♥ macarons: love at first bite ♥

        
     
      Nelle coveting the box.

I’d been hearing people rave about macarons on food blogs for months on end.

I read about the intense passion, the pilgrimmages to Paris pâtisseries, the unprecedented cultish status of this French sandwich cookie, and I thought, "how good could it possibly be?"

Well, now I know.

Look at me! Yesterday, an innocent child chasing cupcakes. Today, a sophisticated mademoiselle of meringue! My eyelids are fluttering, my pulse ever quickens, my face flushes at the thought of yet another sweet encounter.

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meandering in middleburg

Tally Ho!

Recently, Len and I "escaped" to Middleburg, Virginia. It was a lovely drive to the land of rolling green pastures, low stone walls, picturesque farms and sprawling vineyards. A place steeped in history and bathed in pastoral dreaminess — where you might wish to live if you had several million dollars to spare.

The village contains 160+ historic buildings, now housing a nice mix of eateries, inns, and interesting shops. Established in 1787 by Revolutionary War Lieutenant Colonel and Virginia statesman Leven Powell, Middleburg served as a traveler’s rest stop, and was frequented by Civil War officers and soldiers, statesmen, and government officials. Because of its beautiful landscape, unending charm, long association with equestrian events, and reputation for top-notch amenities, Middleburg has long been a favorite destination for celebrities and international visitors.

      
         Red Fox Inn and Tavern, Middleburg, VA

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le petit déjeuner: paintings by carol gillott

        

Bonjour mon amis!

To get your week off to a sweet start, here are some watercolor paintings by New York-based artist Carol Gillott. You may know her from her beautiful blog, Paris Breakfast. She travels to Paris several times a year to shoot photographs and get fresh inspiration for her paintings. A very nice job, indeed, to dream up Parisian fantasies every day!


"Ladurée Rose Framboise Cupcakes"

Carol has some lovely original watercolors for sale featuring delicious morning and tea time treats. Check out her Etsy Shop, where you’ll find "Eiffel Tower of Macarons" and "Ladurée Rose Framboise Cupcakes," or see the full line at her flickr photostream. These are 9" x 11" and fit nicely in a 12" x 16" frame.

Couldn’t resist sharing several of her wonderful Paris facades. You can inquire about prices and availability through her website. Enjoy!

    
         *This one especially for Candice!

    

Très charmant, non?

Copyright © 2010 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan’s alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

friday feast: Z is for zucchini


  Alex Gee/flickr

Quack!

It’s August, unbearably HOT, and I must confess something.

I miss running from zucchini.

Once upon a time, when we lived at our old house and Len had his famous vegetable garden, there’d always come a time when monster zucchini would appear out of nowhere and chase us around the back yard.

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paris is for book lovers

And you thought you had a lot of books!

Speaking of Paris and books, here are some titles I’ll be feasting on next. If you know of any other Frenchie must-reads, please let me know!

 
     
        

Bonne Journée!