Elles

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris, France:

There's a new French film to be released soon with Juliette Binoche called "Elles".

Happy Saturday!

Another Reason I Can't Sleep

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris, France:

I was rudely awoken this morning by an extremely loud drilling which seemed to be coming from inside my head. I started wondering what I drank the night before. I know my memory is bad, but I couldn't for the life of me remember having a crazy bender or anything unless of course I was sleepwalking...

Then I realized the drilling was real, it was coming from the roof directly above the bedroom and holy crap was it ever loud! Here are three short 30 second videos I took of the enormity of the noise. You can't really tell how loud it is, but know that during the drilling, I'm shouting to be heard. And in the short intervals where there was no drilling, there was hammering. In that video I'm talking in my normal inside-voice.

Lull You to Sleep

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris, France:

In France there is a program on television that starts at about 3am where an attractive, young woman reads to you in her gentle, soothing voice. It always makes me laugh. You would think it'd help me with my insomnia, but no. This week she's reading Homer's Odyssey. It reminds me of college when Greek classics succeeded in lulling me to sleep. These days, not so much.

Where Am I?

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris, France:

You can often find me in the Starbucks near Opera Garnier in Paris working on the book, or blogging...

No Pants SexySultry Tuesday Birthday

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris, France:

Today is SexySultry's birthday!! Have a great one, my sweet friend. I can't imagine what my life would be like without you!

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.

Coupa Cafe

Photo

So many wonderful things are happening in my life right now. And I can't talk about any of them! It's driving me crazy and oh so not great for a blog! What I can tell you about is this amazing Venezuelan restaurant Judy took me to the other day called Coupa Cafe.  She has exquisite taste in everything including restaurants. We were very French Skinny in ordering little bits of everything but then it suddenly wasn't French Skinny anymore because we had little bits of EVERYTHING! I still have sweet dreams of the Cafe' Caracas, a slightly sweet but very spicy latte that has rocked my world. I asked them what spices they used. Paprika and Cayenne were included. So now I am on a quest to find the recipe. Every morning I make my coffee, add Cayenne Pepper, Paprika, Cinnamon and this morning I added Nutmeg. Then I pour that through a filter add a little sweet and half and half. Of course Hubby thinks I'm crazy with my spices and filtering and 5 projects, laundry, and trying to juggle it all but I think I've got this latte almost perfect.

Hope all is going well for you. Time to make a list.

Happy Monday!

xoxo