Paul, the Formula One and James Bond fan, shares his birthday with Ayrton Senna and Timothy Dalton. It hit me a couple of days ago that Paul was going to be sixteen! Sixteen! I can't believe it! That's probably my mental age! He doesn't go for big chocolate cakes the way Alex does but he does love custard tarts so I spent the afternoon making one for him. (Why do new recipes take so long?) He also loves chocolate macaroons so I had the gruelling and difficult task of hunting them down this morning!
Actually, I know exactly where to go to find the best ones - Auer on the main shopping street. It doesn't look much from the outside especially next to a shabby looking cinema.
Inside it has glass cabinets with elegant displays of hand made chocolates. Since I had my camera with me I took some photos of their window display.
That gold plate of chocolate macaroons is there every day and we check it every time we pass to see how many are left! They look so unassuming don't they? But what a taste and texture sensation! We only discovered them by accident last year as we popped in to buy what we thought were meringues. The lady had put them in the bag as I realised my mistake but as I couldn't speak French I said nothing rather than get into a complicated conversation. We buy them every now and again when we want a real treat!
I thought it was about time for another update on the chocolatier's displays now it's almost Easter. This is my favourite window although I've forgotten the name of the shop now. There were huge chocolate fish in it last week to celebrate April 1st or Poisson d'Avril.
Can you see the marbled hare on the top shelf?
I like the eyes of those bunnies below!
A new find, Du Rhone at the other end of the road. I happened to be passing it as the door opened and the smell of chocolate hit me! I think I put on three pounds just breathing in!
12 comments:
You made his birthday so special with your special food. And I know it must have been so difficult to look at all that chocolate :)
That is such a wonderful drawing of him. Happy Birthday to him also.
I heart chocolate! Yum yum yum! You are making me rethink the vacation plans I don't have yet!
Happy Birthday to your Paul
their birthdays are so close - double celebrations!
the chocolate shop looks amazing...bet it smells good in there!
Thanks all! Teri, yes it is difficult, I'm still on the low carb diet so I'm only allowing myself to sniff! Strangely, I find cooking for others takes away some of the temptation.
Anastasia, the smell coming out of some of these is indescribable!
Wow, Felicity! Between your Blog and Carol's over at 'Paris Breakfasts', I think I gain about 20 pounds a day!!! Your photos are so delicious...er, em.. I mean 'delightful'! I love the marbeled hare. Yes, I saw him trying to sneak out my line of sight.
Your portrait of Paul is amzing! Your tonal values are to die for!
Thanks also for commenting on my Blog.
Bonne journee!
A fish and a ram, no wonder they are so different. However, my brother and I are in the same sign but are chalk and cheese - in fact my husband is just a day away from my brother's birthday and he is miles away from him in character too.
Thanks Bonny, nice to hear from you!
Olga, they are both Pisces but Paul was born 12 minutes from Aries. The ascendent (the sign on the horizon at the moment of birth) has a big impact on one's chart and certainly it's significant in my two - Paul has a serious Capricorn ascendent and Alex the fun loving Sagittarius! It would be interesting to see how your family charts differ.
FABULOUS SKETCH OF THIS HANDSOME YOUNG MAN!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL!! (He's a man after my own heart -- sweets!!! YUMMM)!!! You're a wonderful mum, Felicity!!
Beautiful sketch, Felicity...such delicate and sensitive lines -- I like a lot!
Happy Birthday to Paul! I guess it makes it a little easier on you to have all the birthdays in one month?! :o)
Are you trying to tempt us choco-holics with all of these chocolate displays?
yummy is all I can say.
cheers,
Ana
Um, do you think you and I are thinking a little too much about chocolate at the moment? Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous shops. I expect they're quite expensive aren't they?
Happy birthday Paul xx
This portrait of Paul is one of my absolute favorite of your drawings--his expression is priceless and your love for him really shows through. Fun to see all the chocolate goodies---merci!
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