The usual bad mood at the change of season? A little mental fatigue? Excessive nervousness from stress? But instead of running to lie down on the psychoanalyst\\\'s couch, rush to the nearest analysis laboratory holding a beautiful specimen of urine… Once you find a deficiency of one or more neurotransmitters, it\\\'s possible to intervene with the right foods to recreate a state of equilibrium…

That neurotransmitters affect our mood has long been known. 

What is important now is not to discover the psychological mechanisms that mark our mood swings, but to measure the neurotransmitters circulating in our blood, a group of substances (including serotonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine GABA...) that act on the nervous system in various ways: they make us feel relaxed, unleash aggression, wake up our defense and warning systems and improve concentration… 

The serenity switch: serotonin

The neurotransmitter that regulates sleep patterns, the pain threshold and the feeling of satiety. It is also the switch for calmness, serenity and balance. If you have a serotonin deficiency: always eat a lunch of pasta and rice, the foods most suitable for you.

The messenger of adventure: dopamine

The neurotransmitter stimulates us to be adventurous, to conquer and compete. Seeking gratification, even at the table. A dopamine deficiency, which often occurs in moments of stress, makes us feel tired, unmotivated, sad and apathetic. If you have a dopamine deficiency: meat and fish (but also cheese, eggs and cold cuts) are ideal for you.

A plateful of legumes, such as beans or lentils once or twice a week..

They are packed with proteins rich in tryptophan and phenylalanine, which are precursors of serotonin and dopamine.

Oily fish, such as mackerel, sardines or salmon once or twice a week.

These fish contain EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid, which studies have shown to be virtually as effective as Prozac in treating depressed patients.

Shellfish or organ meat, such as oysters, mussels, sea snails, shrimp, liver or kidney once a week.

These foods have high iron, zinc, copper and vitamin B6 content. This vitamin and mineral cocktail helps restore your body’s optimal proportion of dopamine and serotonin

Bon Appetit !

Cécile

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Parisian women are slender and health-conscious, but they are also gluttons who enjoy the pleasures of the table, the only thing is that they eat in moderation. In any case, nowadays traditional pastry is in its heyday, with the cream puffs of yesteryear as the main protagonists... One of the bakeries specialising in this mini-gourmet delicacy is the legendary Popelini: here is its unusual story...

Popelini...

To revive the cream puff (chou as they call it in France), a treasure trove of French pastry that has fallen into oblivion, and to reinvent this great classic through four collections: this is the promise Lauren Koumetz has made to herself, creating Popelini, the first cream puff treasure chest here in Paris.

Everyone has their own little Proust-style madeleine. And Lauren\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s eyes sparkle when she remembers the cream puffs she enjoyed with her grandmother on Wednesday afternoons.

First sensations, first loves, pastry, a mix of velvet and crunchiness, simplicity and mystery, became his passion. A goldsmith\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s creation that Laurent discovered in the workshops of the Lette company, specialised in macarons and founded by his father in California. It was the early years of the 2000s. This soft, almond paste-based pastry was a hit with the palate.

But her studies led her towards another passion, High Jewellery, in the marketing department of Van Cleef & Arpels. However, her approach to luxury did not make her forget her sin of gluttony and her desire to create her own business. Why not create a line of gourmet products, crafted like jewellery and able to satisfy all desires?  The idea: they will be small cream puffs, now out of fashion.

By chance, during her research, the name Popelini, creator of choux pastry and official chef to Catherine de Medici, leaps out at her like a certainty. A round, musical name that smells of Italy. The uncontrollable call for precious stones led her to discover a small shop in her native Marais, no bigger than a handkerchief, which Laurent transformed into a sober and elegant jewellery box.

The mini-laboratory located in the back of the shop is in turmoil during the six months preceding the opening of the shop. Searching for the best raw materials, the right combinations, a perfect accord of fragrances, the right balance between very delicate dry pastry and cream....

Today, three bakeries pay tribute to this tiny delight... And soon a fourth will open its doors in the Saint Germain des Prés district.

The cream puffs: 30 grams of joy and voluptuousness

Beneath a dome of coloured icing, the soft, airy and light choux pastry is wrapped in a crunchy shortcrust of brown sugar and butter. Beneath this crunchy covering, the oiliness of a custard and the tenderness of a dry pastry in which a fruit confit, crunchy crumbs and chocolate drown... An explosion of flavour. Without fault. A luxury morsel. Within everyone\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s reach.

They are delicate and come in nine fixed flavours, five more for each new collection (spring-summer and autumn-winter), and a surprise flavour for each month.

In all, the Popelini cream puff offers a range of twenty-nine different colours and flavours. It is very difficult to make because the choux pastry is rather capricious and requires a terrible tour de force on the part of the pastry chef.

That\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s why, each time it is baked, each eclair is unique.

Precisely because of its artisanal manufacture, the Popelini cream puff is made entirely of handmade ingredients: milk chocolate, caramel, praline, coffee creamer with roasted beans, ground and pressed through a sieve, lemons squeezed one at a time...

