Scotia was here!

After the race last weekend, Scotia and I got dressed up and went to the Theatre des Champs-Élysée to see my one of my favorite operas, Le Nozze di Figaro. Unfortunately, jet-lagged Scotia and race-exhausted Lynna fell asleep in the warm, dark opera house, despite our uncomfortable seats in the nose-bleed section. During the intermission, we discovered an empty private box with an obstructed view of the stage, so we settled ourselves in and napped some more to the strains of Mozart. Shameless, but I greatly enjoyed the parts for which I was able to stay awake. Afterward, we had a leisurely dinner at Bar du Theatres across the street from the theatre on swanky Rue Montaigne. (Thanks for babysitting, David!)


It was great to have a girlfriend here to play with: besides rubbing elbows with Yoko Ono, we went for long walks in our neighborhood, did a little shopping on the Champs-Élysée at 11:00 p.m., indulged in fabulous pastries together, and had some memorable meals out. I had to sacrifice and force myself to partake of these treats ... all in the name of being a proper hostess.


We celebrated Emmett's 11-month birthday together on Wednesday the 19th. (Can he already be almost a year old?? I refuse to believe it.) The indulgent dessert for this month's birthday was actually 3 desserts from Pierre Hermé! Our selections were:

• Émotion Mahogany: Lychee, mango, vanilla cake, caramel mascarpone, and coconut marshmallows layered into a short highball glass.
  
• Carrément chocolat: Layered chocolate cake, chocolate mouse, and chocolate ganache.
  
• Tarte au café: Coffee-soaked shortbread, coffee ganache, and coffee chantilly.
  

For Scotia's last night in Paris, she requested that we go somewhere with a cheese platter, and boy, do we know the place. Remember Restaurant Astier and their "wheel of cheese"? It is hands-down the best cheese platter in all of Paris, and fortunately, Scotia agreed.