Market Days

I love sunny Saturday mornings spent wandering about the Powerhouse Markets.  It is so refreshing after a week spent in an air-conditioned office and the fact that the skies cleared enough for a little sunshine to appear made me all the more glad to get out and about.  While James caught up with Stuart for breakfast at Lady Marmalade, I met up with Caroline for a market breakfast of my favourite pain au raisin from the French Sin patisserie stall and a Merlo coffee to clear the cobwebs before meandering our way through the produce stalls.  Fresh figs, basil, rosemary, mushrooms, garlic, semolina pasta and big bunches of pink asters were my picks.  The flower lady called her asters recovery flowers as they were the first plantings to bloom after the Queensland floods.  After posting about Parisian macarons during the week I was reminded to try the local market macarons... and they did not disappoint! Tiramisu, Lavender and Pistachio, yum!  Oh dear...

Laduree Windows

You may already know I have a bit of a macaron obsession... I haven't indulged since we arrived back but only because macarons aren't quite as readily available as they seem to be in Paris... just as well for me I suppose because I can never seem to stop at just one!  These photos were taken when Laduree changed their display windows after Valentines Day.  I wish I had stocked up on some of their tea in the pretty green cannisters... I wonder what these lovely Laduree windows are displaying at the moment...

Powerhouse Farmers' Markets

We were graced with the most beautiful Brisbane weather on Saturday morning waking up to glorious sunshine and clear azure skies.  We headed over to the Powerhouse Farmers' Markets to pick up fresh produce and flowers for the special birthday high tea we were hosting the following day.  The markets were so busy with early risers but lovely and colourful with so much to tempt us.  Perhaps it's because I am still thinking of France but I definitely found myself charmed by all the French inspired stalls brimming with macarons and pain au raisin.  I loved the plum tomatoes in the baskets and the cake stall was amazing with towers of the biggest lamingtons I have ever seen! A wonderful way to start the weekend...

Valentines Display at Ladurée

Ok, I know this is a somewhat belated Valentines Day blog but I had to share these photos of the delicious window display at Ladurée on the Champs-Élysées celebrating the day.  It was our second day in Paris and it's probably a bit clichéd but it was a lovely place to be for Valentines as the myriad of chocolatières and pâtisseries lining the boulevards and avenues put up the most decorative displays and make it really fun... and terribly tempting! I'm going to miss those macarons...

We ended the day with picking up a bunch of roses from a florist on the Seine and a loaf of brioche we couldn't resist.  It was so cold the flowers stayed almost immaculate for the entire week. The hotel left lovely chocolate hearts with praline filling from Foucher in little bags tied with ribbon on our pillows and I admit it would have to be some of the best chocolate I've tasted.  Thank goodness we walked for miles every day in our exploration of the City of Light to balance out all our indulging!

Parisian Macarons

Only one more sleep before we go to Paris!  So looking forwards to all the galleries, architecture, shopping...  and macarons from Laduree!

Strawberry Chocolate Macarons

Last weekend we got together for another macaron making session.  Disaster!  I recently bought a new recipe book promising much simpler steps.  Needless to say the first batch went straight into the bin and we reverted back to the tried and true sixteen step recipe.  With new success I will attempt to forget the unfortunate mishap and relegate the new book to the back of the shelf!  The strawberry chocolate filling provided a nice tart contrast to the sweetness of the shells.

Macarons and Jasper Conran

It's been a busy few weeks and I must admit I haven't been a very dedicated blogger of late.  James brought home these yummy macarons from Kenchington Patisserie tonight.  They are making them better and better over there! They are the best value macarons in town I think, and also the best kept secret.  The Chocolate, Rose Water and Caramel almond pastries came in a cute little pack of three. The standout was definitely the Caramel this time around.  I made myself a cup of my favourite Tea Forte Oolong tea that come in silky mesh triangles. It all looked so inviting on my Jasper Conran Chinoiserie set.  I'm collecting pieces from this Wedgewood range, I'm totally in love with all of it!

Moët and Macarons

So we decided to celebrate the Chinese New Year with... you guessed it, macarons!  Chatting with Anton and Oi Lai over Friday night dinner we decided it would be a good challenge to attempt to make these notoriously temperamental pastries together over the weekend.  Armed with Hisako Ogita's I (Heart) Macarons recipe book we combined our efforts to create quite a respectable first batch.  Pistachio macarons with bitter ganache filling enjoyed with a chilled glass of Moet.  An auspicious start to the Year of the Tiger!

French and Flowers

While in Melbourne we breakfasted on chocolate and almond croissants from Laurent Boulangerie. They served coffee in fantastic glossy black facetted coffee cups with gold trim. They reminded me a little of Limoges porcelain although less fine. We wandered past Flinders Street Station where I spotted the most colourful array of flowers at a stall next to the entry. I was also very happy to spot Lindt Cafe newly opened on Collins Street where we stocked up on their french macarons. The display is just too tempting!

Tea & Mahjong

What lovely weather on Saturday! And a very indulgent afternoon. James and I started the morning with a quick whip around town to Flour Power for their amazing goodies, over to the Broadway Markets for flowers and the most beautiful strawberries, and lastly over to Milton for final touches. We met up with Ruen, Michael and Tammy to see Geneve and Joe's newly arrived baby Jack. Jack is of course gorgeous and sweet. We thought since Geneve and Joe are in a busy period of being new parents and not able to join us, we would take afternoon tea to them! Pain au chocolat and caramel slice all round!

Off home to our little city apartment for refreshments and an afternoon of mahjong madness. We had decided that it would be the best way to catch up with Ruen and Michael who travelled up from Sydney to visit. They brought us the most lovely french macarons from Lindt cafe at Martin Place. An afternoon of sweet treats, tea and many hours of mahjong ensued!