One of the fondest ( and the sweetest ) memories of my trip to Paris, last October, was the discovery of Pierre Hermé ....they of the most delicious, melt-in-your-mouth macarons!! I am ever so greatful to the concierge at our hotel who recommended Pierre Hermé , in her opinion, an option far better than the famed Laduree!! I tasted both and could not have agreed more with the lady. Since then,every time any of our friends travel to Paris or London, there is one special favour I never forget of ask of them...to get me a box of macarons from my favourite boutique.

To cut to the chase....this is the box of assorted Pierre Hermé macarons that my friend got for me from Paris over the weekend!! I would have been happy with just the box also...

Just see how gorgeous it is.....the image...the colors..they all spell contemporary chic, to me. This is the fifth 'P' of marketing at it very best.....you guessed it..PACKAGING!! Even if I hated the taste of macarons( a totally wild assumption)...I'd buy them just for the box!!

When your have a great product and then you give equal importance to the packaging....you've certainly got a winner on your hands!!

Though the macarons looked a little worse for wear after their transcontinental journey...they tasted just as good as I remembered from that boutique on rue Cambon...

This tempting assortment didn't last too long but this box is going to stay with me for a very long time!!

So next time you are in Paris...or London...or Tokyo....pay Pierre Hermé a visit....you will thank me for it! You can always give me the empty box to show gratitude!!

“There are things known, and there are things unknown, And in between are the Doors”

- Jim Morrison

And if those doors were to open out into the streets of Paris, I would certainly want to explore the unknown that lies beyond them!

Last night, while flipping through the album of our trip to Paris, in october....I made a rather peculiar discovery about myself. It appears...I might have some kind of a door-fetish......I had taken over two dozen images of doors!!

The ones I have featured here are from a limited color palatte (though all in different hues) and have brass and / or wrought iron hardware. The designs vary from basic to elaborate but the common element is ofcourse the absolute gorgeousness of them all.There ought to be a coffee-table book on the doors of Paris.... maybe there is one!

There is no commentary or caption accompanying these images, as the doors speak for themselves!! Let us check them all out...starting with this very elegant blue-grey door...