Archived Articles
Letter from Paris Part 1 - Joyeuses
Pâques
April 12, 2009
Spring has arrived in Paris. The tilleuls (linden trees)
that line the grand Parisian boulevards are crowned with bright
green leaves. Warm temperatures last week filled cafés and
parks to overflowing making weekdays feel like weekends. Heureusement
(happily), I was among those soaking up the sun every moment I could.
Vive l'indolence à la parisienne! (Long live idleness
Parisian style!)
Last weekend, churches in every arrondissement readied themselves
for le dimanche des rameaux (Palm Sunday) that kicked off
the beginning of la Semaine Sainte (Holy Week). The Cathedral
of Notre Dame was overflowing with the pious as well as the curious.
And the American Cathedral on the Avenue Georges V with its Anglican
traditions welcomed worshippers with palm fronds on its gates.
If you didn't know it is Pâques (Easter time) for religious
reasons, then you would know something is afoot every time you pass
a chocolaterie (chocolate shop). Splendid displays of dark
and milk chocolate eggs are everywhere. Also mixed in are chocolate
fish in celebration of Poisson d'avril, the French version
of our April Fools on April 1. "April's fish" refers to
the joking attempt to paste a paper fish on someone's back without
their knowing it.
Enjoy browsing the Paris chocolate shop windows below which are some
of the best chocolateries in the city. And Joyeuses Pâques
to you and yours!

La Maison du Chocolat
La Maison du Chocolat

Dalloyau
Debauve et Gallais
French Take-Out
~ La France à emporter
Of course, buying chocolate in Paris is facile (easy) and
it transports well. But if you want to get a taste of some of the
French chocolates above and skip the trans-Atlantic flights, check
out La
Maison du Chocolat in New York. They have three boutiques in
the Big Apple, and they ship as well. www.lamaisonduchocolat.com
And Paris' oldest chocolate shop, Debauve et Gallais, also has a
New York outpost. Their online store makes it simple to have chocolate
treats sent chez vous. Bonne dégustation! (Happy
tasting!
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