Eeek, I’m still alive, just working! And this weekend I flaked out and was lazy during our snowed-in Nor’Easter day, instead of catching up on posts. Anyway, back to Paris…

On Saturday night we ate near the apartment (which was a great little studio in a perfect location–highly recommended). I had so-so boudin noir with apples and potatoes, and Ben had truly fantastic roast chicken. The best thing, though, was the starter: A strong chevre, broiled on slices of spice bread and pear. I am still working on my aversion to goat cheese but despite being a real bottom-of-the-barn stinky variety, I loved this. (Sadly I don’t have any photos.)

Sunday we made our way through the rain to Le Comptoir, Yves Camdeborde’s bistro in a hotel fairly close to our apartment. (When I met Daniel Boulud last spring he was giving restaurant recommendations and this was the first restaurant he mentioned in Paris.) On weeknights there is a crazily inexpensive prix fixe (booked up months in advance), but on weekends it’s just the bistro menu. Apologies for the photos, something went wrong with my camera colors.

I’m mad at myself–I love these simple metal bread baskets, and meant to grab one for myself, since I really do need a bread basket. I forgot, though: Next time!

I’m also in love with the shape of this carafe (and note the fun short squat water glasses!)–I was tempted to ask if I could buy one from them, but I didn’t want to carry it to Lyon.

This very dapper young man was flitting to and from his mom’s outdoor table, snagging his mother’s seared scallops and enjoying his pamplemousse presse. Later I saw him with a friend sitting in the window of the hotel lobby.

The small and cozy dining room:

Ben had roasted rack of lamb, served over roasted red peppers and sprinkled with almonds:

Ok, brace yourself for one of the worst photos ever to appear on this blog. I had braised beef cheeks, served with…elbow macaroni! It was fantastic, so tender and warm and savory, and the noodles were perfectly cooked and a nice change from potatoes, etc. It was great. And mine also was sprinkled with almonds, and then with some lemon zest, which freshened it up nicely. So good, I want to try this myself. However, this photo rots. Sigh.

I am very, very eager to try the prix fixe, and will definitely make a reservation the minute I find out I’ll be in Paris next. I highly recommend the bistro menu, too! Very reasonably priced and a cut above the average good meal in Paris, which…

Finally, Ben took this photo of me, and I love the light and my slightly unfocused gaze. Clearly I needed that coffee!