You can tell Christmas is coming when you see decorations and... advertising for chocolates everywhere!! This one shows an old ad for Suchard, a very old Swiss brand (founded in 1825!) that I remember clearly from my youth (no, I was not born in the 19th century!!). What I just found out is that now this Chocolaterie belongs to Kraft Foods, the the second-largest food and beverage company in the world. Things change...
Ah Swiss Chocolate...Divin!
ReplyDeleteIt smells Christmas again, lights on the background and smell of chocolate! Nice framing Eric.
*GASP!*
ReplyDeleteEric, this photo is divine! What a beautiful scene. The lights give the appearance of snow falling.
Awwww....Chocolate~~ Guille~~GF you go girl...A chocolate crown!
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely photo, Eric. I really love the way that you caught the two in the background... the tenderness of their attitude: simple and superb. All of that in just one photo, you are sensitive as noone. Perfect!
ReplyDeleteTry Scharffenberger. You'll thank me.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, a chocolate crown!Thx Gramma Ann. Makes me hungry. Who fancy a homemade hot chocolate? I'm making myself one. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're right Suzy, it's like snow. Disney snow.
And guess where Kraft Foods is? I'm not sure you know, Eric, but it's in .... CHELTENHAM !
ReplyDeleteThis is a really lovely photo Eric, so Christmassy. It's just waiting to be Zazzled! Mind you I just made a calendar and the shipping was almost as much on top! Eek. Still, this should be made into a card I feel.
Yes please Guille, I'll have a hot chocolate! Don't hold it near your crown, it will melt.
ReplyDeleteOh, I remember Suchard!! Cute xmas post!
ReplyDeleteI've had the Scharffenberger chocolates USelaine! Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI'm quite easy to please when it comes to chocolate. I prefer creamy milk to dark. British KitKats straight from my pal in York are my fav. The typical KitKat sold in the USA is very different.
ET Suzy, one of the founders of Scharffen Berger (I guess they altered the other guy's last name) just died a few months ago. Memorial blog site. Both of the men spent many years up here in Mendocino county! Now, the company belongs to Hershey, of all things! I wonder who Cadbury belongs to?
ReplyDeleteYe olde Christmas chocolat ads are sweet...also, nice festive background to set off this ad, Eric! Congrats to Guille with the chocolate crown. ET Suzy and Gramma Ann were jsut a few minutes from taking it away from you. ;-)
ReplyDeleteA real coincidence, right now on France Inter Radio, the great (great-great-great) daughter of Suchard is singing! From chocolate to music. Nice family!
ReplyDeleteYeah Coltrane, but I run too fast!! :p
Chocolate and old advertising, two of my favorite things! Great photo, very seasonal :)
ReplyDelete(Suchard's great daughter's name is Christine Zufferey, I just got it. Her music is really jazzy)
ReplyDeleteKnow what you mean, Suzy, about the British chocs abroad. Totally different! I like kitkats too, but also Cadbury's ... best of all used to be a Swiss bar, called Frigor. Wow! That was so yum. I'm talking about the seventies now, so I don't know if it's still made.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photo.. would make a lovely Christmas card.. I, too, like the light making the appearance of snow and I love chocolate... especially dark chocotlate.
ReplyDelete12 more days and I can see this in person.
Christmas! Chocolate! Paris! Next year for me. Lovely photo.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, I look forward to the day when we all live in Kraft city on planet Microsoft in the Disney galaxy. Oh well, as long as they keep things pretty for us!
ReplyDeleteSorry, I'm feeling a bit cynical at the moment.
Ah, Soosh, I was feeling a bit cynical earlier today. But I think Eric's photo has cured me. I may be falling into the Christmas spirit after all. Merci, Eric. This is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThings change... chocolate however will ALWAYS be a great choice. Anytime, anywhere, swiss, belgian, italian, french...
ReplyDeleteGuille I'll have a cup too, thanks.
ReplyDeletehumm swiss chocolate, I'll bet this brings you sweet memories.
I sort of like the image of a chocolate crown melting over Guille's head, one little stream dripping down over an eye, with that impish grin below it. And everyone around her is holding a steaming cup, singing. Ah, Christmas!
