Paris, Pastries and Pedaling: The Perfect Trio

Do you remember when I was riding around Paris on a bicycle?  Among the comments to my cycling post was this one from Mmm:

You've given me hope: a trip to Paris as a weight-loss regimen, pedaling aerobically from patisserie to patisserie!!! If you want to do a trial run of "Dorie's Patisseries-de-Paris Weight-Loss Tours," my schedule is such that I can be there on fairly short notice.

Hard to imagine, but the ruling elite in Paris beat me to it.  In announcing that in their new program, Velib, Paris will have thousands of bicycles available throughout the city starting July 15 – buy a type of Muni-Meter ticket, pick up bicycles at any of the designated stations, then leave them at the drop-off spot nearest your destination (the first 30 minutes are free!) – the following line appeared in the press release:

Application forms for the annual card will be available starting June 13 at Paris District City Halls, 300 metro stations and 400 pastry shops throughout the city.

How fabulous!  Soon we’ll be queuing up for macarons and meter tickets.  Another reason I love Paris.

Comments

[Dorie]

Joan, I think finding a hotel near Gerard Mulot's patisserie was a very smart idea! I know his new cookbook and I have it, but I don't know if there are any plans for it to be translated. Happily, more and more French cookbooks are being translated into English, so there's a possibility. If I can find out anything about a translation when I'm there, I'll report back.

As for the Korova Cookies -- they're my favorites. In fact, because I love them so much they're also in my newest book (Baking, From My Home to Yours). But in the new book they've got a new name: World Peace Cookies, named by neighbor, who believes that if everyone had these cookies, there'd be peace on the planet. If only it were that easy ...

[Joan]

I can't believe I went too soon for the "Tour De Pastry"! I'm looking forward to hearing more details.

By the way, Gerard Mulot had a cookbook for sale in his patisserie...in French of course...do you know if there are any plans for an English version? If so, sign me up!!!

[Joan]

I just got back from Paris, what an experience!!! Thank you for all the tips in Paris Sweets. We stayed at the Hotel de Fleurie, a block from Gerard Mulot's chocolate eclairs, and I miss them more than I can say. In fact, the lack of chocolate inspired me to make Korovas...they are the best cookies ever! Thanks again.

[Dorie]

I'll be in and out of Paris in July when Velib rolls out, so to speak, so I'll report back. In the meantime, I'll just chuckle at the thought of Vicky learning how to ride so that she can go patisserie-hopping and of Helen recognizing that only her "peeps", the French, could come up with this plan. I'll add to this that I think only the French (oh, and the Italians, probably), would think to hire one of the country's hottest designers, Patrick Jouin, to design the bikes. I can't wait to hop on one!

[Helen]

Only my peeps would come up with such sweet torture!

[Christianne]

How fantastic! I'm an Angeleno so obviously I couldn't imagine traversing freeways on a bicycle...but its an awfully nice thought!

[Vicky]

I honestly can't bike, though I've tried to learn several times. But learning to bike for biking from patisserie to patisserie in Paris seems like a worthy cause. :)

[gilly]

Sounds like a traveller's dream come true Dorie! :)

[Ivonne]

Well I'm going to have to run out and get my ticket to Paris!

[Robyn]

What a wonderful idea! Yet another excuse to venture abroad soon. I long for the day when cities around the U.S. have pastry as integral a part of the city and culture as Paris. . .

[ParisBreakfasts]

Ooops
I should have checked your link 1st!
Now I get it.
Still just amazing and what a neat looking bike!

[ParisBreakfasts]

WOW!
My friend M. just wrote me that something like 70,000 velos will be available to rent for the year for 29 Euros in Paris!
When is New York going to stop fighting the bikes and encourage them instead?