High cinq

Yep, we high fived each other yesterday when we realized we'd eaten at La Fontaine de Mars where the Obamas dined the other night in Paris. We later realized that it's claim to fame was also hosting Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens last year, which a particular 9 and 12 year old we know will find even more interesting and make us even cooler. We didn't even mean to eat there... admittedly we were headed to one of Christian Constant's restaurants down the street but it seemed too nice outside to eat inside so we ended up there. What's funny to me is one of my quintessential Paris moments happened there, the kind that every American expects to have. I ordered chicken and morels for my main course and while enjoying said dish, I bit into a rock. Yes, one of my very fresh-from-the-market morels had grown around a pebble!! I was still in shock when the waiter walked by and when told what happened shot me a look and mumbled (in French) "so what is the problem???" Nothing, except I almost broke my tooth. Anyway...

So right now, as we speak, Fromage is enjoying a meal at one of my favorite spots in D.C., Central by Michel Richard. Someday I swear we'll make it there together. We both became immediately smitten with Michel in Pebble Beach when we attended one of his cooking classes at the Food Festival. He is ridiculously charming and entertaining, just like Fr, but a little more like Papa Noel in the looks department and with just a few more mad chef skills. He even drew a picture of a crying chef in my cookbook because he was sad that Fromage was my sous chef instead of him! There were words exchanged in French, I'm sure something terribly chivalrous and romantic and not relating to how quickly they were willing to get rid of me for the hot chick that was next in line...right? So, tonight he's at Central enjoying the frisee salad (my favorite thing, on almost any menu for that matter, but especially well done here), lobster burger, and chocolate bar. And the gougeres, small little puffs of cheesy bread perfection that made my top 10 list of favorite restaurant dishes. I wish there was an app that allowed you to transport your favorite foods and drinks through the phone...

Making top 10 lists is not that easy, but it's also educational. I clearly favor desserts and edited out some cocktails, so I think lists devoted to these 2 topics may be next. So without further ado, here's

MAC'S TOP TEN(ish) DISHES EVER:

Mango, olives, marcapone cheese dessert and pear- jalapeno cocktail at Vermillion, Chicago

Passionfruit sorbet at Spice Market, NYC

Roasted Chicken at Zuni Cafe, SF

Strawberry Shortcake at Canteen, SF

Chocolate doughnuts at La Mar, SF

Pain au Chocolat at Tartine, SF (yes, even better than any I've had in France!)

Almond cocktail at Aziza, SF

Gougeres at Central Michel Richard, D.C.

Lobster Poutine at Garde-Manger, Montreal

Black Pepper Sorbet with Strawberries Uchi, Austin

Grown up Mac and Cheese Moto, Chicago

Any pizza at Aurelios, Homewood, IL


High Five, High Cinq, Ha Fa, I'm hungry. Going to enjoy my 2 favorites from Whole Foods, Butternut Squash and Crab Bisque with an Olive Oil and Sea Salt Ciabatta roll. It's not Central but it will do!!!