Before it becomes too late, I think I should tell you about my recent travels to Paris and London.
After a lovely Christmas in Philadelphia – my family and I sipped champagne by the fireplace, enjoyed a luscious kabocha squash and fennel soup, carved into a succulent roasted leg of lamb, and dug into sweet, nutty slices of pecan pie – I hopped on a plane to Paris where I visited my family and friends. There, my grandfather, Papi, and I conversed over hearty winter fare and generous glasses of wine; my best friend and I baked clafoutis and chatted over many a pot of tea; and, on a grey and rainy day, I returned to my favorite salon de thé, Les Deux Abeilles on rue de l’Université.
Down the block from the musée du Quai Branly, Les Deux Abeilles is a charming cafe that my mother and I stumbled upon several years ago on a hot summer’s day. Ready to continue down the block in search of an air-conditioned restaurant, we came upon a waiter at the corner bistro who convinced us we should return to this charming cafe. We would like it, he was sure, so we returned. And, we have been returning ever since. They make wonderful quiches and salads. But, what is most impressive are their homemade desserts, prepared in the tiniest of kitchens. There are fruit crumbles and clafoutis, there are lemon meringue pies and tartes tatins, and there are buttery scones, perfect for breakfast or an afternoon cup of tea.
Though I am loyal to Les Deux Abeilles, I also make a point of discovering new places. This time around, a friend introduced me to Le Loir dans la Théière, a cozy salon de thé in the Marais where they serve truly delicious desserts, including a warm apple crumble.
After celebrating the New Year in Paris, my best friend and I took a quick train ride on the Eurostar to London. It was a whirlwind of a trip, as I was there for only three short days, but during that time I discovered a few noteworthy restaurants, in particular Granger & Co.
Having just put down our suitcases, we set forth to sunny Westborn Grove in Notting Hill in search of a meal to satisfy our hunger. With the intention of brunching at Tom’s Deli, we were quickly sidetracked by Granger & Co., a hip, modern restaurant by Australian restauranteur and food writer Bill Granger. There, I savored a wonderfully flavorful warm lentil salad with creamy mozzarella di bufala. It hit the spot, though I’m sure the ricotta hotcakes with fresh banana and honeycomb butter would have as well. By the end, I was so content with my meal that I decided upon adding Granger’s cookbook, Bill’s Basics, to my cookbook collection.
Though I have since returned to the States, you can be sure to find recipes inspired by my recent travels in subsequent posts.
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