Oh Paris, how can I stay mad at you?

I'll be honest.  Paris has been making us work for it.  The weather has been pretty crappy, and too many years of battling crowds on BART and strategizing to obtain (and maintain) good sightlines and dancing space at concerts has me pretty burnt out on crowds.  


I would take this all in stride if I was eating amazing food.  But truth be told, a lot of the food we have eaten has been... meh.  Working against me is the fact that I am an ignorant tourist stuck with the guide books that every other Joe Schmoe buys.  


This is compounded by the fact that I have my young ones with me who need to have something that they will be willing to eat.  In spite of early gourmet promise they are in a decidedly conservative eating pattern right now.  Poorly timed, kiddos.


The final kicker is since I came here ten years ago I have thrown myself into cooking and studying the art of creating delicious food.  I live around some of the most amazing food in the world.  Admittedly, I've got some high standards.  So when Bob orders ouef mayonaise and this supposedly simple, classic preparation comes with an egg that not only looks like it came from Safeway, but it also has been boiled with so little care that it has a *gasp* grey ring around the yoke, I get a little bummed.  Up until today, we've had three good meals, and a few okay meals, and one or two regretable ones.  Which is not to say we aren't enjoying ourselves, because even the okay ones have had some highlights.


Enter Florimond.  Close to Les Invalides, known for their own terrines, and set up in a sweet little room.  We had lunch there today, and we have a winner.  Check out one of the highlights. 

Food, great.  Ambience, great.  Service, amazing.  You know you are off to a good start when the maitre'd is wearing a sharp Looney Tunes tie.  Laurent was very sweet to us...  They prepared a special plate for the kids (killer roast chicken and potatoe puree, with sauce on the side), which he then proceeded to cut up for them when he saw them struggling.

We had a lovely time.  The chef came out afterwards to shake hands, and we insisted on pictures, which turned into a bit of a spontaneous love fest.

After kisses goodbye, we worked our way over to the Champs and enjoyed a truly gorgeous day in Paris.  

We were back on top, and just in time.  The next day, we're on to our next adventures in Germany.