café expres, a perfect date

One of my favorite things about being in Paris is the wonderful tradition of café expres (espresso). You can pop in any old place, sit with Romance at the bar, stare at fabulous people and cool your elbows on the smooth marble countertop, while you sip a little cupful of rich, fragrant coffee. It's a very romantic, European thing—to be so grandiose, so spontaneous—to make such an event of drinking a thimble-full of anything. That anybody can accomplish such a stylish, nostalgic moment for less than $2 makes it that much more appealing.

Lately, Colin and I have been making a habit—albeit spontaneous—of popping into cafes for a little restoration. In Burlington on Church Street, there are at least two good places I can think where you can experience the inexpensive luxury of espresso, elevated to an art form. But all you really need is a bar, a good atmosphere, and of course an espresso machine (there are some really wonderful restaurants in town that, sadly, do not have one).

Lake Champlain Chocolates is perfect, because not only do they serve espresso, but they also sell what is, in my mind, the best chocolate around. The two really go hand in hand (that's why in Paris and elsewhere, they always serve espresso with a chocolate-covered coffee bean or almond). It takes the edge off the dark Arabica brew. Lake Champlain Chocolates has a little bar where you can sit and enjoy your moment while watching the passersby on the street. Colin and I dropped in the other day while we were out running errands and ordered two espressos and one square of dark chocolate (to share). The entire thing cost around five dollars, but it felt much more extravagant than that.

I know I talk about Leunig's Bistro a lot, but I can't help it. We love to eat there. And while it's true that you can get a little over-the-top with the menu, some of my favorite moments there have been the simple and spontaneous ones, sitting at the bar, with just a glass of wine and Vermont cheese plate. You could just linger there all night and really feel like a neighborhood regular by the end of it (for under $10 a person). Last night, we stopped in before a movie date for some espresso and one of their amazing maple creme brulees to share—it's the best creme brulee in town, and I'm an expert.

I don't know why I'm telling you any of this. I just felt very good when I remembered these two moments. They reminded me of other espresso moments. I love that these moments are at the same time economical, romantic, and memorable. What more could you ask for in a date?

strange cravings: kimchi mac & cheese

Yes, that's exactly what I said. Kimchi on top of mac & cheese. Would you eat it?

I got home from work just now with a knot in my stomach—that kind of knot you get when you're starving, but can't think of anything you want to eat. Quickly perusing the meager stock in my fridge, my eyes locked on a jar of Sunja's Spicy Cabbage Kimchi. It was exactly what I wanted. I pulled the jar from the fridge, grabbed a fork from the drawer and proceeded to stuff my face with that delicious, gingery stuff.

Gosh, I really was hungry. Kimchi alone is no meal for no swashbuckler! I needed some sustenance to carry me through.

Here's where the story gets a little depressing. The only other thing I could find in the cupboards that was even remotely appetizing was a box of Annie's Mac & Cheese (that's Col's stock; I normally hate packaged meals!). But at that moment, it was exactly what I wanted.

I pulled it from the cupboards, put some water on to boil and started wondering what I would put on the Mac & Cheese to make it better (you have to put something on it to cover up the gross powdered cheese flavor). Then it hit me: what I really wanted was the kimchi and the mac & cheese together. In the same bowl. Right now.

So I did it. I really, really did it. I put my mac & cheese in a bowl. Then I poured about half a jar's worth of kimchi right on top. Then I ate it. I ate the whole thing.

Was it good? You bet it was! A seemingly disparate pair in the stomach (kimchi is praised for its digestive health benefits; dairy is blamed for indigestion) is a surprisingly delicious combo on the palate. I would do it again in a heart-beat.

xoxo

cabot

Emi and Kevin just got a new doggie. His name is Cabot and he is very well-behaved. This is him.

serviced

There used to be something gratifying about talking to customer service. You had this feeling that everything would be okay. The woman on the other end would call you by first name and you would call her "Mary" back. You'd talk about the weather in Phoenix and she'd say, "I've always wanted to visit Vermont. Now let's get your problem taken care of."

These days, Mary has changed. She's still warm and friendly. She still says she wants to help. But she's powerless. She doesn't know how to help. She asks you to do the same thing over and over. She says things are fixed, but you have to call her back the next day to report, "No, it's still the same problem. What do I do now?" Only this time, it's not Mary anymore. It's Bob. And he has no record of your phone call with Mary. Service is a time suck.

Or is it me? Are my expectations too high?

I just want everything to be fixed. Right now. I don't want any more 20-minute holds with the bill payment department. I don't want to be shoved from one customer representative to the next. I want my packages to arrive on time and in good condition. And I want this to be my last game of musical cars, as I try to get to the repair shop for the third time this month.

Please and thank you.

I'll stop whining now.

just what the doctor ordered

I came home from work tonight and found a neat little note sitting on my kitchen counter. It was from Hannah (she left this morning) and I hope she doesn't mind, but I'm writing it here, just so I can have it for always.

Dear Soupy ~

I'm so glad that we got to hang out this weekend, it really was lovely, just perfect. Thanks for having me at your sweet little home, with your cute little kitties who I adore. Can't wait for the next time to see you... in CA? Or VT? Or NY? We'll see...

Love you love you love you. Just what the Dr. Ordered—a weekend with my sistawrs...

Hannah Poopy