A Recipe from our Patissere - Summer Ceviche

 For a light and tasty treat to beat the summer heat, try this refreshing Ceviche recipe from South America!

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound halibut, cut into a large dice
• lime juice to cover fish, from one large lime
• 1/3 pound cooked fresh Dungeness crab meat (or any other crab meat)
• 1/3 pound poached shrimp, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 – 1/3 cup chopped avocado
• 1 roma tomato, seeded and diced
• 1/4 cup minced scallions
• 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 large jalapeño, minced (seeded if you don’t want it too hot)
• 1 heaping teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1 generous tablespoon (plus more if you want) extra virgin olive oil
• juice of half a lime
• tortilla chips & cerveza

Directions

Halibut works well for this recipe because it’s widely available and neutral in flavor, but you can use pretty much any fish you want (red snapper, grouper, sea bass, even salmon if you like). Using a white-fleshed fish with a low oil content for ceviche is the best. Using tuna or other fatty fish can have an assertive flavor (and not in a good way).
Put the diced halibut in a non-aluminum bowl and cover with lime juice. Pop it in the fridge for 3 hours. Take it out and mix in other ingredients. Allow the ceviche to rest, refrigerated, for one hour.

Bon Appetit!

Shop our Back to School Items

Though the heat still lingers, summer is coming to an end for many students and shopping for "Back to School" is already in full force. Don't be left behind with this years boring primary colored notebooks and #2 pencils...stop by The Paris Market to pick up some stylish school supplies that are sure to impress your classmates! 

Ornithology Notebook

Writing Ink

Ludite Notebook

String Folio from the Ludite Collection

New Office and Back to School Products now available at The Paris Market and on our Online Shop!

Concours De Petanque

On my recent trip to France, my daughter and I passed through the enchanting village of Saint Tropez. This little town by the sea is full of history, incredible culture, nightlife, and the center for a secret society of Petanque players. Here is a little information about this must-see village and one of its most famous past times.

The seaside resort town Saint Tropez in France, is still very popular with the tourists, although the jet set and the in-crowd have long since claimed it for their own. Set on the lovely blue water of the Bay of Saint-Tropez, this modern version of a medieval town is most popular for the line of yachets along the quay, and the facing line of terrace cafes. This little fishing village grew up around a port founded by the Greeks of Marseille, which was destroyed by the Saracens in 739 and finally fortified in the late Middle Ages. Its sole distinction from the myriad of other fishing villages along this coast was its inaccessibility. This unique place is home to stunning beaches, a relaxing atmosphere and ample recreational opportunities.

Cobblestone streets lead to alleys housing some of the most stylish shops, galleries, hotels, and restaurants. You can shop from a collection of high end stores such as Chanel, Gucci, Prada, and Hermes, all of which carry only the current season's exclusive collection of fashion. Every Saturday morning, you can visit the market to find local products from Provence and other regions of France. Tour the Mediterranean Sea on one of the many Rivas or visit one of the forty private beaches. Extraordinary views of the Citadel and the surrounding mountains can be enjoyed from almost any point in the area. Celebrity-watching can also prove interesting in St. Tropez with stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, Barbra Streisand, Jack Nicholson, Robert DeNiro and Elton John all making regular appearances (I even met Bridget Bardot at the post office!)

 All the Glitz and Glamor is hard to miss in the little fishing town of St. Tropez, but when you arrive at "Place des Lices", you can only play Petanque! 

Petanque is a national french sport played with two "boules" and a "cochonnet" or piglet on hard dirt. The game of Petanque can be compared to the American game of Bauche Ball. The game requires a minimum of 2 players or 2 teams with many players. First, one player throws the piglet to a distance of 3 to 4 meters, from there they draw a circle in the dirt around there feet. Each player throws one "boule" to the piglet with his feet firmly planted in the circle. After both players or teams have thrown their "boules" the closest "boule" to the piglet is the winner.

In many cases the game is won by the measurement to the millimeter which takes more time, allows for more comments, and sparks a theatrical ambiance. Petanque is always a good way to socialize, relax and enjoy "le soleil du midi" the south of France.

This little fishing town with its high society spirit is a must-see place for any traveler. We hope for the chance to visit there soon, but for now we can enjoy the memories of our trip during our own games of Petanque right in our Georgian back yard.

xo, Isabelle & Kate

Petanque sets are now available at The Paris Market for a limited time. 

Swing by and grab one for your next summer soiree and be sure to share the story of this popular french past time with your guests!

Faces in Tin - History of the Tintype

Amidst our shelves filled with unique housewares, french perfume, and garden must-haves, sit a collection of oddities from all eras of life. Some of our personal favorites lie in our collection of photographs. From head shots of the famous to war time keepsakes, each photo tells a special story of its very own. Tintypes are photographs made by creating a direct positive on a sheet of iron metal that is blackened by painting, lacquering or enameling and is used as a support for the photo emulsion. We carry a large variety of Tintypes at The Paris Market.

 Here are some of our favorites and the history behind what makes them so special.

