David Lebovitz: Living The Sweet Life in Paris

I have recently become a devotee of David Lebovitz's blog, Living the Sweet Life in Paris.

Lebovitz, an accomplished pastry chef (for Alice Waters and Lindsey Shere at Chez Panisse, among others) and author, is currently living in Paris, where he writes his blog on life and food in Paris, leads gastronomic tours around France and works on book projects as well, most recently the autobiographical The Sweet Life in Paris and The Perfect Scoop, perhaps the best book on ice creams, sorbets and granitas.

The blog is full of useful addresses and ideas, many of which have led me to interesting places.

For tech-minded travelers, you can buy David's smartphone Paris Pastry app for $4.99. With this, you will never be without a guide to the best pastry and chocolate shops in Paris, including all addresses for those with more than one.

Bobby Jay

Chocolate and Zucchini

I recently discovered Clotilde Dusoulier, a 30-year old Frenchwoman who is a food blogger, cookbook author and travel writer, all written in perfect, humorous English.

Chocolate & Zucchini is well-known to people who follow food. It is clever, useful and well-written. One of my favorite features is her series (with excellent explanations and examples) of "edible" French idioms, such as "être tout sucre tout miel," "mettre la main dans la pâte," and "pédaler dans la semoule," to name just a few.

Bobby Jay

Magnificent Japanese Ceramics

As my posts on my recent trip to Japan indicate, an essential element of elegant Japanese kaiseki meals is provided by the plates and vessels used to showcase the presentation of the food. A fantastic website for a wide variety of amazing contemporary Japanese ceramics - vessels and sculpture alike - may be found at http://www.mirviss.com.

Bobby Jay

Lunch in Paris

Elizabeth Bard is a journalist who lives in Paris and writes about food. She has a lovely blog, all about Paris, at http://elizabethbard.blogspot.com, and has written a book that hit the shelves in February: Lunch In Paris: A Love Story, With Recipes.

Check out her web site.

Bobby Jay

Tartelette

An excellent blog that is lot like Cannelle et Vanille is Tartelette. The blogger is Helen, a French expatriate living in Charleston, SC who learned to make exquisite pastries by working in bakeries and a restaurant. Lovely pictures and recipes. http://tartelette.blogspot.com

Bobby Jay

The Times' 50 Best Food Blogs

Usually I don't recommend things that I don't know from first-hand knowledge, but this link -- to the Times' 50 Best Food Blogs -- is so potentially useful that I am giving it without personal analysis of their choices. But I do note that my favorite Cannelle et Vanille is Number 2, and Tartelette is included, too, so the list can't be all bad.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/real_food/article5561425.ece

Bobby Jay

Sumptuous Food Illustrations

Charlotte Knox is a fantastic watercolorist who specializes in plants (edible and non-) and fish and shellfish. Her works are just lovely; some are quite naturalistic, while others juxtapose realistic images to project a more abstract quality. www.charlotteknox.com

Bobby Jay

Cannelle et Vanille

I recently discovered a popular blog that is concerned with pastries and dessert. Magnificent photos and tempting recipes, although the ones I have looked at are somewhat complex and not for beginners. The author, Aran, is of French Basque origin and comes from a line of pastry chefs. www.cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com

Bobby Jay

The City Cook

A friend put me on to an excellent site, www.thecitycook.com. It has articles on many subjects, such as what's in season and what to do with it, cookbook reviews (mostly of books that I was not aware of), and interesting products and purveyors.

Bobby Jay

Food and Culture Blog

For an interesting blog on food and culture, with really sumptuous photos and unusual recipes, try www.fiveoclockteaspoon.com

Bobby Jay