The ingredients are selected from the best, such as Thiecerlin rosewater, l\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'Or des Près fresh cream, Valrhona chocolate or natural colourings. Luxury in a single bite... For the delight of the eyes and the pleasure of presentation, the Popelini cream puffs are carefully lined up in a Kraft paper box that is both simple and precious. When the sand-coloured box is opened, these surprises explode into a colourful firework. Cream puff jewels to share in good company. For Valentine\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Day, the Popelini cream puff is transformed into a delicate caramelised apple to munch on with your loved one. For Easter, it satisfies all the whims of chocolate...

Photos: Popelini @ courtesy of Popelini

The royal squares in Paris are an open-air testimony to France s incredible historical heritage.

Ordered by the King of France himself, the squares were meant to consecrate an important event in the reign, such as a military victory or a birth, and to express all the power and wealth of the royal family.

1.Place Vendôme is today the symbol of Parisian luxury. In the past it was an important place for revolutionaries: from the balcony that today belongs to the Ministry of Justice, the first French republic was proclaimed. It was built by Louis XIV in 1686 to house the Royal Library. But the King s aim was also to build a square similar to the Place des Vosges, with his own statue in the centre. In fact, there was originally a statue of the Sun King in the centre of the square, but this was destroyed during the French Revolution and, in 1810, was replaced by a 44-metre high column, erected to celebrate Napoleon Bonaparte s victory at the Battle of Austerlitz.  Today, Place Vendome is a charming and popular spot with its beautiful buildings and numerous shops selling the world s leading brands, especially jewellers.

2. Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris. In 1605 Henry IV decided to create the first royal square in Paris. The square was officially inaugurated with the name Place Royale in 1612, and quickly became the most frequented and fashionable place in France, a meeting point for aristocrats and intellectuals, but also a favourite place for duels and tournaments of the nobility. Today, the Place des Vosges is an enchanting place: in the centre of the square is a public garden with lime trees, paths, benches and play areas for children, numerous fountains and sculptures, including the equestrian statue of Louis XIII, and all around arcades with many antique shops, art galleries and a few cafés.

3. Place Dauphine was built at the behest of Henri IV between 1599 and 1606 and was bordered by terraced buildings. The square is home to art galleries, small restaurants and cafés, making it an ideal place for an aperitif or a quiet dinner.

4. Place des Victoires. Another little-known square in Paris.  Circular in shape, it was an architectural gem at the time (1686). At the centre of the square was a statue of Louis XIV, which was destroyed during the French Revolution and later replaced by another, which is still there today,

5. Place de la Concorde is located in one of the most beautiful districts of Paris between the Champs-Élysées, the Jardin des Tuileries and the Louvre museum. The square, characterised by its majestic elegance, was built in honour of Louis XV.  In the centre of the square, flanked by two splendid fountains, stands the Egyptian obelisk of Luxor, dating from the 13th century B.C. and donated to France in 1836. On either side of the Place de la Concorde you can admire the eight allegorical statues representing the major French cities.

The history of this brand began in 1837, when Louis Vuitton, then 16 years old, moved to Paris to start his handcrafted luggage business.

At Monsieur Maréchal s Parisian Atelier, Louis Vuitton quickly became a highly regarded craftsman. This was the origin of a specialized activity and the beginning of a career in an industry based on his ability to customize suitcases and trunks according to the clients s wishes. Louis Vuitton held this position for 17 years before opening his Atelier at 4 Rue Neuve-des-Capucines, near Place Vendome. A bold choice that would prove to be successful: almost two centuries later, his initials are among the most famous in the world and the Monogram canvas has become the international symbol of luxury.

In 1875, the creation of the first vertical trunk-cum-wardrobe, with each part carefully designed, guaranteed the success of a company already specialising in travel. In 1886, the padlock with a cylinder lock allowing the customer to open each piece of luggage with a single key. Two years later, in 1888, the famous Damier canvas was created and registered. In 1892, Louis Vuitton died.

The rest of the history of the Louis Vuitton’s would be written by his son Georges and his grandson Gaston-Louis.

In 1896, the famous Monogram LV was created to celebrate his father. The motif is composed of the interlaced initials of his father LV; to complete the canvas Georges adds a flower with four petals enclosed in a circle, a four-pointed flower and a diamond containing it. For the creation of this canvas, Georges was inspired by the Gien majolica tiles with four-petalled flowers, a decorative element found in the kitchen of the family home in Asnières. In 1905 the Monogram canvas was registered as a trademark; this logo, which has remained unchanged over the years, marked the evolution of the luxury fashion world.

In 1914, Georges Vuitton opened a shop on the Champs Élisées, in an Art Nouveau building, which became the historical symbol of the House. In the following years, the brand grew and became pure luxury.

In 1987, the LVMH empire was created through the merger of Louis Vuitton and Moët Hennessy. Ten years later, American designer Marc Jacobs was commissioned to develop new lines of ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories.

After 15 years at Balenciaga, French designer Nicolas Ghesquière replaced Marc Jacobs in 2013. In 2020, Nicolas Ghesquière was joined by Johnny Coca to create high-end accessories.

Today, the company Louis Vuitton remains consistent with the spirit of its founder, Louis Vuitton, who invented the true Art of Travel through trunks, bags and accessories that were at once creative, elegant and practical.

Copyright outside photo: @ Image courtesy: Louis Vuitton