The process of the Tintype was first described by Adolphe-Alexandre Martin of France in 1853, then patented in 1856 both in the United States by Hamilton Smith and William Kloen in the United Kingdom. Photographers usually worked outside at fairs and carnivals producing tintypes for passerby's. The Tintype is perfect for these side-show stands because it is resilient and does not need drying, and can be produced only a few minutes after the picture is taken. Tintypes did not need mounting in a case and were not as delicate as photographs that used glass for the support.

The tintype can be seen as a modification of the earlier Ambrotype, replacing the glass plate with a thin sheet of iron. The new materials reduced costs considerably and the  image has proven to be very durable. Like that of the Ambrotype, the tintype's image can be thought of as a negative, but, because of the black background it appears as a positive. Since the tintype is a camera-original positive, most tintype images appear reversed (left to right) from reality. Some cameras were fitted with mirrors or a 45-degree prism to laterally reverse the image.

Tintypes are simple and fast to prepare, compared to other early photographic techniques. A photographer could prepare, expose, develop, and varnish a tintype plate in a few minutes, quickly having it ready for a customer. Earlier tintypes were sometimes placed in cases, as were Daguerreotypes and Ambrotypes. Uncased images in paper sleeves and for albums were popular from the beginning, especially during the Civil War, in which soldiers would carry with them Tintypes of loved ones.

  

For more Tintype photographs and other unique pieces of history, visit our shop! 

Who knows, you might find a long lost relative just waiting to be discovered.

Seated at The Table - 3 Looks to Inspire

Our store is filled with a range of inspiring items to center any and all dinner parties around. To dress your table in style, start with a color palate, dish, pattern, or plate that get the creative juices flowing. Here are three diverse place settings, sparked by our inventory, our love for design, and our everyday inspirations!

Inside the setting: Vintage Utensils (In-store), Fleur de Lys Ceramic Dishware (web), Cake Paper Placemat in Chevron (In-store), Thick Glass Goblet (In-store), Wax Pear Candle (In-store)

Use a pop of color or pattern to lead your design. We love the trendy Chevron print of these paper Cake placemats and the bold accent color of this pear.

Whimsical Paper Printed Napkins add a relaxed feel to this classic table setting. Show your style in the details!

Inside the setting: Vintage Utensils (In-store), Bistro Dish Set (web), Etched Glass Charger (In-store), French Linen Table Cloth (In-store), Eiffel Tower Stamped Glasses (In-store), Monsieur and Madame Napkin Rings (web), Knotted Linen Napkin in Navy (In-store), Lace Printed Accent Plate (In-store)

We have been a huge fan of these stamped Madame and Monsieur Napkin Rings for some time. What a great way to add some personalization to this apparent Paris-themed table setting. 

Who says dessert can't be first?!

Give your guests a tasty treat to munch on before the main course!

Inside the setting: Vintage Utensils (In-store), Asst. Vintage Dishes (in-store), Mason Jar Drinking Glass (In-store), Knotted Linen Napkin in Sand (In-store), Carved Wood Butter Knife (In-store), Blenheim Napkin Rings (web)

Grandma's hand-me-downs don't have to stay tucked away on the top shelf. Don't be afraid to mix and match vintage dishes. Use a like minded color to pull everything together.

Bring out the Buds!

 Use in-season blooms to accent your place settings and give guests a playful take-home.

What's on your table?!

Vintage Letters - Now Available!

Our Baby Section is booming with a collection of Vintage Tin Letters we recently cultivated! Perfect for any Nursery, these one-of-a-kind painted letters are available for a limited time. Swing by the shop or visit our online store to grab one for your little one!

A-B-C we are so in love with these!

Les Petits Macarons

 Our Patisserie is pleased to bring you a (much anticipated) colorful assortment of french confections! Choose from a range of flavors like Sea Salt Caramel, Pistachio, and Chocolate Mint to pair with your daily Cappuccino. Indulge your aching sweet tooth and stay tuned for a few custom Paris Market flavors coming soon!

 The History of the Macaron

The lore of macarons often suggests that Catherine de' Medici brought them to France in 1533 when she married Henry the 2nd. The word macaron comes from the Italian maccherone or macaroni, which defined is a "pasta dish with cheese." Macaron long referred not just to a cookie, but a savory preparation as well, which seems to have consisted of lumps of flour-based "paste" cooked with spices and grated cheese and served with a liquid. Almond-based foodstuffs were popular in the Middle Ages already. One way or another, a cookie made from almonds and sugar became popular in France, where various cities, such as Paris, Reims, Montmorillon, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and Amiens, went on to develop it into their own specialties.

 Nuns were often the driving force behind macarons, which they made for both nutritional and commercial purposes (baked goods, honey, and other such food products were a source of revenue for most monastic orders, which had very limited ways of making money). Such is the case in Naney, another French city famous for its macarons, which are flatter than Parisian macarons and don't have a smooth surface.

