Does anyone know where in Paris, London or Cardiff I might find those classic concave-sided raised pie molds with clip ends and removable bases ? These are the patterned grandparents of the modern springform molds ? Or even metal drop-sided terrines ? I suspect they might be quite expensive but I've been looking for them for a few years during recent travels with no luck. I know they sound like antiques and they are quite beautiful, so perhaps in a flea market or second-hand shop perhaps ?

Also, whats the best store - if any particular specialist stores exist - to pick up baking hardware in any of those cities ? Thanks for any advice.

I'll post this in the lounge as well.


M.

Check these specialty stores in Paris:

http://www.e-dehillerin.fr/

http://www.mora.fr/fr/index.asp

Sometimes, BHV has these types of items:

http://www.bhv.fr/

Hi Mathieu,

Can’t help you with those particular items, but Loncall recently posted a very interesting link to an article about restaurants and culinary supply stores in the vicinity or Marble Arch in London.

Hope it helps and good luck…

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...od-marble-arch

You might aslso try A. Simon on rue Montmarte, in fact thetre are lots of kitchem ware shops in that area.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/a-simon-paris

There is also smaller La Bovida, http://www.labovida.com/ between A. Simon and Mora. These three are only a few stores from each other. I liked A. Simon (which has TWO stores next to each other, be sure to visit BOTH). The A. Simon URL mentioned in reviews goes to some strange site.

Dehillerin is the probably the largest, but the way it is laid out, like an old fashioned hardware store from a past century, it is very hard to get around and find things. The really big stuffs are in the basement.

I believe that David leibovitz' book The Sweet Life in Paris recommends shops for bakeware (also is hilarious and has recipes). I know the book has restaurant, cheese shop, etc...recommendations.

Thank you everyone for your great suggestions.

Sarastro, thank you for all your valuable suggestions. I went to the Dehillerin website and found exactly what I was looking for. I will definitely be paying them a visit. I also took a look at the site you provided links for and they are great. I hope to visit them too.

So too Greg and avalon. I will definitely try to get to A. Simon and La Bovida, and the kitchen stores in Monmartre. I think I may be staying not too far away from there.

Latedaytraveller, I enjoyed the article and noted the stores that might help. I'll see if I can get to them. Thank you.

Thanks Denisea. I actually subscribe to David Leibovitz's blog and posted this same request there with some suggestions received as well. As luck will have it, I will be in Paris for just a few hours inbetween other French cities on an evening when he has a book signing - so I plan to meet the man and get a signed copy of 'The Sweet Life'.

Thanks everyone.

M.

Just an update...

I went to the Dehillerin store twice; it is an amazing place and has lots of wonderful stuff, but it is very cramped, especially on a crowded, sunny Saturday afternoon.
I did find the molds I was looking for, but at 85euro each for the larger size and 60 euro for the slightly smaller ones, I decided against the purchase as I'm sure I can find them for less on the net if I try hard enough.
Not to fear though, I found plenty of other smaller things that I wanted and needed, and came away with a parcel neatly wrapped in their traditional brown paper that cost almost as much as one of the molds. The staff are swift, and very helpful and told me in a friendly aside that the molds were so expensive because they aren't a high demand item and are complex to make.

I also met and chatted with David Leibovitz and got him to sign a copy of 'The Sweet Life In Paris'. He is as amusing as his book.