ReplyDeleteOoooh,, chocolate!! Lovely photo, Eric. Such an old fashioned look that is so cute!! I am going to have to have hot chocolate in the morning now. I love dark chocolate myself, something I hated until 3 years ago; I guess taste buds do change as you mature!! (Notice I did not say grow old!!) :)
ReplyDelete(If you want to spice up your hot chocolate, try adding a little ancho chili powder and cinnamon to it! It just gives your tongue a little tingle. So yummy!)
Lynn is right Eric, this should be zazzled, it is a beautiful image, perfect for this time of year.
ReplyDelete& you know, coincidentally I have the same exact reproduction of the three little girls!
Then again, I don't believe in coincidences.
; )
I do love chocolate...I do, I do!! Of course French chocolate is my favorite, but I was just given some Belgian Chocolate as a gift and I'm eating it now as I post..not bad!!
ReplyDeleteDavid Lebovitz does wonderful Chocolate Tours in Paris..perhaps one day I'll take that tour and face my addiction head on!! LOL!!
Unfortunately, Godiva is owned by a US concern, too.
ReplyDeleteI have one of these tin Suchard signs in my kitchen. It's of a little girl holding a box of chocolates. I also have one of a little boy holding a box of LU cookies. These are vintage signs -- see in the corners they have drilled a hole so that you can nail it to the wall. Good publicity champagne in re-releasing these vintage signs to the public.
ReplyDeleteKraft is buying LU cookies. The transactions should be complete in 2009. They are buying LU from Danone yogurt company. Nestle SA, is the world's largest food company by revenue. They bought out Dreyers ice cream a couple of years ago. I use to work on the artwork for Dreyers ice cream products.
I love chocolate. My X doesn't like it. Now, how can someone NOT like chocolate? I think the LU 70% extreme chocolate cookies are heavenly. I like Mayan hot chocolate with a little spice.
My daughter use to work at Joseph Schmidt Chocolatier (Belgian chocolates) here in San Francisco. She use to make truffles. Very beautiful -- a work of art. Here is a link if you would like to see their designs for the holidays. Their Mosaics collection is very original.
http://www.artisanconfection.com/stores/josephschmidt/
USElaine, The Hershey Co. purchased Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker, Inc., at the same time they purchased Joseph Schmidt Chocolatier. My daughter was sad when they were going through the transactions.
soosha_q, Be cynical! It's very refreshing. Do not say you are sorry :-)
Welllllll...you all know what else Kraft is famous for don't you???? Kraft Cheese if you want to call it that! LOL!!
ReplyDeleteTonton_Flaneur, I like Kraft creme cheese with Italian dry salami. Oh, and French bread and wine.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same about the lights in the background...like snow if you look quick.
ReplyDeleteI also see these three little girls a bit ghostly. Like they are watching over the two at the shop window - but not in a good way, but slightly evil.
Soosha_q, being cynical has it's merits, but it can wear on you too. Look at what happened to all of those folks in cynical valley.
Now Tonton, you hit a nerve there. Kraft cheese (Velveeta to be more specific) DOES have it's qualities! ;-)
I love the people window shopping in the background.
ReplyDeleteLynn, to take advantage of Zazzle you have to watch for their "sales" if you will. For example, they just had a Free Shipping deal going on. As for making this photo into a card (or anything for sale), I think Eric might get in trouble due to copyright, but I'm not sure. Any legal experts out there?
ReplyDeleteYes, Michael and Lois...There is something to be said about Mac and Cheese made with Velveeta isn't there?? Don't forget the bread crumb topping! Shhhhhh!! Don't Tell!! LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteMichael, Yes there are infringement issues. If it is a one time original print, no problem there. That is how Andy Warhol evaded the infringement with the Campbell's Soup Can silk screen print, Marilyn, Elvis, etc. Each silk screen is different as they are done by hand. So no two are alike -- even though they seem to be.
ReplyDeleteTonton_Flaneur, Nothing like a toasted-grilled Velveeta cheese sandwich. Yum
ReplyDeleteI want what Lois is eating! I love Kraft Neufchatel cheese, and cream cheese, with anything and everything. It's how I maintain my impressive figure.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet, charming, beautiful photo, Eric. Merci.
