Day 11: Weekend Update

Part of the reason I love this city is because you can be walking in an average looking neighborhood something beautiful is always lurking around the corner. For example, I went on a walk to the mall yesterday (which is the most beautiful mall I have ever seen. really it looks like a church) and I came upon these:




There are also little things about Paris that you would NEVER see in the US. It's to be expected that everyone carries a Longchamp bag, then you see a mid 20s guy in a cafe with a Longchamp computer case. I have also managed to sniff out a completely organic boulangerie/patisserie...and I literally mean sniff. A wonderful scent caught my nostrils on the way to class one day and I happened upon a very extensive bakery and it happened to be organic. I got an absolutely fabulous financier but I am itching to try their apricot brioche.

So on our first day, Helene served amazing french macarons sent to her by a company who's cookbook she had been the lead publisher on. I realize now that the bakery was La Duree, the most famous macarons in Paris. Pretty awesome that she is responsible for that book.

We all went out to celebrate my birthday last night. The intended restaurant apparently requires reservations which the Zagat guide failed to mention. However, we are definitely going back. It smelled too good. No big though, we just crossed the street kitty corner to Pause Cafe and it was delicious. The food was good, the atmosphere was festive and the service was very prompt (a very rare discovery in Paris). After that we went to the Bastille. An area conveniently close to us with lots of little bars on a tiny cobblestone street with no cars...very European. We ended up befriending the professional basketball team from, get this, Biarritz which I found very amusing considering my studies there. They got the whole place to sing to me; that is certainly one rendition of "joyeux anniversaire" I will never forget.

Helene is cooking a special birthday dinner for me tonight. Menu t.b.a. I know there is chocolate fondue involved.

Notable meals:
Pause cafe:
Salade Italienne: mixed greens tossed in a wonderful creamy lemon dressing. Prosciutto, mozzarella, olive tapenade (with anchovies...delish), parmesan and a marinated artichoke.
Dense choco cake split 3 ways with candles.
Mango Mojito: best drink I've had so far. I know it didn't at all go with my meal but I get a bday free pass.