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February 2011

Paris, We Miss You!

A week ago last night, we were sitting at the counter at Les Cocottes, and last night we enjoyed those memories over steaming bowls of curried mussels.  (And I’ve not forgotten that I owe you a few more details about that trip.)  We had spent our Saturday consumed with many domestic activities and errands, and I wanted our dinner to be easy and quick but more special than a weeknight dinner.  Flipping open my  now page-stained Around My French Table, I quickly zeroed in on Dorie Greenspan’s recipe for curried mussels.  I also discovered that the Paris establishment, Horse’s Tavern, that inspired this recipe, was right around the corner from the hotel in which we stayed!  Quel dommage!  Adding it to our list.

This was the girls’ first experience and it was most successful.  Not knowing what they were missing, the girls were quite content to sop up the cream-fortified curried broth with a piece of bread rather the crispy pile of salty frites that should have accompanied the dish.  I was less accepting, but kept my complaints to myself.   Expressing her surprise that dinner was ready so quickly, Anna remarked that she didn’t know why people go to fast-food restaurants when they can make such good food at home.  Michael Pollan would be so pleased (as, of course, was this mother.)

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Au revoir, Paris!

We are seated aboard our plane for the flight home. What a terrific time we had! Above you see part of our last Paris lunch, eaten at Les Philosophes in the Marais. Electronic devices must be turned off now, so more sharing must wait. . .

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Postcard from Paris

Bonsoir! I write to you as our second night draws to a close. Sitting in the cafe (only WiFi space) of our hotel, the Holiday Inn Notre Dame, a surprisingly terrific hotel, not at all reminiscent of the bare bones Holiday Inns of my youthful memories. We are one block from Saint Michel metro station, but more importantly for the girls, 100 yards from a crêpe stand.

Despite our absolutely perfect dinner at Les Cocottes this evening, which included dessert, the girls were insistent about their need for a pre-sleep beurre sucre crêpe. I found it difficult – ok, impossible – to deny this “request”, for the second night in a row. I’ve also decided that crêpe batter must enter my stateside repertoire.

We ate at Cafe Constant last night, and tonight moved two doors down to Les Cocottes, another Constant establishment. (When I find myself in Paris with an adult companion, I will visit the third, Violon d’Ingres!)

The waiters were terrific, the vibe in the place great, and the food to die for! We sat at the counter, which runs the length of the restaurant, and all had soup to start, though Anna was a latecomer.  She was forced to order once we realized she intended to “sample” our soups to the bottom of the bowls. Greta had cream of pumpkin (creme de potimarron de chataignes) and A and I both had a velouté of celeriac, which included a small piece of turbot. The bowls were practically licked clean.

Next came the cocottes. This is the restaurant’s specialty – dishes served in those fabulous Staub cast-iron covered casseroles called “les cocottes”. The girls shared boeuf Bourguignon and, at the waitress’s recommendation, I had caramelized potatoes stuffed with pied de porc. And how was that? Suffice to say, I eventually had to engage in defensive maneuvers against Anna, who claims this is what she’ll be ordering the next time!

Dessert – chocolate mousse for G, a cream-topped gaufre with chocolate sauce for A, and Basque cheese with a cherry confiture pour moi.

Tomorrow, Versailles! Bonne nuit!

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Demain à Paris!

The excitement in our home is at a fever pitch – bags have been packed, restaurants researched, and Euros secured.  Paris here we come!

Our plans include the expected – visits to the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, and Sacre Coeur.  As you know, we plan to check out Shakespeare & Co. and E. Dehillerin.  We may ice skate at l’Hotel de Ville, but will definitely eat ice cream at Berthillon.  The girls intend to bring home a few French fashion items and I intend to stash in my bag a few jars of Fleur de Sel de Guerande, pails of G. Detou Dijon, and lentils de Puy.  The macarons will be gone before boarding time.

We will (hopefully!) eat at Cafe Constant, Les Cocottes, Les Papilles, Chez Marianne and perhaps Le Gaigne or A La Biche au Bois.  We will eat crepes!  We will buy a Poulet crapaudine from the Chicken Lady at the Bastille market!  And we will wish you were with us!  (You know who you are.)

Next time – posting from Paris!

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