Parisian Dessert of the Month: Poilane Butter Cookies

As much as I like rich, sinful desserts and decadent chocolate, one of my favorite things are simple butter cookies. Poilane has one of the best butter cookies/sables I have ever had and if I were on a dessert or desert island and had to choose one dessert, they would be a definite contender. They are called punitions and ‘Punition’ is French for ‘punishment’. The name comes from a little game Pierre Poilâne’s grandmother used to play. She would call over her grandchildren seemingly to punish them and, instead, would open her palms to reveal a handful of butter cookies! The prettily scalloped edges on the bite size cookies, the crunch, and the buttery taste make me want to keep popping them in my mouth endlessly till I get a tummy ache. They come about 25 to a bag and sell for 6.10 euros at the Poilane shop or other outlets like gourmet shops, cheese shops, and grocery stores. The shop also sells them in a 125 gram white gift box, neatly packed in stacks. They also come in a star shape for the holidays. Beware: the shop offers a free sample basket and they don't seem to mind when I dig in and put as many in my hand as I possibly can. I do finger stretches before I go in there so I can grab even more.

Do you like my Martha Stewart-like food and prop styling I did in my apartment using my own dishes and backgrounds? Maybe Martha should hire me to be her Paris correspondant.

Poilane
8 rue du Cherche Midi, 6th arr.
Metro: St. Sulpice or Sevres-Babylone
Tel +33 (0) 1 45 48 42 59
http://www.poilane.fr  

Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 17 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my courtyards, doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great holiday gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotteís professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

Comments

[Cheryl]

How I love those wonderful little Punitions!! Feb. 17 and they'll be back in my hands (and in my tummy!)once again!

[Cheryl]

And...I love your Christmas tree styling!

[Kiki]

beautiful post, witty too and although I couldn't recommend you to Martha, I think you're better of as our Paris correspondant! I've never tried those biscuits (am not very much a dessert person) but they look so tempting!
BRAVO to the cookie-Eiffel tower!!!

[David]

I wouldn’t look for your first check from Martha anytime soon. But your writing is absolutely wonderful, and I want to get my sweaty palms on a handful of Poilane cookies this very moment!

[mary]

I've been munching on punitions for over 25 years. Used to live across the street. My favorite is their tarte de pomme. I stop by once a week.
Enjoy the snow.

[lynn]

Martha Stewart, yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm a fan. Tell her to come visit.

[Gail]

Love those cookies. Last time in Paris I bought a bag every day!!!

[elizabeth]

i must berate you for flashing photo after photo of my favorite butter cookies in paris. my computer is wet now from my drool.