Walking down Rue de Seine toward the restaurant. 

There is seating along the sidewalk which looked wonderful on a day like this, but too many people were smoking.  We decided to eat inside.  

For a first course we shared escargot — which was delicious.  These were tender and had just the right amount of garlic that one couldn’t leave any bit in the pan.  

I know that many of you won’t find this appealing but for those who do — these were grilled whole fresh sardines on a bed of fried potatoes…. Delicious.   

George had the sardines — I had these small wonderful mussels — in a creamy garlicky broth with fennel.  On the side were the pomme frites — done just right!

And — for dessert — we both had ‘café gourmand.’   This is something to remember if you don’t already know it… Cafe gourmand is espresso served with a sampling of the restaurants desserts.  It is usually very good — and inexpensive — rarely more than 10euros, as this was.   Here we have our absolutely delicious array of three desserts — a crème brûlée (a vanilla custard with a caramelized sugar topping, a cream topped pudding with fruit, and a profiterole.   Yes — I know we shouldn’t have, but we did.  And as the saying goes, “if not now, when?”  So we did!  

Continuing down Rue de Seine the next restaurant had the same kind of outdoor seating.  No zoning laws here to prohibit such a nice way to sit for as long as you like and enjoy.

One of the side streets off Rue de Seine.  There are lots of galleries and small boutiques here… fun to poke in and out  of as we did.  

Translation:   Happy Hour!  (only in French it is literally Happy Hours — plural! For all formal events (travel, theater, meetings, etc) the 24 hour clock is used in France.  One has to get used to it.  Thus– 18h is 6 pm.  Happy Hour is from 6-8 pm at this establishment.   Until next time…..