 By the middle of the seventeenth century, recipes for macarons had begun appearing in French cookbooks. The 1692 Novelle Instruction pour les Confitures, les Liqueurs, et les Fruits states that macarons are a combination of sweet almonds, sugar, and egg white, and offers instructions that include flavoring the batter with orange blossom water and icing them once baked. From that point on, macarons appear regularly in cookbooks. And if nineteenth century books about Paris are to be believed, by then the city was teeming with macaron street vendors.

 The macaron as we best know it-two shells sandwiching a filling-is a more recent invention. Laduree, the famed Parisian tea salon and pastry shop perhaps most associated with them today, was founded in 1862, but it was not until the early twentieth century that Pierre Desfontaines, second cousin of Louis Ernest Laduree, had the idea of piping ganache on a shell and topping it with another. It is now the ubiquitous way to sell and serve Parisian-style macarons around the globe.

Macarons now available at The Paris Market!

Bon Appetit!

An Interview with Kelsey Garrity-Riley

Recently our very own Kelsey was featured on the lovely blog of Fancy French Cologne. We couldn't be more proud of all the current buzz around her newly designed Heirloom Silk Scarf, a product of the most recent collaboration for Fancy French Cologne's Entre Nous collection. Kelsey illustrations have been a big part of our displays, events, and overall store here at the The Paris Market. We love this feature of her and thought it criminal not to share it with our readers. Enjoy!

How long have you been working as an artist? Where did you get your start?
I have always loved creating. I spent a lot of time drawing and painting when I was young. Not just two dimensional media, I always enjoyed creating with found objects, and some very failed sewing attempts.

How would you describe your illustrative style?
Sentimental; faded; anachronistic.

You’ve worked across so many mediums – books, paper goods, large format window displays, adorable hand-sewn dolls. As your first foray into wearable goods, has this process been challenging in any unexpected ways?
I LOVE venturing into other forms of creativity. I don't think I would enjoy illustration nearly as much if I wasn't finding different formats to apply it to. I think the key is to make sure that your personal aesthetic comes through no matter what. I don't think style is about the medium you use, it’s your own approach to visuals. In that way I hope every separate thing I work on can be seen as part of the same portfolio. This is my first foray into wearable goods. Although I took a lot of fashion classes in college, I found I only enjoyed the illustration and sketching and was awful at sewing. I think more than it being challenging I'm intrigued to see how what was created as a two dimensional image will translate to being moved and worn.

So much of your work lingers beautifully in bygone eras, particularly in the sphere of children and families. What is it about those times/places that inspires you in your work? 
A lot of the colors I use are derived from old worn pieces of paper I've collected over the years, I just much prefer that pallet. I also much prefer classic children's clothing silhouettes. I think these things more than anything put my work into being labeled as vintage or nostalgic—which is fine so long as I work on keeping it decidedly contemporary (something I'm trying to work on more and more). I feel very blessed to have grown up in a wonderful family and I think a lot of the familial imagery I use is simple nostalgia for home and the idea of home.

Who are some of your favorite contemporaries?  
I absolutely love, so much, everything Carson Ellis does. I also enjoy: Marcel Dzama, Camilla Engemen, Olaf Hayek, Jockum Nordstrom and others (although I try not to spend too much time looking up other work, it seems sometimes more discouraging than anything else. There are so many amazing artists out there!). My incredibly talented husband Erik Riley inspires me every day. 

What is it like living between Europe and the US? That sounds like a dream!
I wish I could spend more time living between the two! These days I'm more grounded in the States, and then I spend a month at Christmas time with my family in Europe. I very much love Savannah where we live now, but the dream would be to eventually move more freely between the two.

It’s really fun to see your style adapted to modern pop culture icons like Michael Ian Black, which you recently posted to your blog. Do you see yourself doing more of this type of illustration?
Yes! I would really love to build up more of that kind of work in my portfolio. Having what is labeled an "old" style of illustration can feel very limiting, and I think drawing on very contemporary subject matter is a way to keep it fresh. I also love portraiture and I think it’s a good way to explore that part of creativity. I've only just realized this though! So check back in a few months and hopefully I'll have caught up with some similar new work.

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not creating art?
I love my other job as a visual merchandiser/display artist at The Paris Market in downtown Savannah. I get to work with people I really enjoy, drink lattes all day and display interesting old finds in a beautiful space. I love spending time in the hearth or in the kitchen when I can. I love watching crime dramas. I love (somewhat separate from the illustration work I normally do) getting to paint on canvas. I love spending time with my husband doing just about anything.

What can we look forward to from you next? Any exciting projects in the works?
Oh, lots of odds and ends. I have a biweekly illustration blog called Meatloaf Mondays that I contribute to along with some amazing friends of mine – that’s been wonderful. I’ve also been creating wedding invitations through this lovely company called Ello There as well as many custom designed invitations. I would LOVE to do a children's book, no idea when or if that will happen though!

// Way to go Kelsey! For more from Kelsey, visit her Etsy Shop, her personal blog, and definitely bookmark Meatloaf Mondays, it's really fun. To purchase her fabulous Heirloom Silk Scarf visit here!//