Meeting David Lebovitz in Paris

I once followed David Lebovitz through Paris on a culinary adventure. To be a bit more precise, I should say followed in his footsteps, but that is the pleasure of seeking out a professional pastry chef’s recommendations, of which there are plenty in his delightfully honest book, The Sweet Life in Paris. After a day of exploring little shops from the first to the twelfth arrondissements, I headed home loaded with sugar pearls (with no idea what to do with them), dark chocolates, madeleine pans (despite not owning an oven), thus the final item, fresh madeleines.

When Kasia from Love in the City of Lights mentioned Lebovitz was back in town for a book signing, I knew I couldn’t miss the chance to meet him in person, as well as chat with fellow fans and munch on a few sugary treats from Sugarplum Cake Shop, a little American coffee shop not far from the famous market street, rue Mouffetard.

Just look at all those delicious desserts!

I arrived early because I wasn’t too sure what to expect. Would there be a long line? Would they run out of books to sell? This idea was actually ingenious because it gave me a chance to try one of Sugarplum’s delicious cakes while flipping through Lebovitz’s dessert cookbooks filled with tantalizing recipes. The coffee shop was filled with customers hoping to indulge their sweet-tooth all the while I was on total sugar overload! The carrot cake was delicious, especially the frosting, but my one gripe was that I was single-handedly faced with eating the massive piece large enough for three. I found it a tad ironic that while I was struggling to eat this mother-load of sugary goodness, I was reading David Lebovitz’s exasperation with the very same conundrum (see the Intro to The Sweet Life in Paris), not to mention waiting for the man himself! Regardless of my hyper heartbeat and sugar headache, I was happy to have had the chance to try the offerings of somewhere new and I know where I’ll be heading next time I have a serious sugar craving.

Three bites in and I was ready to share the rest of the carrot cake with friends! Oh but it was soooo good!

Finally the moment I was waiting for! David Lebovitz arrived and I made my way through the line with a couple new additions to my library (read: expensive luggage fees for habitually heavy suitcases). He happily signed my Sweet Life in Paris before offering some pecan bars. Then we chatted about carrot cake before I moved along. Perhaps I should have mentioned that his Paris suggestions were helpful and have inspired many great mini-adventures through Paris. Or that I always look forward to suggestions shared on his blog, but I was just happy to be able to participate in an exciting Paris event I used to read about with envy from my village in Provence.

David Lebovitz signing away at Sugarplum Cake Shop!

As fans poured in, I ran into a few familiar faces. Kasia’s arrival was soon followed by Sion (Paris (Im)Perfect) and later Jennifer (Jennyphoria). A little happenstance Paris blogger reunion was well underway as were free samples from a variety of Sugarplum treats on the house (if only I’d known). It’s a luxury randomly bumping into friends and acquaintances, and as I left the bustling event, books in hand, city aglow against the darkened sky, happy thoughts of new relationships forming, I was reminded just how much I’m finally feeling at home.

Tagged as: Authors, Paris