Dinner at J's, Lunch at Karena's

J at the Stove

I must have mentioned that our schedule in Paris was tightly packed. Shopping was out though I managed to grab a few items for the kids at Cacharel and Hubby a suit from said boutique. Priority was given to the renovations in our flat, finding a few real estate agencies to help rent it out etc.

We managed to catch a piece of theatre one evening at the Lucernaire with Hubby's former colleague O and his Russian wife J. 3 short pieces by Anton Tchekhov : <<Une demande en mariage>>, <<Tragédien malgré lui>> and <<L'Ours>>.

We also managed to catch 4 movies : Ratatouille, Dialogue avec un Jardinier, Persepolis and The Good Shepherd.

And on one evening, we were invited to dinner at the Chinese restaurant at Chinagora (in Alfortville, in the middle of the river) by my dear Chinese friend Béatrice (we were classmates at Sciences Po). Tough on the diet as you can well imagine.

But the highlight of our short stay in Paris must be our precious few visits to a few friends and our being fed while we were chez eux. Starting with my American friend J.

Hubby tagged along. Much as I love him, J's a Bachelor Girl and BGs usually have interesting tales to share with boring housewife friends and his presence probably caused those tales to be watered down. At one point J had a visit from one of her neighbours, a tall, good looking and nicely proportioned young man, about some boiler problem. But certainly if the occasion had permitted we could have persuaded him to hang around :-). Maybe even lend him her shower hot water. Heh heh.

Anyway, we enjoyed J's new flat in Montrouge and while she slaved over the stove, we sipped red wine, listened to her screaming MP3 and made a point to coo over her cats. We exchanged stories about our sons (they used to do Judo together) and I always win as you can't beat mine in almost every domain, be it bad grades, bad behaviour, complaints from the teachers or pure laziness. Her son M's 1st in class and keeps his own blog. What did I eat wrong during my pregnancy?

Cucumber Soup

Dinner was thoroughly enjoyable. J concocted a cool cold cucumber soup, grilled Beef with Red Peppers and her plat de résistance - Curried Potatoes. I found her flat just by following the smell of the spices.

Grilled Beef and Peppers Curried Potatoes

She also made dessert (Tarte aux Mirabelles), but I am a difficult fruit eater and had to skip it. Hubby loved it though.

Well, J, thanks for dinner once again and see you on the 15th of September in Modena!

Angel

Next, we were invited to lunch at Karena's (of the Bibou thru the Years blog). Nice little house in Antony near the famous Parc de Sceaux. And 2 cutie pie little girls the youngest of whom I've only seen on K's blog until this day. And I attest that they are even cuter in person, and the Angel's certainly well-named as she slept through our long lunch, have never seen that in my decade-long motherhood.

Karena's Chili Dog

It rained, but I die die also went out into their famous garden and veggie patch to snatch a few raspberries. Chris bbqed us a few hot dogs so that Karena could serve us her famous chilli dog and we had rice, salad and yummy wings to go with it. They also made a Tarte aux Prunes that I as usual didn't consume, being the picky fruit eater that I am. Great company, interesting gossip, a wonderful way to spend a rainy afternoon. Really happy to meet the d'Arcys after all this while, I have missed them. Hope to see the growing family in Italy soon!