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01/27/2003 Entry: "Day Off"

At quarter to 6 this morning, I arrived at work, surprised to see Chef Mikhail at the door (he's not the macaron chef). He told me that Eddy, the macaron chef, is sick today and that we're free to go since we can't do anything without him. I said: "Ok, merci," and as I walked back to the metro I had a huge grin on my face. Free day! Whee!

So I started planning my day -- looking for bistros I can try for lunch. Decided I would splurge and try Le Cafe des Delices in the 6th arrondisement -- it got good reviews from both TimeOut magazine and Edward Behr's Art of Eating. I was so excited because I was expecting a 32 Euro prix fixe, but they actually had one that was 14 Euros and today was Boeuf Bourguignon (beef braised in red wine) day. Unfortunately, when I walked in I knew I had no chance of getting seated -- it was packed. All was not lost though, because I came prepared with a list. Next on the list was a small bistro called Chez Marcel -- TimeOut was raving about their Apricot Tart... So I sat down and ordered the Coq au Vin (chicken braised in red wine), and when it came I wasn't sure if it was beef or chicken -- but it hit the spot. What I enjoyed most was their dessert -- they didn't have the apricot tart today, so I ordered a Fromage Blanc Miel (soft white cheese with honey). I savored each and every spoonful of it. Who would've thought such a simple dessert would be so good?? Anyway, in the middle of dessert some guy came in and talked to the patron. He said he was working for MTV and there's a show called The Real World with a group of American kids blah blah blah blah -- I was straining to hear everything, but I think he was asking the owner if they could tape some scenes at this restaurant. Cool. Is there a Real World Paris? Maybe there will be. I was sorta hoping the camera crew was outside already and that I was going to be on MTV. heh.

On my way to Chez Marcel I stopped by the chocolaterie of Jean Paul Hevin M.O.F. (M.O.F. means he won the equivalent of the Olympics for chocolaterie) and got a few treats for dessert tonight.

Definitely a much better day than yesterday. I did manage to bake a tea cake in my little toaster oven yesterday -- although I don't recommend using it because it burns the bottom of the cake. I saw the recipe from Bon Appetit Bien Sur and it's a good recipe to do with kids or for ill-equipped kitchens like mine... Here's the step by step recipe with photo illustrations. It took me more than an hour to do this page so enjoy!