ReplyDeleteYes of course, Michael, copyright would be a nightmare. I could pop into the UK HQ down the road to ask? ;) Hey maybe I'd get free chocs! I've never been in.
ReplyDeleteThe Zazzle thing - free shipping was advertised when I made my calendar, Michael but on checkout, there it was, $16 for shipping! I paid it because I'm sending it to my parents so couldn't wait but I'm not too impressed.
Soosh you look fab! I'm going to have to put myself into Photoshop to match your figure now!
Cynical Valley, Michael? I hope you aren't talking about my lovely Silicon-enhanced San Jose! Us? Cynical? Nah. I resemble that remark.
ReplyDelete:)
All this talk of Kraft buying up this and that makes me glad at least one US company is doing well!
Lois, I love LU Petit Ecolier cookies (my French is terrible, did I spell it right?). The chocolate on them in a mile thick. My French Mom-in-law has LU cookies hidden all over the house! Shhhh, don't tell her I know.
Lynn, my Twynn, if you change your photo, we won't be twins anymore!
Copyrights? I see a lot of reproductions of so-called Parisian stuff in the stores here in the US and nobody cares in the least. The photograph is original, after all.
ReplyDeleteGet your legal opinion from someone in the trade, Eric, not from us. ;)
Ohhh I know, twinnie! It was an agonising decision. I had some people saying they couldn't see me properly! Though why they would want to do that is beyond me lol! I shall change back again tonight I think, as I love being twinnies.
ReplyDeleteSuper nice photo.
ReplyDeleteSuper nice photo.
ReplyDeleteHey Lois...see how complicated copyright laws can be? Timely issue, non? ;-)
ReplyDeleteHey Twinnie! One more change before tonight. LOL !
ReplyDeleteWonderful image, Eric. Like Sharon, I especially like the couple window-shopping in the background.
ReplyDeleteMy deux centimes:
Chocolat --
Il faut pas
Manger trop
Ou tu seras gros!
But who can resist? Best meal I ever had on a plane was in 1967 on Indian Airlines -- vegetable samosas, chai, and Cadbury chocolate bars (Cadbury tasted even better back then, for some reason).
Good girl, Guille -- GF!
Très jolie photo ;-)
ReplyDeleteMalheureusement, toutes nos bonnes marques européennes de chocolat se font racheter par Kraft (Milka qui appartenait à Suchard, Cote d'Or...)
Tomate Farcie, Yes, I am in the IP profession (Intellectual Property, Trade Secrets, Copyrights, Trademarks, Patents and Domain Infringement, Trademark and Patent Drawings). I bill by the hour. I am very expensive and do contract work as a Specialist via global law firms.
ReplyDelete"Get your legal opinion from someone in the trade, Eric, not from us." Eric did not ask us for a legal opinion.:) Michael was just wondering. Anyway, I don't "give" legal opinions. I just happened to be talking with an IP attorney on the subject, and asked him the question that Michael put out there. And that was the answer of Martin Majestic, Esq. (his speciality is IP). He has been in the profession for ever. I remember once, he told me that one of his clients was a member of the UK royal family. I saw the stationery -- very impressive. Messrs. Majestic is also a very nice man. He and his colleagues have contributed a lot to my career.
Use whichever photo you like, Lynn! I won't whine about it (too much).
ReplyDeleteChristmastime in France, don't miss the Pyrénéens by Lindt, only available this time of year. I bought two boxes at a Franprix before I left last week. They are luxe, calme, and volupté for sure.
ReplyDelete(http://www.lindt.fr/364/1372/1381.asp)
It's fun to have a swap around isn't it, but I am missing my Photoshopped one!
ReplyDelete"Nothing like a toasted-grilled Velveeta cheese sandwich" Aaaaaah!
ReplyDeleteAre you all fans of this thing?!
I'll taste it, probably tomorrow, an American friend bought some Velveeta cheese for me in Louisville (Kentucky, yeah baby). I think I'm afraid.
Wish me good luck Michael!
I've never even heard of Velveeta apart from on here! I'm curious to see what you say, Guille.
ReplyDeleteAnother Blue and Gold Gem from Eric! Its beautiful - very Christmas-y. I miss all the tourist-ware-hawkers already!!
