Springtime in Paris | Mad about Macarons

Who loves Paris in the Springtime? I have been meaning to post this for a while now. In between the website relaunch and learning its new features plus the exciting release of “Teatime in Paris” in the UK and USA, this has fallen behind.

So here’s a very short slideshow of Paris in spring. I’ve had fun playing with this! We’ve seen the arrival of the long-awaited Spring buds, the cherry blossoms, the wisteria and the horse-chestnut candles blossoming in the City of Light. Now Paris is so green and extra special, and with the arrival of holiday season here (even if the French are not yet on holiday themselves), it’s so lovely to be able to eat outside in the cafés and restaurants again.

Cédric, who updated this website to make it mobile and tablet friendly, will be pleased that I’m finally using a fraction of the capabilities on the site. So, here goes …. !

Are you sitting comfortably? Let’s roll.

Jump on
and let me take you for a quick ride around Springtime in Paris!
Or take the bus or metro
Exiting the metro at le Louvre, the rain had stopped end March and spring was in the air …
Le Nemours Café
Empty? Mais non. Everyone was inside …
Le Palais Royal
Go shopping under the arcades for cover on wet days and it’s a great starting point to the nearby historical Parisian passageways.
Le Palais Royal
First signs of Spring life: blossoms and magnolia flowers starting to burst open …
… the daffodils and narcissus…
Bionic buds!
The Eiffel Tower
Greenery popping out …
Les Invalides
Impressive and glistening at any time of year.
Les Esplanades des Invalides
In the large park in front of the army museum and les Invalides, picnics and petanques take over.
l’Opéra
The golden embellishments remind me of an opera cake with its frilly buttercream
l’Opéra
At the back of the opera and in front of the department stores in Boulevard Haussmann, surprising musical ambience
Want a free view like this?
Head to the roof of Galeries Lafayette
Where’s the Phantom?
.. and from the same roof, take in the skyline and view of the Opéra.
The perfect skyline view
Take a seat at the top of Galeries Lafayette department store (and munch on a macaron, ice cream or pastry at teatime)
Notre Dame Cathedral
The Japanese cherry blossoms in full bloom – a favourite spot for Spring wedding photos.
Le Louvre
The ideal spot on a downpour – or the nearby tearooms. Sebastien Gaudard, Angelinas or Jean-Paul Hévin for example? Or the Gagliani bookstore …
Wisteria!
End of April and the wisteria comes to life with its purple blossoms
Eating Outside
the city is alive with good food, wine and conversation at the tables
Sacré-Coeur and Montmartre
Before you climb the steps, pop into Christophe Roussel in Rue Tardieu for some chocolate kisses and macarons
Art Nouveau Metro
There are two left in Paris like this one at Abbesses. And there’s a new pâtisserie just opened around the corner, Gilles Marchal (9 rue Ravignon)
Horse Chestnut Candle Blossoms
Out in all their glory in the City of Light
Paris Parks
Time to enjoy teatime in the parks with some pastries bought along the way
And there’s no shortage of pâtisseries to choose from
My favourites are all mentioned in Teatime in Paris, where locations are pointed out; this delicious map is from the endpapers by artist, Carol Gillott.
Mid May, the French are superstitious about bringing out the geraniums yet on the balconies. Ideally they wait after the Saint de Glaces on 11, 12, 13 May, which is typically cold. This year it was warm but we had this surprise period later!
End of May
The poppies are out in the fields just outside Paris. Time for a perfect picnic with rhubarb and poppy macarons along by the River Seine – recipe in “Teatime in Paris!”
Summery ice-creams
And before we know it, summer is here! Head to Berthillon on Ile-Saint-Louis or make your own rose petal ice cream from “Teatime in Paris!”

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

For recommendations on sweet stops for your next Paris trip, don’t forget to check out le blog and check out my Instagram feed, where I share daily life in and around Paris. For 50 teatime recipes and many of the best Paris pâtisserie and tea salon addresses, my favourites are all in my new book, Teatime in Paris!

Next stop, summer is just around the corner…

11 replies

Christina @ Christina's Cucina says:
June 15, 2015 at 9:02 am
Beautiful photos! Wish I could beam myself over for a day! 🙁
Reply
Liz says:
June 6, 2015 at 12:39 am
You’re making it awfully tempting to come to Paris in the spring! There’s talk amongst my sisters about a girls’ trip to France—fingers crossed we can swing it in a year or so 🙂
Reply
- Jill Colonna says:
  June 6, 2015 at 1:55 pm
  Oooh – that would be wonderful. Girls’ trip? Wacky! 🙂
  Reply
Thomasina says:
June 5, 2015 at 11:02 pm
Rose petal ice cream and raspberries – now that appeals to me now that the weather is much warmer. Perfect for watching tennis from Paris. Love the slideshow Jill especially the wisteria.
Reply
- Jill Colonna says:
  June 6, 2015 at 1:55 pm
  Thanks, Thomasina. You’ll love this ice cream. We’re also loving the tennis – still routing for Andy Murray! Allez l’Ecosse!
  Reply
June says:
June 5, 2015 at 8:08 pm
Well done Jill. Love the photos in the slideshow. I love Paris in the springtime.
Reply
- Jill Colonna says:
  June 5, 2015 at 10:41 pm
  Loved spending time with you and Dad this Spring. Thanks for popping by, Mum x
  Reply
Sneha says:
June 5, 2015 at 5:09 am
i Love paris.. !!
Reply
- Jill Colonna says:
  June 5, 2015 at 7:16 pm
  That makes a few of us, Sneha.
  Reply
Jean-Pierre D says:
June 5, 2015 at 4:21 am
Great idea for the photos Jill. Loved the quick tour! Want more, please. Doing a summer one?
Reply
- Jill Colonna says:
  June 5, 2015 at 7:15 pm
  It is a bit short, isn’t it. And where are all the pastries and food? Too much material, so little time. Glad you liked it, Jean-Pierre. Of course I’ll do a summer one if other people like the idea too …
  Reply

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Teatime in Paris Reviews

It's not 'cos' I happened to paint the Paris pastry map endpapers, but I love this cookbook. I'd no clue I could bake but Jill's Teatime in Paris makes it easy to bake real French pastry. If I can do it so can you.

