Food For Thought

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris, France:

I hope everyone had a great Easter/Passover weekend filled with chocolate eggs, bunnies, family, good food, and fun. The French celebrate Easter much in the same fashion as you do in America. They also have (surprise!) a special cake for the occasion. Read about that HERE

Last year, Cashew and I celebrated Easter with a bunch of Expats in Paris and I don't remember much beyond the fact that there was way too much champagne served at a point way too early on in the day. Those Expat friends got together again this year but I rsvp'd no. Cashew and I broke up a few months ago and I didn't want to be reminded of him and yet another failed relationship all weekend long.

But much to my surprised, Cashew made an impromptu appearance on Good Friday. He hopped a flight from Chicago to Paris and came a knocking on my dog house door with roses and a chocolate croissant. "Please talk to me. Let me fix this. I can't bear to lose you." Oh, yeah... I guess I should tell you that I went completely MIA since January and have refused all contact with him. Drove the poor man insane.

We spent the weekend together walking around Paris and eating some mouth-watering food in some of my favorite restaurants.

We went to JaJa in the Marais...

Truffle Risotto Appetizer

Pumpkin Canneloni

Seared Fois Gras Appetizer

Utah Beach Oysters

Langoustine Salad

We went to Atelier Maitre Albert de Guy Savoy in the Latin Quarter...


cute placemat


Cream of Artichoke Soup with Mushroom Biscuits


Shrimp Salad


a delicious fish the french call BARBUE


the peas and rice that came with the fish


a wonderful red wine from bordeaux


chocolate mousse (Cashew's favorite dessert)


goat cheese with sour cherry marmalade


the menu

We went to Le Comptoir in Saint Germain des Pres...






Cream of Artichoke Soup with tapioca and fois gras


Pot de Paté de la maison


Seared Tuna


Stuffed Cabbage (I swear that is what it was called on the menu)


Rhubarb panna cotta


Café Crème


the menu

We also went to Café le Baron, Corso and Mariage Frères.

It was a delicious weekend on all accounts.

Happy Valentine's Day

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris, France :

Since the French are such a romantic bunch, the Mayor's office advertised a few weeks ago about a submission contest that would get your love note put up in lights on one of their many information signs scattered throughout the city.

Today they're popping up all over for everyone to see.

To see more, CLICK HERE.

***Images borrowed from the Internet***

Mint

Photo by Karen at French Skinny

The backyard is.....a disaster. During the winter, the bamboo took over and was devouring us. So we hired some guys to dig it up. Bamboo is crazy hard to get rid of. Anyway, that opened up a can of worms. After the bamboo was gone we realized the chain link fence behind it was falling down. We asked our friends and family to come over and help us remove the eyesore chain link. My part in this was to keep everyone hydrated and stay out of the way.

Once the fence was gone, our backyard merged with 2 other neighbors backyards. Which meant we had a pool for a week. Funny thing, when the walls came down we got to know our neighbors. Our neighbor with a pool, Harry, has rescued 3 dogs, a cat and a bird. He's invited us to come swim in the pool whenever we want. We've invited him over for a Tiki Party, when the backyard is done.

We have a lovely redwood fence now but I kind of miss the neighbors, dogs and pool.

Hubby has plans to completely change the landscape of the backyard. Move trees, bushes, take out railroad ties, fountains......everything. His inspiration? He wants our son to have enough room for a slip n slide. Yes, that's right, a slip n slide. This makes me laugh and love him a million times more than ever before.

He's going to incorporate an herb garden and pepper garden for me. I'm so excited! It's funny, the things that excite me these days.

Today I went to Trader Joe's and bought some herb starter plants. I'm going to keep them in the kitchen until the garden is ready.

I've had mint water all day today. No sugar needed. I just crushed some fresh mint, added water and voila!