ReplyDeleteGuille - I just took the opportunity to look at a close up of your new photo - its excellent!
Petrea -- not to worry - I couldn't have done all these things without a plan. I have four pages, single spaced, of places and things I wanted to do, arranged by arrondisement. They're a bit worn, but I can xerox them easily enough!! : )
(My final post from Paris comes from LA!) After my last post, I got 3 hours sleep, then went to see what the concierge had told me about, betwixt packing and dashing to the plane.
I started at the bottom of the rue des Martyrs as it climbs the hill, Sacre Coeur's domes rising bright in the eastern light, then turned right and walked the rue de Condorcet, an area which housed many famous artists, writers and musicians. I was looking for two art nouveau buildings he'd told me of and they were impossible to miss when I saw them. Dripping with darkly contrasting ornamental floral shapes and female figures, they evoked the Paris of the '20's. While people did their morning errands or stopped for breakfast at cafes and tabacs, I stood and let it soak in.
After leaving these confections, I went south to the Place Franz Liszt (yes, he lived nearby) and looked up at the imposing columns of St. Vincent de Paul. Despite a somewhat worn facade, the interior was amazing. Among other things, extremely detailed mosaics line the whole length of the upper reaches of the church and culminate in the dome's mosaic. They show a procession of all types of figures - hundreds of them, leading to the altar.
Then, I walked down the rue de Lafayette, past a certain General Lafayette, and just before the Opera Garnier, went into a Societe Generale Bank which looked perfectly normal from the outside, but which hides a palace inside. Suddenly you leave 2008 and walk into 1870: gold, white, and blue mosaics cover the floors and walls; marble, ironwork, brass, bronze and dark wood fixtures abound. Topping this off is a white, brown, green and gold stained glass dome that exceeds the beauty of the dome across the street at Printemps because it hasn't been chopped off at the knees as that one has, but, instead is in its original setting.
When I saw the mosaics on the floor, I realized that the same colors and a similar pattern had been used for the Christmas lights on the Galeries Lafayette; but I'd been ignorant of that the other night. In the lobby there's a model of the building and an interactive screen which gives all kinds of info.
It was hard to leave. But, what a wonderful gift to get on my last morning! Merci, Paris!!
Wonderful! I hope you gave that concierge the 40 Euros Guille recommended...
ReplyDeletePetrea -- yes I did, and a few other things I had purchased but couldn't take with me as well. He was a very, very nice guy and another one of Paris' ambassadors. Bless them all!
ReplyDeleteLois, thanks for the correction. 1) I didn't realize you might think I was talking about you personally, and 2) I didn't realize we had such an expert on board.
ReplyDeleteListen, since you brought up your expertise and everything, here is my 2 cents: unless your Mr. Majestic has multiple personality or something, it's definitely not "Messrs. Majestic is a nice man," just "Mr." But you better look it up because I'm definitely not an expert.
On second thought, my comment might seem a little harsh or snide and I apologize for that. But really, Lois, you might have realized that my original comment was meant somewhat as a joke.
ReplyDeleteBest, TF
I do so love a grilled velveeta cheese sandwich. With a piping hot bowl of tomate soup...no wait, I meant tomato soup!
ReplyDeleteWHATEVER LYNN! You don't need any photoshopping you beautiful thing you!
Tomate Farcie, Yes, it is Messrs. Many firms are a father & son firm, sometimes even grandfather; i.e., Stelling & Stelling, Townsend & Townsend, Tobin & Tobin, etc. So, yes, I guess you could say Majestic has a multi-personality. But that's another story.
ReplyDeleteOh my, what did I start? Guille, DO NOT eat the Velveeta without melting it! It doesn't taste the same. Make a grilled cheese sandwich or melt a little on your broccoli, but whatever you do DO NOT EAT IT COLD! LOL
ReplyDeleteLynn, to get the free shipping deal on Zazzle you have to enter a code into your order. I just order some more PDP magnets and paid zero, nada, zilch, rien in shipping.
Tomate and Lois, thanks for the input on the IP and copyright issue. Eric will have to decide in the end...
mmm...Christmas Chocolate...
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ReplyDelete