Our dinner was located in the first arrondissement. This two Michelin-starred restaurant was located in an exquisite townhouse of a late duke. This historic location produced the best meal we’d had so far, although it was a quick meal, as we were running late. Our server rushed a rustic risotto with frog’s legs that we shared because we were so full from lunch. I deeply regretted having had so many mussels! For our main course, we both ordered the langoustines in an interesting green tea sauce. Both dishes were divine. I could see why they had earned three Michelin stars since 1973 up till recently.
We rushed out of the restaurant and got to the opera house just in time to watch La Donna del Lago. Being in Paris, there were no English supertitles. It was hard to follow. From time to time, Jake leaned over and whispered the plot to me. After the show was over, we walked over to a local bistro to have an espresso and dessert.
“I didn’t like this opera as much as Carmen. I think I’ll have to study some more French when I get back to the States. I couldn’t understand anything.”
Jake laughed at me. “When did you learn French in the first place?”
“In high school,” I answered.
“You really can’t fluently learn a language unless you live in that country. You want to live in France for a while?”
What an odd question, I thought. Why would I want to live here while Jake was back in the States?
“No. If I were to live anywhere else for an extended time, I’d like to live back in Japan, maybe this time in Tokyo. But, I don’t think I can live too far away from you now so it’s a moot point.” Jake shook his head and laughed at me again.
Today’s Lesson : Legumes—Vegetables
The French made all their food delicious but heavy. My stomach churned at the thought of eating anymore 81 percent pure fat butter. I couldn’t intake so much fat this morning. I participated but didn’t taste test. An espresso was my breakfast instead.
Jake was ready to go when I got up to his room. He wasn’t quite his casual self and seemed a bit on edge. I thought about asking him what was wrong, but instead waited to see what he had planned for the day. All I’d hoped was that we weren’t fine dining today. A salad and Perrier for the rest of the day suited me fine.
My body felt nauseous when I saw Jake pick up a picnic basket full of food from the main kitchen. The chef packed enough food to feed an army. We walked toward the Tuileries Garden and found a peaceful spot surrounded by flowers. I guess Jake was checking off another one of my bucket list—picnic in the Tuileries Garden with someone I was madly in love with. Jake definitely qualified. He laid out an unusually large blanket and placed the basket in the middle. I followed his lead and sat on the blanket and waited for him to break his silence. He didn’t say a word the whole walk over to the garden.
Finally, I couldn’t stand the silence.
“Jake.”
No answer.
“Did I do something wrong? You know I don’t like it when you turn mute on me. I thought you promised not to do this anymore.” I spoke cautiously.
I apparently woke up him up from whatever he was thinking about because all I got was, “Huh? Did you say something?”
“Jake! What is going on? You promised not to go silent on me anymore. You haven’t said a word since I got to your room this morning. Last time you did this, I didn’t see you for six months.” I was a bit frustrated, but more worried than anything else. I didn’t understand the sudden change in his mood.
“I’m sorry, Love. I’m just trying to figure out all this stuff that the chef packed. I don’t know which is which.”
Sounded strange, but I accepted the explanation.
“Jake, I’m sorry but I don’t really want to eat any more French food. Can we just skip to dessert?”
Whatever I said brought a frantic look on Jake’s face. He began digging through the entire basket and brought out six beautifully packaged small boxes about 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 2 inches in size.
“What’s in all these fun boxes?” I inquired.
“The chef made petit fours and placed them in here. They go sequentially. Here is the first one. Open it.” He finally put a smile on his face when he handed me the first box.
In the first box laid a petit four in the likes of a Captain Crunch cereal box. I shook my head a bit trying to find meaning in this dessert, but was a bit lost. Jake saw my blank expression and began revealing his intention.
“I guess you don’t remember how we first met?” He sounded a bit disappointed.
“Oh! Of course. This was the cereal I was reaching for when I bumped into you. Oh, this is so sweet. Do all these boxes contain a memory?”
I took a bite of the dessert and then gave Jake a bite.
“Yum!” we both said.
“It tastes just like Captain Crunch cereal. How fun! OK, I want the next box.”
“Demanding,” Jake said, while reaching over for the next box. He positioned himself in front of me and handed me the next memory.
I opened this one to find a petit four in the shape of a taco. This represented our first official date at a Mexican restaurant. I took half a bite of the taco and put it back in the box.
“Why are you leaving half the taco in the box, and don’t I get a bite?”