Bonjour!
A couple of photos out our window!
All I can say is, occasionally a truly outstanding meal comes ones’ way – and it certainly came our way today!
But first…I could get NO response from my weary hubby about going out last night – he’s tired…so, Louvre or no Louvre, we stayed in for the evening. As we had had such a nice lunch, no one was in the mood for dinner, so, as they say, we skipped it! (Still have the cannelloni in the fridge, though!)
Up this morning about 7, showered and down those lousy steps to the boulangerie … it was my turn to go for breakfast…We didn’t really have a big plan for the day, but I did want to check out the chocolate shop – Denise Acabo - Jay had recommended, and we also wanted to get to the Madeleine to see about concert tickets for tonight.
Believe it or not, because of poor bus connections in our neighborhood, we took the nearest bus – the 82, back to the Luxembourg (where we like to stay!) to catch the 84 straight to the Madeleine; arrived a little after 10 a.m. to find that whoever was supposed to be selling concert tickets hadn’t show up yet; we were advised to return an hour before the concert tonight…so…
(Photo from the steps of the Madeleine looking down to the Place de la Concord.)
From the Madeleine, we took buses up to Pigalle in Montmartre to look for Rue Fontaine, where the chocolate shop is. Found it with no problem, just as it was starting to rain – a really cute and tiny place, and met Denise, the owner – SO cute in braids and pleated skirt; very friendly and ever-ready to talk to people about her store and chocolates. Jay had said that the caramels with sea salt were wonderful, so we got those and then went through Denise’s individual chocolate case to pick things out. She really does have quite a selection!
From there we walked up to Place Pigalle and caught the Montmartrebus for the tour around the arrondissement – past one of the few remaining windmills in Paris, as well as the grapevines that are still producing wine each year! We had planned on stopping at Place de la Tertre, where there are painters of all kinds and ages gathered around the square doing what they do best – paint! We have several oil paintings from there, and it’s always fun to look and see what’s new. However, as the rain was really beginning to fall, we doubted that anyone would be out painting, so decided to reserve that for another day – although with rain predicted through most of the week, we may have to table that until next trip!
So…headed back to the Madeleine for lunch at my very favorite French restaurant – Maison de la Truffe – House of Truffles (and NOT the chocolate kind; the earthy kind instead, which are by far my VERY favorite food on the planet!) – and by the time we got to the door, the heavens had really opened up in a downpour!
Nice table against the wall; next to a party of seven, but in the traditional French way, they were quiet and well behaved. We started with glasses of Bollinger Champagne each; truly wonderful, and went very well with the wonderful bread and black truffle oil on the tables. For starters, we both ordered the rocket salad (arugula) with parmesan shavings, with summer truffles for R, and black truffles for me. Fabulous! Then came the main courses – R had the duck with potatoes and summer truffles. I had the beef filet presented on a thin bread crouton, with a slice of fois gras topped by black truffles in a mild brown sauce (sorry, I forgot the name!) that came with wonderful fried potatoes. Absolute heaven!! Dessert for R was the three sorbets – vanilla, red fruit and lime -- and I had the Catalan crème with black truffles and red fruit. (This turned out to be a light flan with small pieces of truffle served with strawberries and currents…GREAT!) This was all washed down by a bottle of 2008 St. Emillion Bordeaux, specially selected to go with truffles, so we were sure we picked the right one!
Lunch took us over 2½ hours – and through some very dicey weather, as well – at one point, the rain became nothing less than torrential, but by the time we got outside again, the sun was shining and a stiff breeze was blowing!
Back to the flat for much needed naps – went via metro, only one change – and I can tell you, that going up those steps on a full stomach is AWFUL…we’re thinking of tying a rope to the window sash and going up and down that way…
However – there is going to be a huge antique and art show on the Rue Breteuil, taking place right below our windows! They have been setting it up for days – working on it when we got here on Monday. R always afraid that it will be a rock concert, but this fair is going to be something to see! First wooden floors went down, on both sides of the street (there is a green space down the center). Then the white tents were set up. Those were finished yesterday. Starting today, people are starting to move in to them – and wow, the stuff they’re putting out is amazing – one booth we passed today had nothing but silver – everywhere; whew! The official start is tomorrow, and it will continue I think through next week. Can’t wait to see what’s there, which is just what R is afraid of!
So, the day has turned from grey and overcast to rainy and now to stunning sunshine and quite a wind blowing (if you’re watching the French Open, you’ll see what I mean!) – hopeful of getting R out tonight again, but I think he is still in the recovering stage from the past 7 weeks…oh well!
More later!
m
xxx
PS – And just in case you’re wondering, there will be NO dinner tonight!!
m
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