an apple tarte.

A black berry thing. Too many choices.

Anne, ever the discerning Parisien, inspects her dessert.

Ah ha! Success!

Anne is happy.

She tries to explain what 'coulant' is with sloopy hand gestures.

I guess wildly - a ski slope? a hill? a valley?

Getting nowhere fast.

I found out today that a gateau coulant au chocolat means MOLTEN CHOCOLATE!You can find a nice recipe at La Tartines

The "demise" of our desserts.

Anne, in true French fashion, leaves 1/2 uneaten.
While I as usual leave the crust and scoop out all the tart's innards...hmmm

Anne said when her Parisien friends come to visit, they all HAVE to go to Magnolia Bakery! They are just as in love with Cary and Sex in The City as we are.

Please visit Anne's blog, MesVitrines NYC if not to see how Anne manages to make New York windows look exactly like Paris windows. You'll never get never lost in tranlation at chez Anne.
MILLE FEUILLE
Comme le mille-pattes n'a pas mille pattes, le mille-feuille n'a pas mille feuilles. Mais Presque. Au minimum, le gateau vedette de notre patisserie hexagonal comport trois couches de pate feuilletee, deux de crème patissiere et une de glacage. Il aurait ete cree par Pierre Francois de la Varenne, auteur du Cuisinier Francois, en 1651, et perfectionne par Antonin Careme (1784-1833), le cuisinier de Tallyrand. Mais c'est en 1806 qu'un certain Rouget publie la recette du mille-feuille. Il faut ensuite attendre 1867 pour qu'un patissier de nom de Seugnot la propose a ses clients de la rue du Bac.
Le nom du gateau fait, bien sur, reference au nombre impressionnant de feuillets de pate qui le composent, resultant des six d'etalage et de pliage en trois necessaires a la confection du'une pate feuilletee dans les regles. Le nombre de feuillets reels attaint ainsi le chiffre, si l'on compte bien, de sept cent vingt-neuf! Pas tout a fait mille!
La recette du Café de la Paix, place de l'Opera, est mythique...et secrete. Le 500 feuilles >trouve-t-on parfois...ou careement plus riche: le "2,000 feuilles" de Pierre Herme. Moi je dis: faut tout gouter!

On the Web/in the Press

Pets, Pastries & Paris: Perfect!

On Interior Design Hound.com

Merci Cynthia!

Artist, Francophile and blogger Carol Gillot at work
Even before I first started blogging, I read about Carol Gillot and her charming watercolor paintings on Rita Konig's Domino blog. I have since been an ardent admirer of her work. She sells originals and prints of her work on her blog and in her Etsy shop. She authors a charming blog featuring fabulous photos and information on French life and culture from her frequent trips to Paris. Her posts are filled with fascinating tidbits of information, all imbued with her affection for the City of Lights. Today, she has taken the time to give us a peek into her own background and life.Where were you born? Abbington Hospital in Pennsylvania at 3 AM
I'm a Taurus with Aries rising...
What would you take if your house was burning down? My favorite old black watercolor paintbox (originally my moms), my best brushes and my passport.Best childhood memory? Going with the family for ice cream cones on Sundays and shopping by myself at age 10 in Jenkintown for my dollhouse. Penny candy shopping was another favorite past time.
Your favorite book? "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
If you could have only 1 last meal, what would you want on the menu? Burnt marshmallows, popcorn, coffee ice cream milk shake, caramel macarons from Paris, a bacon sandwich and an apple.

Do you prefer hot weather or cold? Spring and Fall - no extremes for me.Favorite artists? Wayne Thiebaud, Delacroix drawings, Steinberg, too many to list...
Pet peeve? People rustling candy wrappers at the movies
Favorite travel destination? Paris of course, then Rio...

Favorite shop? Fauchon, when it was in New York- I used to go religiously every Sunday to worship.

Most visited links?Laduree ~Mes Vitrines~Simon Says~Easy Fashion

What is the best thing about being an artist? You get to paint 24/7. It's also the worst thing about being an artist - extreme focusing.

Thank you, Carol! Don't forget to visit her blog here.
AND THANK YOU ANCHOVIE!

Thank you Danielle Centoni of Oregonian Food Day for featuring Paris Breakfast!

A big merci to Anne Corrons of Mes Vitrines Paris For kindly writing about ParisBreakfast on Fashions-Addict.com
How is your French?
You will not be tested...ahem And me neither.
Let me know what it says :)
BONJOUR Fashions-Addict!

