Saturday, March 21, 2009

This week, both Michelle and I had American visitors, and we decided to ensure they got the most out of their Paris experience by sampling quality French cuisine. Yesterday, after work, Michelle threw a dinner party in her studio apartment with a modern balcony affording a view over half the Paris skyline, the Gare d'Austerlitz, and the Jardin des Plantes. We attempted to show them the "usual" Parisian lifestyle - according to our French friends (and I had noticed this from previous French trips) it's more common for friends to get together for a dinner party than go out to a restaurant because they're so expensive here. Instead, we had roast chicken, sausage, salad, vegetables, fresh bread, cheeses, and desserts. The next night, Amanda, Brittany and I met up with Michelle and her visitors at Restaurant Jules in the 2nd arrondissement. Our French friends were unable to recommend a restaurant as students their age never go out to nice restaurants, so we took matters into our own hands. Brittany used her friend Google for a recommendation, and we loved the experience. Many of us ordered duck confit and wine, which melted in our mouths! 

Both Michelle and I also had a Number One Priority on our agendas: to show our guests the Perfect Nutella Crepe. I have experience in ordering the perfect crepe, and, not only have I tracked down the best crepe locations in Paris, but have been known to tell the crepe-makers to "make it fresh," or put "extra Nutella on it" (sometimes to the chagrin of the crepe-maker . . . a.k.a. my family's visit in 2006). On one of the first days of her visit, Amanda and I traipsed up the Champs-Elysées and, despite having dinner reservations in a couple of hours, decided we needed a "snack" - and Amanda decided it was time to have her first Nutella crepe. Unfortunately, the crepe was already-made and contained generic Nutella that dripped messily with every bite. But it made for some hilarious photos!