Renee’s Run Away to Live In Paris. Ok, Just For A Month.

It’s true! I have run away from home and I am living my dream in Paris. Well, not perfectly of course. It is the middle of winter, you know. It’s rainy, cold and foggy and I’ve had such a migraine since I arrived. I’ve been fully functioning in the early mornings for a few hours, then by mid-day I have a mini aneurysm, and end up sleeping until dark when I get up and head out again, missing most of the daylight.

But alas, I have had several adventures in my short three days that I’ve been here so far.  Arrived Monday morning and delivered myself promptly to the studio I’m renting. It’s in one of the nicest areas of Paris in my opinion-much like the upper east side of Manhattan (and costs about the same!). It’s a 6th floor walk-up that faces a courtyard. It’s the kind of apartment that if I had a half million I’d buy in a heartbeat! Cute and cozy!

Since I had no sleep whatsoever on the plane ride over, I spent Monday day in bed sleeping and then I finally dragged myself up in the evening to go to the FranPrix (an ok grocer, but rather limited selection) to buy some groceries only to discover there is a huge, beautiful grocery store, MonoPrix, just around the corner in the opposite direction. Now, I know!

Ok, I didn’t buy the chocolate pudding. But look at that! A massive tub! I could seriously eat the whole thing in one sitting. Hence the reason I did not buy it. Because I would. But the rest, all came home with me. An interesting thing about the milk. It’s not found in the refrigerator. It’s all found stacked like water bottles on the shelves. Must be ultra-pasteurized. I prefer my milk cold, so I put it in the fridge, but it doesn’t have to be chilled.  It tastes perfectly fine too to my Americanized palate.

Tuesday morning I woke up and headed to a cooking class where we learned how to make three dishes. I always love taking cooking classes, learning new techniques and tasting food from other peoples perspectives. I have had and made two of the dishes we prepared so the methods were not unfamiliar to me. But it was really fun nonetheless. And of course, eating lunch with new people you meet is always great. The class can be scheduled through Viator and is held in the home of Chef Marthe. She’s extremely knowledgeable, very hospitable and quite personable. She really made the class a lot of fun.  There were only 5 people in this particular class including myself. The small size made it that much more intimate and many laughs were shared among the group as we all rallied for one another during our “tasks”. Marthe also has one of the most beautiful stoves I have ever seen. Covet, covet!

The three dishes we prepared provided a feast for us for lunch. Starting with Les Gougeres (Cheese Puffs or Cheesey Poofs as we called them), Chicken with Two Vinegar’s and for dessert, an Orange Cake with a Glaze that was divine! Along with that, we were served cheeses, salad and warm baguettes that we picked up at the market just before class. And yes, of course there was wine! It was a delightful way to spend the day. Cooking, eating and drinking wine with new friends.

So, if you are in Paris, and want to try something fun and different, attend this small group cooking class. You have to eat anyways and this is an exciting, hands on experience and a great way to meet people.