gifts from paris
By the skin of my teeth: NaBloWriMo day 6!
I had to tear myself away from a rip roaring tweetfest on Twitter just now because Jeremy innocently asked me, “Don’t you have to post before midnight?” Yes, yes I do. Yes, I am. Just that Twitter has slow moments and then around 10:30 pm, it kicks into high gear because Helen doesn’t sleep (we all have proof positive of this) and all of the west coasties like Alice, Ashley, and Chuck are wide awake because it’s only 9:30 pm there.
I really appreciate all of the feedback and discussion on my last post. I’ll lay out all of the details when the Eat on $30 challenge starts on Sunday. I think it’s important to keep in mind that food where one person lives does not cost the same where another person lives. Also that we don’t all live in the same climate to grow our own food or have similar access to good, affordable produce. It’s not about putting someone on foodstamps in your shoes, per se – rather trying to put yourself in their shoes. But let’s keep the discussion going! Awareness is the ultimate goal, so thank you.
My good friend returned from a month in Europe (mostly Paris) today and said she needed to see me. She said she had some “time-sensitive” stuff to give me. Yes, stuff is a technical term. Four of us met up for happy hour in Boulder on the patio of Brasserie 1010 where Marianne distributed wondrous, lovely presents.
no way no way no way!!!!!
les macarons, mon dieu
In addition to the lovely macs (cassis, orange blossom, mint, rose, bergamot, fig-date) she handed me three bags of Valrhona dark chocolate discs. Somehow the Chinese glutinous mung bean sesame balls and mung bean moon cakes I gave to Marianne and Beth seemed so… boring. But the two of them appeared psyched about the goodies. Actually, I’m betting that Beth was psyched about these:
gorgeous valrhona chocolates and caramels
so happy that marianne is back
Jeremy joined us later after he was done giving lecture and we chattered away (well, Jeremy not so much – he is a quiet one) in the brilliant autumn afternoon until the sun dropped behind the flatirons and it was time to go. We get one whole month with Marianne before she ships off for the ice (Antarctica) for 4 or 5 months.
Those macs were incredible. Yeah, you bet we ate them… TIME-SENSITIVE STUFF! The orange blossom was my *favorite* and the cassis was a close second. Jeremy was all about the bergamot (he’s an Earl Grey whore, what do you expect?) Even though I’m crazy for macs, they are nothing as wonderful as having Marianne home – even if only for a month. And I’m keeping the pretty pretty box. I’m going to keep it under my pillow.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:13 am
Mon Dieu indeed, Tres bon.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:04 am
I still have never had a real macaron…my one attempt at making them did not end well. I would LOVE to try those – the flavors sound divine!
October 7th, 2009 at 2:02 am
wish I had that box of Laduree right now…
October 7th, 2009 at 5:43 am
Bee-yoo-ti-ful macarons & chocolate. What nice friends you have! Hmmm, what’ll she be bringing you from Antarctica?
October 7th, 2009 at 5:51 am
Not gonna lie – fig-date sounds pretty darned awesome. And I’m a sucker for cassis or bergamot as well (Earl Grey is my go-to black tea). Let’s just say I’m jealous your friend came back from Paris with macarons for you, mkay? Oh, and teach me to get off Twitter early in the evening. Night owls like Helen + west coasties = too much fun to miss!
October 7th, 2009 at 7:20 am
oh what a fabulous gift – such divine flavors for those macarons. You have some very thoughtful friends.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Like Cate, I also have not delighted in the wonders of a real macs. Still waiting…I’m adoring all of your lovely photographs.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Holy GOD that chocolate looks insanely amazing…
October 7th, 2009 at 8:59 am
The colors of those macs are absolutely beautiful!
October 7th, 2009 at 9:36 am
The folks over at Sweet Fine Day (sweets-makers in Brooklyn, in case you haven’t been there) make an Earl Grey hot cocoa. Jeremy might like that.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Ummm…. So…. I knew the chocolates were going to be good, but I didn’t know they were going to be A-MAZ-ING. Just in case anyone was wondering. aMAzing. I had a couple moments last night… because I had a couple chocolates. Okay, maybe four :). Judah and I shared each of them, so it’s more like two, but getting to taste four. AMAZING. I don’t even know what the flavors were, which is criminal, but they were GOOD. Mmmmm, Parisian chocolates…. Mmmmm, having Marianne back! Happy Moon Festival, everyone!
October 7th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Oh Laduree! I’ve heard such wonderful things about the macarons from there! I wish I had friends like yours. :)
October 7th, 2009 at 11:32 am
oh, pretty macarons!
October 7th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Macarons from Laduree…how wonderful. My favorite is the caramel with sea salt. But they’re all good. What a lovely gift.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Laduree macarons are just about the best ones around, and that classy box just gilds the lily!
October 7th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Oh, such joy when a friend returns home! Enjoy this special time and savour it fully.
October 7th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
mon dieu! score like no other!
October 7th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
You’re so lucky!! YUM!
October 7th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I’m going to Paris in a few months for the first time ever! I will try to eat these macarons when I’m there.
October 7th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Marianne is such a sweetheart! Whenever I get to Laduree I covet the packaging more than I do the macarons or their other pastries!!
October 7th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
I love this post. I love the image of the macarons. I love the flavors. I love that your favorite is the orange blossom (orange blossom reminds me eternally of Morocco). I love that you have a picture of your returned-from-Paris friend. I also love the name of your blog. Love all around!
October 8th, 2009 at 7:33 am
I will be in Paris in 3 months for 2010…let me know if you need me to send you some more “time-sensitive” stuff!
October 8th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Macarons are becoming so ubiquitous in the states it seems like we shouldn’t be excited about Parisian ones, but Laduree still makes my heart go pitterpat. I love the bergamot.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Those photos are enough to make me to ga-ga over those lovely chocolates and sweets! You have got great friends! Do try to catch up on more for this one month that she will be in town!
October 8th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Amazing photos as always. Makes me drool!
October 9th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Thanks all! I envy those of you going to Paris :) It’s a shame something so beautiful can be so fleeting ;)
October 10th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
What a wonderful gift all the way from Paris!!