Reconnecting with Friends

As this is the 5th year we have rented in Paris and the 4th in the Marais, we have become friendly with some people around the neighborhood.

We ate breakfast at the Breakfast In America (BIA) in the Marais and left a message for Julien that we had arrived back in Paris. He and Craig contacted us and we made plans to meet over the weekend. Judy decided to make her Chick Pea Stew and have them to dinner.

She had a vegetarian version and a meat lovers version (adding chunks off a ham-hock she bought). Both versions were delicious. They brought a nice bottle of Syrah and dessert and we chatted til late a night.



We made plans to visit Julien's Rooftop Garden

in the 5th Arrondissment. This is a plot of land on the roof of a gymnasium near our first apartment on Rue Descartes. The gym was built into a hill so the rooftop is only up one level from the street. Julien runs the cooperative membership. They have about 40 members who are in teams of 6-8 who are responsible for their plot. As it is early in the spring, there is not much happening. But later in the year, the garden will explode with flowers, vegetables and berries. Here we are with Julien, Craig, Judy and Julien's mother, Elisabeth. She is a Professor of French Cooking and a sommelier.

Yesterday, we visited with a friend at her restaurant, PH7. PH7 is a vegetarian and mostly gluten free restaurant where the food is intended to provide a balanced meal.

We met Claudia, the owner of the two PH7 restaurants, when she acted as an agent/go-between for the owner of our first rental on Rue Descartes. She and her mother started the restaurants since we first met.






Jacques and Claire came into Paris and, despite the drizzle, we walked the length of the "Old" Temple street to Temple street to find the restaurant.

Even though we hadn't seen each other for a couple of years, Claudia greeted us very warmly with a smile and kisses on both cheeks. She is a hard working and entrepreneurial person who will make a success of the two restaurants.




It was great to see her again. Here she is between Judy and Claire.