Pharamond

Last wednesday, the team had a little get together dinner at Paramond. The least we can say is that Sylvain knows how to please his guests : this meal was "Gargantuesque". Everything from the lobster with whiskey sauce to the côte de boeuf was perfect. All that washed down with Champagne, Côte de Loire, Pomerol 1989 and Australian Champagne (yes they also do Champagne and it's good)! As it was not enough we commuted to a bar -we had to go as it was already around 2am- in the Marais. I almost got stop by the Police because I was driving my scooter on the taxi lane on the wrong way as it was a one-way street. They were nice enough to let me go without "souffler dans le ballon"! They probably didn't bother checking me as they had other things better to do like knicking those tracksuit wearing thugs that are known to operate in the area.
It ended in le Carré on rue du Temple (I think, not sure, was drunk already). Couple of bottle of Champagne and a B52's shot after it was already 4am and time for me to go home. I can't really remember that part but I made it alright because a few hours after I woke up with a splitting headache and in my bed! And unless some of my chicken friends, I went to work. Pok! Pok!
Côte de Boeuf awaiting to be cooked and eaten by very hungry Concierges!
Lobster in whiskey sauce, just divine!
Not for the faint-hearted, os à moelle.
Poule au pot with black truffle mashpotatoes
Rognons with pasta wrapped in smoked ham.

Italian Market

French citizen

Look what I received in my mail box today!

Roman week-end

Last week, my wife treated me with a surprise trip. We went to Roma for a three days week-end and the least you can say is that it's a beautiful city. Plenty of archeological sites, and plenty of extremely good restaurants! Anti pasti, pasta, main course dessert and a little grappa was our everyday dinner. No need to say that a gain a few kilos! We obviously went to the Trevi fountain. So much tourists there you would not believe it.
On the first day, we had walk so much I couldn't feel my feet. On top of that I got a humungous blister under my foot. Thanks to Compeed plaster, these thing works actually.
The next day we went to the Vatican and visit the Vatican Museum with the Sistine Chapel. After that we walked to St Peter's place and tried to access it. For some reasons the "Carabinieri" were not encline to let us wander around the piazza! The Hell with it we thought (funny thought to have in the Vatican), we just stand by the fence and take a few pictures. Suddenly an English woman next to me starting to say "I can not believe it!". I turn my head round to the centre of the place and there he was : old Ben 16 with his cabriolet going down the ramp in front of the Vatican! When you think there were lots of people who were probably waiting for him for a few hours and us just arriving at the right time without any knowledge of it! It almost made me believe in some unexisting deity!
When you visit the churches and chapels, you can't help thinking that's with a good product and a very good marketing you can make people spend a fortune to built your offices!
After this spiritual trip, we headed back to the city centre for more sightseeing. Then in the evening, we went to a restaurant recommended by one of Uta's colleague : La Cisterna.


I think we found the Italian version of l'Ami Louis. It was just great. We took the waiters suggestion because according to his own words : "if you choose for yourself it will not be a good meal" (to be read with a pronounced Italian accent). We shared a plate of pasta, Carbonara and ravioli. The best I've ever eaten! Then Uta had veal Saltimbuco and I had a roasted lamb with potatoes and thyme. Of course we could not end the meal with anything else than the old tiramisu and grappa of course. I had an Espresso that could bring Jean Paul II back to life!
We got out around 11pm from the restaurant and walked back to our hotel which was about 4 kilometers away! Ah! things you do when you're a little drunk!
On the next day, we were so exhausted that we shorten our excursion to the city and decided it will not be a proper Roman week-end if we did not eat a pizza. Of course on a terrace with a pint of lager! A good way to end a perfect week-end! Ciao!