 

We are celebrating today because Parisbreakfast made it into Metro Pets! And we're guzzling Ruinart champagne hypothetically so to speak...ahem

A BIG MERCI to Metro.us

Artful Blogging quarterly magazine.It focuses solely on artists publishing creative blogs online.

And we were interviewed by France Today online for Frenchie-oriented blogs !

Interview France Today/Anne Clausse

Can you tell us a little bit about you? When did you start to paint, and as an artist, what were some of your best memories?
Like most children, my painting began with spontanious murals on the walls at home. I just never stopped and moved on to paper.
My mother taught me watercolors using her shiny black box of paints and there's been no stopping. I did work at fashion design in the Orient, shoe design in Italy, medical advertising illustration, illustrating and writing travel books, wine promotion artwork - the list is long. But painting French cafe still lifes and French pastry beats them all for fun and interest. The colors, textures, ingenuity, the endless array of pastry designs keeps me fascinated.
How did you start your blog? What was your aim at first?I had stacks of Parisian cafe watercolors sitting on a shelf. The chance to show them on the NET seemed a good idea. I'd no idea they would inspire such a warm response. Or that reader's Parisian memories would inspired me to do even more... Plus visiting Paris is an essential ingredient to what I do - really I can't complain one little bit.
Paris Breakfasts is delightful to visit. How do you manage to create so a special atmosphere?
I like to create a story behind each watercolor shown, with a beginning, middle and end. Think of it as a mini-movie with a punchline at the end. I write and paint things I'm interested in, things that amuse me. If it isn't fun for me, I can't do it.
A good part of the delight comes from what I see in Paris...
I love the new Velib program, but I could never ride a bike in Paris - I'd miss to much. I have to keep moving forward like a shark and on my feet. The endless treasures I find in shop windows continue to amaze and inspire me.
Art exhibits and patisseries are some recurrent themes. Are they your two main hobbies?
I don't cook much and I certainly don't bake. But I love to eat and I love beautiful food. I once spent a week at Eugenie Les Bains - that opened my eyes to the possibilities of beautiful food. Visiting a patisserie or chocolatier is much like visiting any museum. Even the lighting - at Jean-Paul Hevin for example, can be museum-like. And there is a hushed and awed atmosphere at Pierre Herme. French pastry chefs are artists and they're given free reign. No creation is too outrageous. The French attention to detail, the styling of every little ribbon, candy box, and label is inspiring. Paris brands fascinate me completely. I would love to own all these ribbons and boxes of every patisserie... And the use of brand colors is so thought out at Laduree or Fauchon or Hediard or any of them.
Are you a self taught in watercolor, or did you take some classes?
I've always loved watercolor to other mediums. I love it's
portable aspect - I can paint on a train or plane or anywhere and I do.
How do you choose the posts?
Ideas come to me in the pool, or on the Metro. But the best catalyst is
walzing through Paris..just a pair of eyes leche-le vitrine.
Can you give us some of your favorite places in France to have a tea and a piece of cake?`
I prefer the old rue Royale Laduree for afternoon tea. I like to sit downstairs with the smokers, though I don't smoke. That way I can get a good view of the anticipation and ongoing panic in the macaron shop. The cupid murals on the ceiling are heavenly...~
The Hotel Meurice is perfection for an exquisite silver pot of hot chocolate - Total immersion in Marie-Antoinette luxury without breaking the bank.
~
Kusmi Tea has a new tea salon on rue de Seine that's fun. Interesting new designer food too...And the tea is served from Japanese tetsubin teapots.

Some very nice "shout-outs" for Paris Breakfasts. What's a "shout-out" you ask? The Urban dictionary says a shout-out is...
1. shout-out (n.) Slang. A public expression of thanks or gratitude, a kind mention of a homey... ParisBreakfasts was sited by Charley Parker on his artist-focused Lines and Colors blog.

A fun shout out from Rita Konig on Domino magazine Blog.
Rita writes sophisticated, amusing books full of ideas to brighten up your daily existence.

Maitresse loved ParisBreakfasts' Le Temps des Cerises..

