My favorite patisserie in Paris, hands down is Pierre Herme. I'm addicted to his macarons - his flavors are brilliant. So to celebrate Spring, he's created a masterpiece of macarons called "Les Jardins." The concept is simple - each month he's going to showcase a flavor reminiscent of a beautiful garden.
10 flavors - delicate and ephemeral.
The first one - cream with a dash of lime zest and the heart of raspberry. The shock of the tastes - tartness and sweet fullness - enchanting.
I love Poilane. There's something about the smell of freshly cooked bread and Poilane is a lovely little bakery that I discovered in Saint Germain-des-Pres neighborhood. It started in 1932 and is famous for it's assortment of breads.
You'll love the interactive website. It's like stepping right inside the store minus the aroma of freshly cooked bread. They recently opened a Cuisine De Bar in London's Chelsea district that features an informal dining area, tartines and their signature breads.
Also this great review by Tea Time in London
A couple of weekends ago I had the delirious pleasure of heading to California for a well-needed chill out weekend. Spent Saturday sailing with friends and family in San Diego's bay. It was a perfect sunny California day.
As always, in prepping for the trip had to check out some cute travel accessories. I'm diggin' Australian eco-chic line Apple and Bee. They have travel bags, cosmetic bags, kids toy bags that are environmentally friendly and price-friendly too.
- Denise
The world is in need of some good cheer! I love this Danish boutique called Rice. It's one of those shops that just makes you happy. It's retro, vintage and just plain cool. Their claim to fame - melamine bowls in all sorts of cheery colors, Italian tableware and vintage-inspired knick-knacks.
The shop in London looks so cute. They opened it in May - Covent Garden. Here's to happy places, pretty things and beautiful/hot summer days!
- Denise
Ines de la Fressange: Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange
Marcus Samuelsson: Discovery of a Continent: Foods, Flavors, and Inspirations From Africa
Sarah Magid: Organic and Chic: Cakes, Cookies, and Other Sweets That Taste as Good as They Look
Rupert Kingfisher: Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles
Heather Whinney: The Illustrated Quick Cook: Easy Entertaining, After-Work Recipes, Cheap Eats
