On Saturday night we returned to Thomieux, one of our favorite bistros, for a great, cold night dinner of traditional cassoulet. The house cat, Miasue, was ensconced on the back of our banquette giving only the slightest indication of life until the fish course arrived at an adjoining table! With her eyes wide, ears flared and nose twitching, she suddenly peered over the shoulder of the young man who had ordered her favorite delicacy! He was quite perturbed, so Miasue was whisked away by a watchful waitress... We concluded our evening with a walk home, passing the Eiffel Tower just as it began its hourly light show...could it be more perfect?

Nous sommes arrivés à Paris! (to the left, the view from outside our apartment building) And, after 24 hours, we’ve almost adjusted to the time zone, thanks to a later than usual arrival (via Amsterdam), a quick shopping trip in the neighborhood to pick up groceries, a good dinner, a good night’s sleep and a brisk one hour walk this morning. It should be no surprise that our first purchases were food! Bread with seeds; bread with raisins & nuts; baguettes; and, mais oui, croissants! Sooo, to go with them one needs cheeses, confiture, wine, fruit, honey… By our second afternoon John had ranged well beyond the neighborhood to scout out Lavinia for wine; Maison du Chocolat for “truffles”; Maison du Miel for honey and Maille for mustard. You get the idea…

WE'LL BE BACK IN PARIS... from Jan. 20th through most of Feb. 2006, so check back soon for our newest postings... John & Polly