L'orange d'abricot

Tarte Abricots Frais by Gerard Mulot by me.
 

It's the season (July - August). Gorgeous orangey-red apricots everywhere in the marche. It's my favorite childhood fruit . The color orange. These really taste intense. Ripe and ready to eat au moment. You better eat them fast. Mostly from Provence and the Rhone valée.

Coming from the pool I spotted a tarte d'abricot. It called my name.

When they packed my pastries at Frederic Cassel, the server popped in an apricot-colored hatbox full of Macarons planting a seed in my mind - I've been eating apricots nonstop since.
 

Even though it was 4pm and no one with any sense should be out in this blasted heat, I went looking for Patisserie Rollet-Pradier to get some apricot desserts to paint. I ended up at apricot-colored Metro station Duroc to change trains.

On board I was staring inappropriately at this business man’s deep apricot-colored man-purse. He clamped his hand on it protectively. I wonder if it was by Hermes? I must look like your average Metro thief, especially wearing my macaron T-shirt.
 

Rollet-Pradier was CLOSED even though the website said they were open on a Monday. OK so everyone is closed on Mondays. God only knows what I'll do in August :(
 

I passed this apricot sign in the Metro. This Anthelios XL (get the lotion) is a terrific sun screen if you're into protecting your skin.
 

You can always depend on Gerard Mulot, to be open on Mondays Pierre Hermé is also open but not big on apricots.
 

Mulot is at 76, rue de Seine, 75006 close to Odeon where you can stop in an air-conditioned movie house. I did yesterday.
 

Here's a perfect example of a mini version of the summer tarte base piled high with your 5-fruits-a-day portion. Just don't take this anywhere offsite or your 5 fruits will separate like crazy - happened to me so I know from experience.
 

I picked the fresh apricot tarte to eat at the counter in the back.

Voila. Excellent though I left the crust. That's nothing new being a non-crust eater. I need an assistant who loves crust! I got an excellent apricot macaron for company.
 

Here's your weekly DIY watercolor demo PBers. I am surrounded by apricots here. Warm shadows are dropped in first - Bt Sienna.
 

Then a touch of cool French blue on top while still wet.
 

My setup. I'm loving my new mini paintbox on the left. You can run your brush across the top and get a nice mix of yellow + red + Sienna on your brush at one go. Note the basket of apricots on the right. I'll probably turn a pleasant shade of orange sans soleil. Well I hope so. Who needs sunbeds?
I guess you could say I've got on my orange-colored glasses.
 

Saut Hermes 2013

Samdi 13 Avril Saut Hermés 2013

This past weekend I hung out with the horsey set in Paris at Saut Hermés. I'd noticed the tents last year along the Champs-Élysées and when I saw them again this past week I vowed I was going inside. Ha

The annual horse jumping competition takes place inside the Grand Palais. The competing horses are paddocked in the white tents.

I marched inside with as much aplomb as I could gather and asked for the presse desk. Hmmm...it turns out one must apply at two months in advance for accreditation. OK.

Here is a plan of the action inside the Palais from the catalog by French artist Mathieu de Muizon. 

It turns out a lot of action takes place behind the Grand Palais at the back entrance. 

You can see the horses being led into the ring.

And being lead out back to the paddocks.

Sometimes, though rarely, a competing rider comes out on his horse...

What does one wear to an event like this?

NO Hermés scarves or Birkin bags please.

Skinny legs help

No Hermés orange in fact at all. 

If you're a competing rider you can get away with a touch of Hermés orange.

If you're participating in the event, a horse owner or associated in any way you wear an orange ribbon with the appropriate identification tag so the guard lets you in.
If you're 'somebody' you only show a mere smidge of the orange ribbon. Ordinary workers from the paddock show the whole ribbon bien sur. Little subtleties like this reveal who is upper crust and who isn't. And you only pick it up at the back door in my opinion.

Of course the winning horses are decked out in full Hermés orange blankets they wear proudly as they prance out the back door.
If you want to see more of what went on look here and here.
Champion Ludger Beerbaum came in 1st and American 19 year old Reed Kessel took second place.

Only this Parisian dog was wearing orange on the outside looking in.
A l'annee prochain j'espere.

Hermes Sale!

 The quest for orange is relentless in France.
 

 The orange bird of happiness is twittering away.
 

 Hermes had their semi-annual sale last weekend at the Palais des Congres. Today is the last day.
Hurry!

The details c/o My Little Paris.
 

 Ex-pat Mary Kay is our Hermes Sale expert.
 

 Are you champing at the bit?
 

 Hermes provides horsey set photos as to gaze at longingly at while you wait in the line.
 

 Once inside the drama begins. You may wear orange anything as long as it's NOT an Hermes items. L'orange homages going on right and left.

 Try..try...try
The price of the silk scarves is 175 euros marked down from 300 (or 305?) euros c/o Mary Kay.

 Mary Kay says women fly in especially for the sale.
 

 The vendeuse demonstrates the wearing of l'orange.
 

 You are only allowed to buy 10 scarves. The scarves are the hot items. Racks of clothing and menswear barely get a glance.
 

 The Hermes bag from the sale are white not the signature orange.

In fact all the solde/sale bags in Paris are white. No fooling anyone you paid full price, ahem.
 

A happy successful shopper.

That's an orange box/boite not an orange bag/sac she's shlepping.

 

 Bonne Shopping!

Sadly no orange macarons were served at the sale.  

Today I painted my nails orange - that's my homage.
 

Paris Pumpkin

Le(la) BOO!

I don't know what gender 'Boo' is but certainement you'll see signs of Halloween in many classy joints around town.

La Petite Marquise (3 Pl. Victor Hugo 75016) had several tres chic witches dans le vitrine in full regalia.

Sweet Paris said I must taste her fav, la feuille d'automne so I did.

Trop de creme pour moi malheureusement/way too much cream for me. I discovered the secret of tarte citron meringuee. Often it's just a tarte citron with a dollop of toasted meringue adorning the curd. Who knew?

Is it only the French who can get away with putting a knitted pumpkin plus a knitted aubergine into a window on rue St.-Honore to display fancy watches? Knitting is very in. This ain't happening on Madison Ave., NYC...

Not pumpkin-flavored macarons but pumpkin-colored at Angelina. Pumpkin is the color in my humble opinion in Paris.

Fancy kids store, Bonpoint is showing pumpkin hats and scarves.

Are you missing a pumpkin Eiffel tower in your collection? Dash over to rue Cambon immediatement.

Why not dress yourself in pumpkin head-to-toe like this French girl.

I was interested to catch this class act dans le Metro - an art student off to class with her supplies in a Hediard bag. Pas mal non?

I'm off to watercolor class today at the National Academy. We're supposed to paint from the nude...ahem. But I'm bringing along my own subject matter - nice, colorful geometric macaron boxes and bags to paint (plus real macarons for contrast).
Bon(ne) Halloween PBers!