Quinconces Antique Fair Bordeaux France

The beautiful fountain at the Place Des Quinconces where the fair is held.

I am in Bordeaux at the moment to shop this amazing antique fair.  Hundreds of sellers are here showing their wares.  It is a two day shopping trip to see all that there is to see.  Day one is finished. 

At the moment I am in my room at the beautiful Grand Hotel de Bordeaux.  My room is gorgeous and was so welcoming after a day walking in the dust of yet another brocante. The Grand Hotel was designed by the incredible Jacques Garcia who also did the Hotel Costes in Paris. 


I cannot recommend highly enough this exceptional  hotel.  It makes the drudgery of walking and pulling my wheelie something wonderful to look forward to at the end of the day.

Next time you come to Paris you might think about coming to the magnificent and historic city of Bordeaux. I think it is the most elegant city in France...

photo by telegraph.co.uk

I know how much you all love Christofle silver so I have been lucky in finding several vintage boxed sets, all in fabulous condition.

I haven't listed anything purchased today on either of my web sites but will shortly.

I am here another day and cannot wait until tomorrow to see the treasures I will be able to buy and bring to you.

It is your support that makes this possible and for this, I thank you so very much.  Merci Beaucoup!!!

A Bientôt

Audrey

Tea in the afternoon

photo from 1000things-london.com

This photo is from Tea at the Ritz in London which is my all time favorite place to go for tea in London.  In Paris it is, without a doubt, the Hotel George V.  It is simply the best.

Four seasons.com



Though we all think of teatime being started in England, it's a little known fact, but after its introduction to Europe in the 17th century tea was tremendously popular in France. It first arrived in Paris in 1636 (22 years before it appeared in England!) and quickly became popular among the aristocracy. . .

Wherever it started, it is definitely a lovely addition to the days meals.  Most people, here in France, do consider teatime a daily ritual.

 Tea was so popular in Paris that Madame de Sévigné, who chronicled the doings of the Sun King and his cronies in a famous series of gossipy letters to her daughter, often found herself mentioning tea. . . . Madame de Sévigné also reported that it was a Frenchwoman, the Marquise de la Sablière, who initiated the fashion of adding milk to tea. "Madame de la Sablière took her tea with milk, as she told me the other day, because it was to her taste." (By the way, the English delighted in this "French touch" and immediately adopted it.)

As a break between lunch and a late dinner, tea is the perfect way to entertain without the daunting experience of a full meal.  I recently did just that and added some wonderful champagne to my menu.

peggyporschen.com

What to serve at afternoon tea is up to you.  It is normally held between 4-5 in the afternoon.

I like to serve open faced cucumber sandwiches, always with butter, a touch of sea salt on white bread.  I cut everything into pieces that can be easily picked up and eaten in one or two bites.

In addition, open faced smoked salmon sandwiches are always popular.  I make these on rye or wheat bread ( crusts removed)  spread with herbal cream cheese and topped with a small piece of smoked salmon and a dill sprig.

For a nice presentation, garnish the plates with watercress sprigs and some radishes.

Add some sweet tea cakes, scones or whatever you like and you are good to go.

French Vintage Home has several tea sets on it's web site.  Here are a couple and if you are interested in them, just click on the blue link or go to www.frenchvintagehome.com.

Limoges Tea Set

French Erquis silverplate tea set

Enjoy!!!!

A Bientot.....

Audrey