Le Salon Du Chocolat: A Plethora of Eye Candy!
Bonjour,
Tuesday was a no-photo day for us as it was laundry day. I know that sounds crazy but a load of laundry takes just under two hours, and if you have 3 or 4 loads, you do the math. Then there’s the trek up the street to a dryer (our lavamatic is still closed for repairs)! So all of that combined with a dreary cold day had us pretty occupied.
But we made up for the lapse yesterday by attending a huge annual event here in Paris. We, along with hundreds of others, attended Le Salon du Chocolat at the convention center in the suburbs. It was the 25th anniversary of this much-anticipated event which included 260 booth presenters (only 3 from the USA), cooking demos, a global section with chocolate companies from around the world, a food court, samples galore, a Junior chef area where the kids could learn to make chocolate delights, and the chocolate fashion show (which unfortunately we didn’t know about in time). Many thanks to my friend Carolyn Barnabo for sending a website that brought this to our attention.
Here’s a walk-through in pictures that are truly eye candy. Everything you are about to see is chocolate!
Before we left for the show, we ate lunch at a new spot in the Marais called Les Foodies. It was quite good but pricey, great reviews.
And for us the subway ride produced something we haven’t seen for probably twelve years, a puppet show! We were on one of the older cars which is constructed to facilitate the curtain. Such fun and plenty of special memories.
Our street repair is moving along rather slowly. Here’s some photos of the work yesterday morning. It’s hard to believe that in 2019, they were applying the black top by hand, bucket by bucket! Artisanship still matters!
And finally some more fall color and a splash of fall mums. 
Our light photo of the day is a funny. Bernie’s remark was, “Oh, look! We have to cross the street walking upside down!” 
Some of you missed the blog yesterday, saying that its absence messed up the rhythm of your morning…how nice!
À bientôt
L & B
October 31, 2019 @ 7:34 am
HOLY MOLY!!! What a sight!!
October 31, 2019 @ 7:48 am
So neat to see all the chocolate entries. I would have loved to have seen the fashion show. We saw some pictures of chocolate dresses on one of our excursions. I could not believe it. The chocolate chef—not sure what you call them—said that the chocolate wasn’t next to the skin but put on a light fabric. I have no idea how they do that without the chocolate melting. I know from experience that it doesn’t last long in my hand, which is the reason for M&M’s.
October 31, 2019 @ 2:57 pm
Can’t wait to see you both on Saturday for more adventures! Hope your cruise was everything you had hoped for, even with the slow start.
October 31, 2019 @ 11:08 am
Oh my gosh what a fun exhibit the chocolate extravaganza was to see. Such creative displays! As were your lunch dishes. I love good food, especially when the presentation is so well done.
October 31, 2019 @ 11:24 am
Always enjoy your blog. Today was certainly a special “treat”. Thanks for so graciously sharing your wonderful photos and valuable time. Enjoy and travel safely.
October 31, 2019 @ 2:56 pm
Great to hear from you. Understand it’s supposed to freeze tonight in Hsv. How’s everything with the mail?
October 31, 2019 @ 11:34 am
I always enjoy ALL your photos, but am still partial to the gorgeous dishes you order and photograph… lets us enjoy the cafes vicariously! Thank you.
October 31, 2019 @ 2:55 pm
Bernie is shy about taking photos of food, but I try to sneak a few. He’s French, you know, and thinks it’s rude!!
October 31, 2019 @ 12:46 pm
Thanks Linda! Really great to see the ROLL TIDE elephant.
October 31, 2019 @ 2:54 pm
Well, I believe that elephant was from somewhere in Africa! But Roll Tide anyway
October 31, 2019 @ 12:49 pm
All that chocolate … oh my goodness … where do you start to get a taste.
And that cute little girl … looks like she may have had some parental guidance regarding the next tasty treat. “tu en as eu assez” (you’ve had enough … according to Google)
What a fun and tasty day.
October 31, 2019 @ 1:27 pm
Showing the tap water carafe answered a question about Paris water I had forgotten to ask. Looks like the workers are hand pouring asphalt/tar between brick pavers, would you show the finished product later so I can understand? It’s hard to imagine the difficulty in providing modern utilities to such an old city. They are interesting, but I am not sure what somebody does with chocolate shoes.
October 31, 2019 @ 2:53 pm
Sent you some pics in email of the finished road!
October 31, 2019 @ 5:20 pm
Yum! (Our original comment was “too short,” so we had to go back and add words. Never before in life have I been told that anything I said was too short!)
October 31, 2019 @ 9:50 pm
What an experience! As is the laundry! Something about the sublime to ridiculous but necessary. Well done on all the schlepping and hope the ‘new’ road looks good.
Love the upside-down green man and Bernie’s comment 🙂
November 2, 2019 @ 10:42 pm
And that elephant’s head is a big shout out to your Bama fans! This was a great post! Thanks!
November 3, 2019 @ 8:35 pm
Foie gras and chocolate… 🤢
What a fun day! If I couldn’t have afforded the stilettos, I would have settled for the flip flops.
Loving the journey with you!
November 12, 2019 @ 8:02 pm
Catching up on your blog. Now I’m hungry!!! Always SO entertaining! Hope you and Bernie are well!