We'll Always Have Paris...

Hello, dear readers. First off, I must apologize. I have been sadly delinquent in writing my regular weekly posts for this blog, and for that, I am humbly sorry. But...

...it wasn't because I was lazy
...it wasn't because I didn't want to
...it wasn't because I didn't care

It was simply because life took over and there wasn't a minute left over for writing.

But I'm back now and am thrilled to be sharing again. So, here we go!

As for what I've been up to lately, the biggest thing was my recent trip to Barcelona and Paris. The trip was, in fact, a gift from my husband for our 35th wedding anniversary, which we celebrated in May. (Full disclosure: Going to Paris has been a lifelong dream of mine. My husband finally made it come true!)

We left on a Tuesday afternoon, and by 9am the next day, we had landed in Barcelona. We spent two days there before taking a train to the South of France and renting a car. From there, we worked our way up to Paris, one beautiful town at a time, until we hit the big city. Then we spent the last five days of our vacation in the magnificent, glorious, magical City of Lights.

Somehow, words do this trip no justice, especially when it comes to the food (natch!). Which is why I'd like to share my culinary journey with you pictorially. After all, it's always about the food, right? Hope you enjoy!

DAYS 1-2 IN BARCELONA, SPAIN: Tapas platter

Breakfast buffet at our Barcelona hostel

A typical Spanish breakfast

A stand at La Boqueria in Barcelona--one of the best public markets in the world

A meat stand at La Boqueria

A salted fish stand

An egg stand

Beautiful, fresh vegetables

A gorgeous assortment of fruits, nuts, and vegetables

Mushrooms...and more mushrooms

Your choice of cheeses

Serrano ham

Fun cups

Colorful tropical fruits, complete with spoon

More fruit-to-go

Delicious smoothies (only 1 euro each!)

A cafe off the beaten path in Barcelona

Fresh, hot churros and a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream in Barcelona

DAY 3 IN MONTPELLIER, FRANCE: A decidedly upscale bakery

Beautiful design AND beautiful products!

Take a look at these! Who could resist just one? (Not me!)

DAY 4 IN AVIGNON, FRANCE: Butternut squash soup with floating mousse foam

Chicken with mashed potatoes and mushrooms

Fresh cream and raspberry sauce with cotton candy on top!

Butter croissant with freshly squeezed orange juice

Quiche Lorraine with cappuccino

DAY 5 IN LYON, FRANCE - A great meat-lovers
 restaurant

Vol au vent

Andouillette (aka chittlins!)

The famous Salade Lyonnaise

DAY 6 IN BEAUNE, FRANCE - The classic French onion soup

Escargots (aka snails)

Apple tart

Pain au chocolat

DAY 7 IN FONTAINEBLEAU - Oysters

Guinea fowl with potatoes

Sirloin steak

Sweet cheese with raspberry sauce

Apple tart

DAYS 8-12 IN PARIS, FRANCE - Foie gras carpaccio with toasts

Snail stew

Chocolate milkshake at the Louvre Museum cafeteria (you have to stir it from the bottom up!)

A street vendor selling hot chestnuts on the Champs-Elysees

Almond crroissant

The famous "Le Grand Colbert" restaurant

The staff was fabulous!

What a grand interior!

Lamb chops with dauphinois gratin

Calf's liver

Huge meringues!

What a beautiful display!

So artistic!

It just doesn't stop!

Fabulous!

Snails in a parsley cream sauce

Duck a l'orange

Strawberry tart

Chocolate opera cake

Paris-brest dessert

Rabbit terrine en croute

Rumsteak with Bearnaise sauce and potatoes

Caramelized beef cheeks

Pear sorbet and vanilla ice cream

Veal with Roquefort cream sauce, potatoes with duck fat, and spinach in cream sauce

Raspberry Charlotte

~THE END~