Chocolate and more chocolate

Day 2: A chocolate tour
This morning we took a tour through 5 decadent chocolate patisseries in Paris--some of the most amazing tastes i have ever savored. Who ever knew that single origin chocolate from Indonesia is velvety smooth, rich and melts like nothing before. What about lychee chocolate--or 3 honey chocolate--and of course praline (roasted almonds-hazelnuts and chocolate...)MMMMMMMMM. The kids enjoyed the scenery, watching a chocolate fountain, viewing shiny chocolates that have gold sprinkling- and the prettiest designs and shapes (hearts, a high heeled shoe, tour eiffel etc.)

All the places were presented to us from a lovely tour guide that is from Minnesota who has lived in France for 17 years; her insight and history of the chocolate itself was kind of riveting for me (never knew real chocolate was made by hand...machines can only dilute the stuff but not really remove it from the cacao beans) Anyway, the kids kind of lost interest at this point, but it was great to hear about how much work goes into the chocolate itself (What a God given treat...) However, at the same time, it is ironic how far away the typical market brands are from the original. I do somewhat see a movement towards a more sophisticated palate in the direction of the pure chocolate I tasted (a la Whole Foods, organic, etc), but i am not sure Halloween candy will ever match the good stuff.

Dinner notes
So tonight we were able to have our Mom in law babysit the kids while Pieter and I stepped out into Quartier Latin for some dinner. I tried to research a restaurant that had some international flavor but was not crazy in price. Mind you, this was difficult since many of the top reviewed places have a sort of gastronomy type menus...(how does 400 Euros sound per person????) So instead, we went to Ze Kitchen Galerie..an art gallery/southeast Asian inspired french cuisine close by to where we are staying. Let me 1st say, next time I think I should take the hint, that when you enter a crowded restaurant with lovely people--receive menus that do not have any familiar dishes, and get unlimited olives which Pieter and I do NOT enjoy--we should leave. I tasted a few good things at the restaurant, but honestly? It was not really southeast Asian influenced, except for a piece of coriander and lemon grass on the plate I was eating from. Not really cool, and frankly we would have rather gone to the near by creperie or bistro for a burger. But have you ever sat in a crowded place and been served immediately and then just walked out?? Well, next time we find that situation, we just might.

Anyway, after our -not outstanding but oh well-dinner, we walked around and talked about all the places that we have been (St Petersburg, Finland, UK, Holland, Colorado, NY etc) and realized that the entire world is filled with so many views, pleasures and beauty- but the most important thing is your sense of how much you (in the sense of the spirit) feels at home.

Until the next adventure!