Sunday 8 April 2012

Happy Easter!


Easter has sent the chocolate makers of France into a frenzy of ever more elaborate creations. Shops are stuffed with eggs, rabbits and hens, all presented with miles of ribbon and chic plastic packaging. Here's the window of Apt's finest patissier-confiseur J. C. Rousset - a personal opinion, of course, as the French will happily debate the relative merits of competing establishments (especially where bread and desserts are concerned) with gusto and forensic attention to detail.

And it may be Easter Sunday but there were plenty more shoppers with exacting standards at the local Vide Grenier this morning. This may be of lesser quality than a Brocante - literally, a "Clear the Attic" sale - but the crowds were out and the prices ranged as ever from the near-gift to the insanely optimistic. (Perhaps both ends of the scale are a reaction to the eye-wateringly high cost of all the Easter chocolate: the large egg pictured, gleaming dark and red-marbled, was 53 euros...) 

A bright sun shone cruelly on many of the dustier items but in amongst the mountains of rubbish, you can always find gems at these events. Today there was plenty of nice glassware, and some interesting pieces of garden furniture. Here's what we came back with, given that our intent was just a stroll around under blue skies: a small wooden side-table, useful in all sorts of places, for 5 euros and a pretty tray for one euro. Last of the big spenders, eh? But there's nothing like coming back with a bargain!


12 comments:

Forest Dream Weaver said...

A dream for chocolate lovers everywhere!

Happy Easter,
Ruby

Unknown said...

I just put on 6 kilos by looking at your picture. Happy Easter, Deborah!

Libby said...

Thanks for sharing your Easter chocolate! :)

Yvonne Osborne said...

What a beautiful shop window. Who could resists? My sisters and I can make truffles to compete with the best of the French patissiers. Of course presentation is everything and we need to work on our packaging, ribbons and bows.

K said...

You found some real bargains, I love the table. I'm also loving the photo of the chocolate...delicious.

Happy Easter!

Muriel said...

Happy French Easter then! I have already eaten far too much chocolate...Congrats for the bargain, it looks very nice!

Lynne with an e said...

You came home with a delightful Easter basket I'd say. I can't believe the price of that chocolate!

Libby said...

Very good buys indeed... just my style. Today was gorgeous here, but I never even left the house: too busy in the garden. Trying now to get a post together to show some of what I did!

Elizabeth Young said...

Loved the Chocolateir's picture. It reminds me of a large Chocolateir's on Lord Street in Southport. I loved to walk by their so much as a child! Around Eastertime it was a paradise simply to look.

vicki archer said...

GReat finds at the vide grenier Deborah.... I hope you had a wonderfully relaxing Easter... xv

Sara Louise said...

I think I'm going to have to pay J. C. Rousset a visit next time I'm in Apt :)

aguja said...

The first Easter Eggs that I have seen! Spain does not really go in for them; they have 'monas de pascua', a sweet bread with a small (often hard boiled) egg in the centre.
My eyes feast on the delight ... and in that way I shall not over indulge!

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