Mood Monday

 

A soft light in an upstairs window warms up a still Montmartre night.

 

Soufflé Saturday

 

Blown away in Paris... One soufflé at a time.

 

Above: le soufflé au Grand Marnier

 

Joséphine Chez Dumonet

117 rue du Cherche-Midi 75006

 

 

Fotomaton Friday

 

 

A line outside an iconic vintage FotoAutomat on a Montmartre back street.

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Known for its whimsical feel and associated with the film “Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain” (2001), this wildly popular 1960s-style black-and-white strip photo booth (4 photos per strip) set into the storefront of the FotoAutomat shop in the heart of picturesque Montmartre, produces nostalgic, retro-style prints that make affordable souvenirs (€4–€6 range, payable by card or coin). The booth's vintage aesthetic - polished mirror, fun details like a small moving skeleton inside - fits perfectly with the neighborhood's bohemian/quirky reputation. TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms have exploded its visibility in recent years as friends and couples patiently line up, often for hours, just to be able to squeeze in for its retro black-and-white shots. It's marketed as a "must-do" hidden gem or a "one-of-a-kind Parisian moment," drawing tourists (especially younger crowds) who want an authentic, Instagrammable experience. Weekends and afternoons are best avoided as there are shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. Nice to see in a world of rapidly evolving technology and new trends. - BPJ

Montmartre FotoAutomat #07
53 rue des Trois Frères 75018 

 

Open  8:30 AM to 11 PM, 7 days a week

 

Throwback Thursday

 

 

The atelier of painters' model / artist Suzanne Valadon aglow at sundown. 

 Renoir Gardens

Musée de Montmartre
12 rue Cortot 75018

 

Walking the dog Wednesday

 

 

A cobbled street in Montmartre.

Fat Tuesday

 

 

 A trayful of Crookies, the croissant-cookie dough hybrid sensation, tout juste sorti du four.

 

Below: at Maison Louvard, where the Crookie originated  

 

  

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Today is Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, last chance to indulge before Le Carême (Lent) starts tomorrow when food austerity kicks in for the next weeks leading up to Easter. The emphasis is on feasting, using up rich, fatty foods like butter, eggs, sugar and lard before the Lenten fast so nothing goes to waste. Traditionally, crêpes, beignets (bugnes or oreillettes in some regions), gaufres and other sweets have taken center stage.

 

Enter the slightly monstrous yet irresistible newcomer, the Crookie, the ultimate jolie-laide / “beautiful-ugly” Franken-pastry creation that, for some, has become another excuse to come to Paris. The concept was simple: a croissant is split open, crammed with chocolate chip cookie dough, topped off with more, then rebaked until the edges crisp and the center stays molten. A lovable oddball (weighing in at up to 900 calories) it was inspired by Stéphane Louvard in 2022, and in 2024 went mega-viral on TikTok. Today, the Crookie is still drawing queues and has copycats worldwide. At €5.90 to €7.10 depending if it’s to be taken away or savored sur place, it's not cheap, but then again, it's cheaper than therapy - and so far, seems to be more “croissant” than "crook." Classic croissant defenders (and admittedly I was one of them) call it heresy - but then, there’s that first bite.... - BPJ

 

Maison Louvard

(Café Bistrot Restaurant Boulangerie)

11 rue de Châteaudun 75009 

 

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 Update: Paris's annual Mardi-Gras Boeuf Gras (Fat Cow) carnival and parade has been cancelled this year

  

Mocha Monday

Winter morning café glow... One cup at a time.