Chef Allen Susser used Carol's chef portrait for promoting his Florida restaurant.
Armand Frasco gave a shout-out for Carol's Réflexions au Café de FLore II post on Moleskinerie.
TeaMuse featured one of Carol's Petrossian watercolors in the May 2006 issue.
Designers Block loved the café watercolors...
A lovely shout-out from Catherine (Cat) Morley over at Designers-who-Blog. BTW Cat is in Thailand! D-W-B is a one-stop showcase of all manner of intriguing sites. THANKS Cat in Thailand !

I only recently discovered this useful site, which sets out to help artist get their act together business-wise. And what artist doesn't need that?

Wine writer, Larry Walker did a story for Wines and Vines on Carol's Chateaus prints.
Blogger.com made Paris Breakfasts a "Blog of Note"
December 2006 Paris Breakfasts was picked as one of HOW Magazines Top 10 Blogs as an eclectic, inspirational mix of design, color, painting, photography and travel tips focused on a series of themes

PB interview in Apartment Therapy.

Paris Breakfast C.V.

Carol Gillott/ NYC, NY
Curriculum Vitae
Website: http://parisbreakfasts.blogspot.com
Website: www.carolgillot.com
email: carol.gillott@verizon.net

EDUCATION:
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
BFA from U. of Pennsylvania: Neil Welliver, Rackstraw Downes
National Academy of Design: Susanna Coffey,David Dewey,Susan Shatter
Cooper Union: Josette Urso

FREELANCE PROMOTIONAL ARTWORK: Bentley Publishing Group Chateaux Prints, Sherry-Lehmann Inc Catalog art, CakeBread Cellars, Chuck House Design-Wine Labels, Shafer Vineyards, Duckhorn Vineyards, Harlan Estate, Meadowood, Campari, Mumm Champagne Portrait Program with Paul Bocuse,WineBow Inc., Chateau Routas, Chef David Burke, Harlan Estate, Gourmet Magazine, Pastry Arts Magazine, Chocolatier Magazine, Food Arts, Wine Enthusiast, New York Times Food Section, Share Our Strength, Restaurant Associates

COOK BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS: Biba Caggiano's ITALY AL DENTE '98
PHOTOGRAPHY :James Beard Foundation - Events and Food 1993 - 2000

ONE PERSON/GROUP SHOWS:
1994 James Beard Foundation Gallery - Chefs Portraits
1995 Sherry-Lehmann Wine Shop - Catalog Art & Chef Paintings
1995 James Beard Foundation Gallery - Chef Watercolors
1997 WineBow Inc. 8th Annual Vintner's Harvest Tasting-Watercolors
1998 Sherry-Lehmann Wine Shop - Napa Harvest Watercolors
1998 WineBow Inc. Vini d'Italia Tasting '98 - Vineyard Watercolors
2003 12th Annual Boston Wine Expo - Vineyard Prints Watercolors
2003 Sherry Lehmann Wine Shop - Wine Chateaux of France
2004 Artist Residency, Poppi, Italy, ArtRoads
2005 Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Alumni show
2005 National Academy of Design - YearEnd Exhibit - Watercolor Prize
2006 Artist Residency, Vermont Studio Center
2006 Sherry Lehmann Wine Shop - Xmas Catalog Art & Wine Still Lifes
2006 Café Petrossian One Person Exhibit April-May
2006 National Academy of Design - Year-End Exhibit
2006 ArtStream Gallery, NH Group Show November-December
2006 NY Chocolate Show Exhibit - Watercolors-November
2009 Boston French Library Nov
2010 James Beard Foundation NYC May
2010 Chelsea Arts Club London June
2010 Alliance Francaise de Washington Sept
2010 Alliance Francaise de Philadelphie Nov

My Paris Breakfasts' Watercolors

If you fall in love with a watercolor please visit PB on ETSY

ParisBreakfasts has been mentioned on the web.

And for my Curriculum Vitae

 

I make my watercolor paints myself from raw pigments. Their granular richness adds an intensity to the paintings - Lapis Blue from Turkey, Burnt Siennas from Tuscany, Terre Verte from Provence, Vermillion red from China.

 

I buy my watercolor paper in Paris.

And Parisian water is the best vehicle to paint with.
 

Silver Chocolatiere, 12" x 15"

 

Blue Milk Jug, 9" x 11 1/2"

Paris Breakfasts' exhibit at Petrossian.

*If you want to buy an original watercolor visit my Etsy Shop.

*Please be sure and read my SHOP POLICIES before purchasing at Etsy.

Notecards, stamps and T-shirts are at ZAZZLE*

Merci!