A funny thing happened on the way to Paris

The first time, I mean. When I first moved to Paris in 2009, it was to replace another American writer at Ogilvy. Rosecrans Baldwin. He was done with living abroad and moving back to the States. I never met him in person, but heard great things about him. We became Facebook friends, commiserated via email a handful of times, and I knew through the grapevine that he was writing a book. About Paris. And Ogilvy.

Jump cut a couple of years. I got my hands on an advance copy of his book, brilliantly titled Paris I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down. I laughed out loud, tracing the characters in his book to mine—our colleagues in Paris. I got to relive the giddiness of my first months at the office all over again. I was secretly envious of his book and the cool way he described everything.

And then another funny thing happened. Today. A piece I wrote for NPR’s 3 Books, which included Rosecrans’s book came out. As did a roundup on Vogue.com that included both of our books.

How uncanny that we shared such similar experiences: being recruited by the same guy to come write ad copy in Paris, spending shy of two years being alternately seduced and slapped by the city, and then returning home and writing books about our experiences? The story of fate continues...

Classy girls

I met Nadine and Brett at my Three Tarts book signing. They came with their parents, all four of them excited for their upcoming visit to the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate). Needless to say, nothing made me happier to see that they trekked through the SoPi streets to get to Denise Acabo's A l'Etoile d'Or. (Well actually, it made me especially happy to see them perched over the Bernachon table.) Now these are memories that will last a lifetime.

The book docket

It’s been almost 10 weeks since Paris, My Sweet launched and it’s definitely been a whirlwind. From the Jersey Shore to the Bay Area, I’ve loved connecting with friends and Francophiles. And just to keep me tottering on the edge of sanity and a new pant size, here are more events on the horizon:

April 11: Joint reading with the fabulous Jeryl Bruner at Posman Books, NYC
April 18: Book signing party, hosted by Seymour and Le Citizen hotel, Paris
April 29: French pastries and book signing at Bread & Cocoa, Larchmont, NY
May 4: Belgian chocolates and books signing at Bobby’s Main Street News, Boonton, NJ
May 6: Book signing at Chelsea Market Baskets, NYC
May 12: Artisanal chocolates and reading at Talking Leaves Books, Buffalo, NY

My Vegan Mondays

Another week, another Vegan Monday...

Morning
Coffee and soy milk
Green juice
Oatmeal

Afternoon
A rare and wonderful lunch date with Sion! After macarons, aperos, fromage et vin in Paris, this in fact was our first NYC date. We caught up on men, books and writing, while still managing to put away some veggie burgers and sweet potato fries. It was so New York, and so awesome.

Evening
Carrot ginger soup
Crackers and hummus

This is it, mes amis. I'm trying to be very, very mindful so I can let loose in Paris next week. Get ready!

Visions of Paques past

They don't call them chocolate masters in France for nothing.

Just take a look at some of the incredible, edible sculptures from previous years at Michel Cluizel...

... and Lenotre.

Guess who??

(There is only one Patrick Roger.)

Wouldn't want to break that oeuf at Pralus (actually, I would).


And Michel Chaudun's chocolate sculptures are almost too exquisite to eat.

Almost.

Happy Easter!

One week and counting

"What is it with this city? I need to write a letter to the Chamber of Commerce."
—Gil in Midnight in Paris

I love Woody Allen's sense of humor. And I love that I'm going to be back in Paris in exactly one week. Last year, my April visit was sublime. Sunny, warm, filled with great food and friends. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the same this year.

Visions of nighttime

If you haven't fallen in love with Paris yet, you haven't been there at night.



Near the river.


On a rooftop.


Under the Eiffel Tower.

C'est magique.

My Vegan Mondays

Do you ever get the sense that you're a total bore? That your life is passing you by? That you've lost control and might not ever regain it? (No? Just me?)

I think I've been eating absurd amounts of lemon basil bonbons, walnut chocolate chip cookies and salted caramel ice cream lately because I don't know what else to do. I don't have time to call my mom, to go to yoga, to pet my cat or to read a magazine... from February. Life is good. It's just crazy. And it's freaking me out.

In lieu of an all-expenses-paid trip to Tahiti, what I need is a week's worth of Vegan Mondays to regain some equilibrium... at least on the diet front.

Morning
Green juice
Fuji apple

Afternoon
Health food store hot bar: $11 worth of dill and fennel rice, broccoli and brussels sprouts
Granola bar

Evening
One of my favorite soups, which I did find time to make this weekend: carrot-ginger-sweet potato
Dried pineapple (merci, maman!)