La Nourriture, Edition 1

Paris is more than just a city of lights, glamour, passion, and love. . .it's all about the FOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!! As I was consolidating the 100 + photographs I have taken throughout the past 2 days of constant stop & go, I found that inevitably my eyes paused to feast on what my stomach had beforehand. Granted, the fine cuisine served costs a pretty penny, I assure you that it is entirely worth it. I am grieved beyond belief that my roommate detests seafood, tomatoes, cheese, potatoes, pistachios, babies, life, and basically anything that is good in this world. I've no one to share my utter euphoria with when I happen upon a dish that provokes speechlessness. Chicken and grilled cheese loving Caitlin just stares and scowls. Sigh.

Does this photograph need any more words?
Pistachio macaron & ganache with fresh strawberries and rasperries, from Ladurée.
I can't even... I -- sdfjsdjfJPJDJFSKJFLKSJDKJK!!!!

Millefeuille de chèvre au basilic et salade verte, Café de Vrai Paris (Montmartre)

We paused at a little café near metro stop Abbesses after our walk around Montmartre. It was nice, with a dark atmosphere on the inside, and outside on the terrace we sat under heated lamps and ducked the cold and cloudy weather. The service was exceptional for Parisian standards and the food was delicious. For a group of friends, this café is perfect.

The best part about this dish was the composite of basil and chèvre, but on top of that -- the sauce. I don't know what that sauce was, but it was sweet and smooth, and complemented the cheese perfectly. And to think, this was only an entrée!! (appetizer, in French)

Crême brulée trois fois (chocolat, pistache, et crème)

For dessert, the 7 of us decided upon a trio of crême brulée. The waiter was aghast that we all wanted to share. "Non, pas possible! Pour deux personnes peut-être, mais pas pour tout le monde." We politely refused to order anything else, and he shrugged in a okay-whatever-you-say-because-you're-paying-but-you're-making-the-wrong-decision type of way. It was a funny moment. The original creme flavored was my favorite. Followed by the pistachio. The chocolate was too rich for me, but the sauce drizzled underneath was certainly entirely necessary, if not just for presentation :)

Crous restaurante universitaire
Paella et tarte rouge

On Wednesday, after our placement exam, we were taken to the "dorm dining hall," and it was 2.90 euro for a meal. Unlike American students who are accustomed to gorging themselves on an endless buffet of overcooked beef platters, this dining hall allowed ONE principle plate, ONE dessert, ONE drink, and ONE side dish. And we wonder why obesity is prevalent throughout the country? Haha. The paella was okay at best. The rice was dried out, albeit well seasoned. The tarte rouge though, I finished immediately. I'm a tart girl. ;) Caitlin, of course, detested everything and stuck to a bowl of plums.

Leek & Cheddar gratin with basil, tomato, münster salad (Chez Tiffany!)

I got to meet Megan Hanson in Paris on Tuesday, which was so nice, and I wish that I had a picture of the amazing falafel that we had. It was at "L'as du Falafel" 34 Rue des Rosiers, metro stop St. Paul in the Marais. We had the falafel originale, and it was a lightly toasted pita filled with falafel, eggplant, red cabbage, cucumbers, and yogurt sauce. We sat, ate, talked, and time literally paused, it was that good.

The following day, after a visit to the Eiffel Tower and resting on a blanket on the Champ de Mars, we decided to grocery shop and cook dinner. It was a mild success because we had gotten back too late, and had dinner around 10:30 at night. Haha. But it was good company, good food, and good wine.

Don't be surprised if I'm 500 pounds when I return. Do not be surprised at all. :)