Carol GillottMaking financiers with ParisBreakfasts

Teatime in Paris is chock full of tips, advice, references guides, clear step-by-step (recipe) instructions, and on-line stockists. For anyone who loves Paris, loves French, loves pastries, this pretty pink book is just the treat!

Jamie SchlerHoliday Cookbook Gift Guide, Huffington Post

Jill shares the best and easiest ways to make French pâtisserie classics at home, from madeleines to éclairs. While some desserts may appear hard to make, Jill breaks down each recipe with a simple step-by-step, making them more than suitable to prepare for your own teatime, wherever you may be.

Lindsey TramutaLost in Cheeseland/Author The New Paris

"...Years ago, I read 'French Women Don't Get Fat'. Colonna writes with a similar levelheaded voice. All things in moderation...

RoyaGoodReads

This pretty cookbook is as tempting as the recipes it describes, and suspect am going to earmark it as Gift of the Year for everyone I know who loves baking, eating and Paris (so that’s everyone).
Rating 10/10

NicolaLiterary Ramblings

To start, Jill scribes a fabulous passage about how the French enjoy pastry while maintaining their waistlines; the section in itself is worth the price of the book.

Brooks WalkerCakewalker

This book is a gorgeous visual feast and would be a lovely gift for those who enjoy baking.

NeginGoodReads

Essentially, Teatime in Paris is an entire book of foodporn: page after page of delectable desserts, pastries, cakes and of course, macarons.

Christina ConteChristinas Cucina

Jill is very down to earth ...The recipes are written simply and with lots of tips and advice so that you can make cakes that turn out like the pictures and taste absolutely scrumptious.

Janine MarshThe Good Life France

Jill’s style is light, humorous and most informative. Each recipe begins with a brief introduction, detailing its history and/or associations ... The photographs are mouthwatering, the recipes are varied and interesting; most importantly they’re actually DOABLE.

ChocletteTin and Thyme UK

Thank you for showing us it is possible to create special looking treats that taste delicious but don't cost the earth with difficult to find ingredients and that are simple and successful to make.

Jacqueline BrownFrench Village Diaries

The book also includes a helpful chapter on baking equipment (the essential and the “little luxuries”) along with a list of stockists for ingredients and equipment in various countries. There’s also a useful “quick reference guide for egg whites”.

Mardi MichelsEat Live Travel Write

Jill’s pâte sucrée (sweet pastry or sweet tart dough) recipe yields the best pastry cases I’ve ever made. They’re sturdy enough for any filling, but just the right balance of crispy and tender when you bite into them. They also don’t get soggy over time.

Teresa McCarthyOneWetFoot Canada

I would love to make almost every single recipe in Teatime in Paris. This is really a feat in a cookbook as many times, I end up putting them back on the shelf when I am considering buying one, as there just aren’t enough recipes that appeal to me.

Christina ConteChristinas Cucina

Programmes like the Great British Bake Off have brought pastries like Paris Brest, macarons and all manner of fancy tartlets into the British consciousness as something that can be made at home. Teatime in Paris! gives you the tools to create these yourself and Jill's recipes make them much easier than you would think.

Janice PattieFarmersgirl Kitchen

The recipes in Teatime in Paris are very well laid out. I wish all cookbooks were this easy to follow. I also appreciate how accessible Jill makes French pastries … I adored this cookbook from start to finish.

Stephanie CarusoKitchen Frolic

It's nice to be able to impress your friends and family with a dessert that looks like it was made by a pastry chef, but I often feel those fancy French pastries are beyond my ability or available time. I had heard that chocolate pastry was really difficult to work with and ganache seems like a tricky thing to make, however nothing could be further from the truth as you can see from these Double Chocolate Tartlets from "Teatime in Paris!"

Janice PattieFarmersgirl Kitchen

As she walks us through recipes for the easiest of treats right through to to the crème de la crème, Jill points out some of the streets famous for the best patisseries in Paris, adding bits of history and plenty of baking tips, making this a recipe tour that’s both fun and accessible.

Mardi MichelsEat Live Travel Write

From cover-to-cover Jill Colonna introduces you to teatime in Paris, both as a dining experience to partake in, and as the maker of the fine delectable pastry recipes she shares. You’ll develop a base knowledge of French pastry concepts, learn how less sugar plays a supporting role, and gain confidence as a beginning baker or strengthen skills you already have.

Brooks WalkerCakewalker

Teatime in Paris brings the Pâtisserie to your kitchen, and no, you don't need to be a master chef to taste these treats in your own home. Thanks to Jill and her easy to follow directions - and with ingredients you probably already have in your own pantry.

Kim KellyLivLife

Jump on

Or take the bus or metro

Le Nemours Café

Le Palais Royal

Le Palais Royal

Bionic buds!

The Eiffel Tower

Les Invalides

Les Esplanades des Invalides

l’Opéra

l’Opéra

Want a free view like this?

Where’s the Phantom?

The perfect skyline view

Notre Dame Cathedral

Le Louvre

Wisteria!

Eating Outside

Sacré-Coeur and Montmartre

Art Nouveau Metro

Horse Chestnut Candle Blossoms

Paris Parks

And there’s no shortage of pâtisseries to choose from

End of May

Summery ice-creams

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