Paris is Always a Good Idea

And so is Yummy Food

It’s Monday and I am stuffed like the proverbial pig. I have had friends in town since Thursday and we have literally run from one restaurant to another over the last several days, eating and drinking our way through the City of Light.

On Thursday before they arrived I was at LCB making a giant entrecôte that would have taken two grown men to eat, with some delicious tarragon butter, just to give it a few more calories and a side of homemade french fries. Also, randomly, we made French-style scrambled eggs with tomato concassée on top. Yummy, but I was trying to save myself for dining with my friends.

Le Boeuf

We began at Brasserie Lipp for a late lunch where we had Noix St. Jacques—scallops to those of us in the US— but so much better in France. Then we rolled into dinner at Girafe which was a showstopper! The food was delightful and the dining room is gorgeous with the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower outside the windows, just to remind you how happy you are to be in Paris!

Swoon-worthy sole!

French chickens rock!!

How swanky is that!

The next day I had class and if you can even believe it, a seminar on how to get a job—for two hours! My eyes glazed over and I actually felt sorry for my children, some of whom are in the job search world. It was something out of an anxiety nightmare—you know the type, you are about to graduate from college and your parents have given you one month to find a job before they cut you off, and you, for some weird dream reason, can’t find your resumé, and maybe you are naked too. You just can’t understand why you didn’t realize it before you left the house. It gives me the shivers just to relive. Really happy I am not looking for a job right now!

In any event, I missed whatever delicious lunch they had, but dinner was at La Vie et La Bourse and I had the Canette (duckling) and others had the most delicious-looking steak au poivre. It was a meaty night and all received their monthly intake of iron and a nice long walk home.

The following day we perused all the treasures at Les Puces( the haut of flea markets) and found lots of one of a kind items to add that “je ne sais quoi” to our home decor. That evening we celebrated our finds with a trip to Le Tous Paris on top of the oh-so-fab Cheval Blanc Hotel—which has, I daresay, the best view of Paris in the whole city. It is a must go—for the view and the food which was sublime.

The Pont Neuf below and Notre Dame in the background! We were loving it!

The last day came quickly though and we parted ways as some went to Versailles and I had to prepare for my little cocktail soirée that evening with all the people I knew who were in Paris. However, that did not stop me from meeting some of those friends at Le Grand Colbert for a boozy brunch—if that is what you call eating and drinking from 1:30pm-5pm. It too, was so charming, and so fun to catch up with old friends and some new ones too!

After we had sufficiently chatted and drank a gallon more of Chablis, we tottered off to our last dinner at Semilla which is a neighborhood staple in the 6th arrondisement, and a perfect end to their trip. We dined on scrumptious salmon in an artichoke purée and more perfect French chicken prepared two ways. It was all just soul-satifying and we were yet again full as ticks as we headed home. Today, I sadly said good bye, and headed back to LCB and the “real world”.

Had to iron my uniform first thing this morning!

Today we made crab bisque and the crabs were still alive when we began our practical. They must have had a premonition about their fate because they were literally jumping off the trays before they were sautéed in piping hot oil. Honestly, I felt a little bad for them. Right up until the bisque was finished and it was to die for, with a little whipped cream quenelle and some fried artichokes poivrade! With no friends tonight—it’s what’s for dinner!