Gourmet Noël-Paris style

The food, especially the sweets in Paris, are such eye candy. Let's face it, the French defined the concept of "presentation" when it comes to food, and each time we visit, I'm always in awe of the foods we see as we stroll the streets. These macarons at Ladurée, one of my favorite treats, are even golden this holiday season.

Within the silhouette of a pastry called a religieuse, are more macarons to tease us as we pass by. They entice you and delight you, saying come in, get out of the cold, stand in this long line to order some. We're worth it!

Even the hip concept store, Colette, has jumped into the Macaron craze, and is displaying cones or trees of macarons in their window.

How about these éclairs with Mona Lisa eyes at Fauchon? They follow you as you pass by trying to resist.

And these are the new Bridget Bardot éclairs for the Christmas season.

On the streets you smell chestnuts roasting,

and even find salmon smoking at the German markets along with all sorts of food to eat on the go.

Chocolate shops abound--a very popular gift at Christmas

Who on your Christmas list would like a chocolate stiletto?

If not chocolates, then how about candied fruit?

A rainbow of jams and jellies at Hédiard, one of the premiere grocers in Paris near the Madeleine.

It wouldn't be Christmas without ordering a Bûche de Noël or Yule log. Typically they look like the small one here to represent the log that was traditionally burned on the hearth on Christmas Eve.

This year we saw some very different interpretations of this traditional dessert.

And for the first time that I can remember, Paris has caught the cupcake craze. Save your euros though, because this super size cupcake in front is 41 euros--that's about $60 now. Granted it's enough to share, but it does make having a cupcake a very, very special occasion. But, when you think about it, what's more special than Christmas?