The flower of Toulouse

I apologize for not posting sooner than I previously mentioned-it turned out that the past 2 weeks have been more busy than I thought! Just as I promised, my next post is about one of Marie Antoinette's favorite scents-violet. This flower is not only used for decoration, but is also used in cooking and baking and is a well-known scent. There are many violet-related products out there. Here a few of my favorites that evoke Marie Antoinette:

Candied Violets, $44

I know the price is a bit high, but this 6.5 oz bag of candied violets imported from France are just the thing to decorate and flavor baked goods and also sweeten your tea. Treat yourself! Buy it on Amazon.com.

Violettes de Toulouse Eau de Tiolette, 80 mL, $42

Some of the best violets have been cultivated in Toulouse, France, since 1936, where they are famously known as violettes de Toulouse. The Berdoues Perfumery is the maker of this elegant eau de toilette, which comes with an atomizer so you can spritz it on just like in the good old days. It is available on Beauty Cafe, where you can also buy the eau de parfum version.

Violettes de Toulouse Boxed Set of Bath Soaps, $26

Also made by the Berdoues Perfumery are these violet bath soaps. They come in a set of three and are triple-milled for the most fragrance and longevity. These would make a great gift and are available on eBubbles.

Paéva Air Fragrance, 35 €

Manufactured by Ladurée, this air fragrance is scented of violets and the "the soft, clean smell of a forest after rain". Spray it in your room for the smell of spring! It comes in a 100 ml bottle at Laduree.fr.

Hopefully these pretty products will entice you to try out this lovely flower and its scent. For more information about the violet, visit the following websites:
La Maison de la Violette
Expatica

-R*

Easter 2007 at Ladurée

Easter is only a couple days away...and what better way to celebrate than with something sweet(I'm sure many of you have given up dessert for Lent, as have I)?? Celebrate Easter with elegance...Laduree's 2007 Easter creations are perfect for the occasion. Here's a tempting list of what they are offering this year:
-Chocolate eggs in various flavors
-Pink or Green chocolate bunnies
-Three new Easter flavors of macarons: Chocolate Blackcurrant, Chocolate Passion Fruit, & Chocolate Lime
In addition to this, they are offering these even more mouthwatering treats, with descriptions from their website:
-Easter Eggs, available in various colors and boxes of 9 or 16:
*Green: chocolate ganache and pistachio paste
*Pink: crispy praline and milk chocolate ganache
*Violet-violet-flavored ganache and candied blackcurrant
*Red-dark chocolate ganache and macaron flakes
-Easter Desserts:
*Dark Chocolate Nest
*Coconut and Strawberry Nest
And, for Easter 2007, they have created a gift box of Easter bells in various ganache flavors and pastel colors. These are available in boxes of 9 or 16 and are pictured above.
Just typing about these sweet treats makes me hungry. To look at more pictures of what they are offering and the pricing, click here.
Happy Easter!

-R*

Ladurée: it's a candy-colored world

Just as popular now as they were in the 18th century, gourmet macarons are a tribute to the glamorous lifestyle of Marie Antoinette. The pink macarons on the left are from the famous Ladurée bakery in Paris, and are rose petal flavored. They come in many other colors and flavors, including but not limited to: chocolate, vanilla, coffee, raspberry, lemon, etc.

There are also many pretty boxes you can order them in. My favorite is the blue “Bonaparte” box. If you’re looking for a great gift, check out their gift sets. There’s even a “Marie Antoinette” gift set decked out in purple and green. Speaking of which, the candy-colored macarons seen in the 2006 movie "Marie Antoinette" were supplied by Ladurée itself! By now you’re probably wondering where you can get your hands on these delicious treats. The Ladurée shops are located throughout Paris, and there are other locations in Monaco, Geneva, and London as well. Unfortunately, many of us live on the other side of the world (like me) and can only dream about these macarons in our sleep. But wait: Gesine, a confectionary and gourmet market in Vermont, offers French-recipe macaroons with a twist in maple, mocha, or lemon flavors. You can order them online at their website. Bon apetit!

Know of any bakeries in your area that sell killer macarons? Or a website where you can order them online? Leave a comment with your name and the name of the bakery/company in this post.

-R*