Food Food Food, We're Back!

Last night returned to a restaurant we've been to many times.  It was fantastic.  Another amazing meal.  As you walk in the entrance you pass by a display of anti-pasti de assortitti ( 4 shelves 10 ft. long displayed in a glass case of the most amazing marinated veggies, meat and fish.  The list is too long to go into. (sorry)  But when you order the plate for the table you walk over and point out what you like.  Honestly we could have stopped eating after finishing just THAT serving with the fresh baked focaccia.  But of course, we did not do that.  :)  At one point J said "Oh My Gosh, that was so good.  What did I just eat?"  And we all started laughing.  It was a feast.  I walked up to take a photo of the display and Lucca the Chef came over and jumped in and posed for the pic.  It was perfect. 

Just to point out a couple favorites, I had the fresh Paparedelle Pasta with Fresh Porcini Mushrooms.  My mouth is salivating right now at 9 am remembering the smooth texture and flavor of those mushrooms.  This time of year is when they come to market.  Sept and Oct only.  Fantastic.  G ordered the Rouget (a white meat fish) after having a lenghty dissucussion with the waiter about whether it was Mullet or not. HA It looked like it.  He had it lightly fried, it was very tasty!

After dinner we went to the river and sat at a cafe and had coffee drinks.  The place was rocking.  Very busy interesection.  Great people watching.  There was a guy dressed as a clown messing with people walking by.  I was waiting for him to take one right in the nose.  He was goosing ladies as they went by and being goofy.  He was being received with mixed reviews.  But everyone watching was laughing. 

We were waiting for the bikers and rollerbladers to come by.  Ever Friday night a very large group of people get together rollerblade and pedal through the streets in Paris.  Each week the route is different and announced to the public.  The police come through first clearing traffic, lights sirens the works, and then the skaters come first then the bikes.  The first time we saw this there were literally 10,000 people involved in this.  They flew by us for what seemed like half an hour so fast over the cobble stone roads.  It was an incredible sight.  There were thousands of people last night but not as many as the first time.  You can see the Cathedral Notre Dame in the background.  It was pretty spectacular.  After that we had just enough time to catch the last train ride back to our place.

Some random things I noticed and learned yesterday that I think are interesting...

The grocery store clerks here SIT in a rolling desk type chair during their shift while ringing up our items.  They look comfy and happy. AND THEY WERE SMILING WHILE WORKING.

Workers in general in France, work 35 hour work weeks, receive 5 weeks vacation mandatory yearly, and receive full health benefits.  The World Health Organization has voted France to have the best health care system of all countries. 

 When women have babies they typically get 6 months off and if they need help at home a "nurse" or home aid comes in and helps with laundry, cleaning, and babysitting to give her a hand.  I thought I heard they do not pay for this service.