Tastes of Paris

I just got home from 3 and a half wonderful days in Paris. I was so busy trying to pack in a million different things into those days that I didn't have any time to post, but here are just a few of the sweet moments from the trip.

Our first view from the bridge near the apartment 

Eric Kayser's famous "cereal bread"

The Eiffel Tower glittering at night

Shakespeare & Co (where I bought my first "Mastering the Art of French Cooking")

Pastries at Angelina

L'As du Fallafel, of course

"Breakfast" from Ladurée, eaten by a lovely pond before going to the L'Orangerie museum. 

A giant Pierre Herme macaron for comparison (we liked Ladurée's better)

View from the Arc de Triomphe

Quite a bit of pastry supplies shopping that almost made my suitcase explode

Maison Stohrer's famous "love well," a pastry cup filled with vanilla cream which is then brûléed. 

Fouquet's dark-chocolate-covered marshmallows 

Pastries from Lenôtre

A little "chocolate tour" we went on

Patrick Roger (M.O.F.) makes beautiful chocolates that look almost like marbles. 

Puyricard's lovely boxes of chocolates

Those were insanely delicious (as were Maison du Chocolat's "rigoletto noir"). 

Pastries and super rich hot chocolate at Carette...

A pain au chocolat and my first choquette. 

I had been to Paris when I was 8, but I was too young to appreciate it. This trip made me fall totally in love with the city, and I can't wait to go back as soon as possible. 

We spent a lot of time doing my little pastry tour, as you can see- I wanted to try as many of the famous bakeries and treats as possible! We also did a bit of sight-seeing, and a lot of walking - we basically walked all day, every day. I still can't believe how much we squeezed into a long weekend. We also took an afternoon to look at Le Cordon Bleu Paris, which was impressive and is definitely being looked at seriously by my parents and I... But more on that later. :)

Berlin: Sugary Blogging

Today was such a fun day, starting with my very first German pretzel (which, incidentally, came from a subway station, but was delicious anyway).

My parents and I went to Ka De We, Germany's oldest department store and home to a great gourmet section! I bought way too much chocolate (you know, for gifts...)

For lunch, I met up with Erica of Cannella Vita! We found out we were both in Berlin and decided to finally meet in person. She's just as sweet and talented as she seems, and it was so much fun to make "real" friends with an internet friend. 

We went out for Japanese crepes, which were delicious. I tried the banana Nutella (because why not have Nutella as much as possible). 

I finally found someone who understands my need to take pictures of every edible thing I see! I think my parents were relieved to see I'm not the only one...

We also went on a Berliner-seeking adventure, and finally found them at the same chain I got them from yesterday. 

We walked around the Gallerie Lafayette for a little bit to check out their gourmet section. When I met up with my parents again, we tasted the Gallerie's macarons...

And then went to a church nearby, where you climb 253 steps to get to an amazing view at the top. 

Tomorrow, get ready for castles! (Because ya know, I'm obviously a German princess. Except for not. But I can pretend.)