Ruth in Town!

This past week has been a lot of fun! Last Monday, a few friends and I went to hear one of the AUP professors speak at Shakespeare & Co. Shakespeare & Co. is a funky bookstore in the 6th with all American books. The books are stacked from the floor to the ceiling and it has a cool vibe. Every Monday there are readings so we went to a poetry reading. It was actually pretty fun! To be honest, I initially went for the free drinks and food afterwards- but to my surprise I enjoyed the reading. There was a party afterwards and it was fun because there was such an eclectic crowd- old & young people, students and professors, and people of all types. They served champagne, wine, and little Italian appetizers.

My best friend Ruth came to visit for five days this weekend which was really fun. It is nice having people visit because it forces me to do all of the touristy things that I would not otherwise do! We went to the Tuillerie Gardens, Champs Elysee, and Le Marais to get fallafel and go to my favorite bakery. The next day was the big day that I had been waiting for forever- Le Jules Verne! My dad paid for lunch there as my Christmas present and it was amazing. I ordered the prix fixe menu- Baked endives wrapped in ham and cheese with a black truffle sauce, Ox cheek cooked in a beef bourgignon style with mushrooms, bacon, and the most amazing mashed potatoes ever, and a passion fruit tart with coconut icecream, meringue, flambeed pineapple, and cream. Yum! Ruth ordered venison with a side of pumpkin and pear (it was also amazing) and an almond and orange souffle. We were served a free amuse bouche (some potato puree and cheese dish) and free chocolate truffles, homemade marshmellows, and mint macaroons at the end of our meal. We were stuffed to the brim but it was worth it! Also- the view was incredible. (For those of you who don't know the restaurant- it is Alain Ducasse's restaurant on the 2nd tier of the Eiffel Tower!) We were lucky and got a table next to the window so we had a fantastic view, and by a stroke of luck Paris was sunny that day so it was beautiful!) On our way out, we got free madeleines! Now for the pictures...

Sitting at the table!
Table setting
View from table! We had a window seat
Amuse Bouche
Appetizer- Endive baked w/ ham and cheese and truffle sauce
Ruth's Entree-- Veal w/ pear and pumpkin
Ox Cheek w/ mushrooms and bacon

Mashed potatoes! Sooo good. So much butter...
Dessert & free marshmellows/truffles!
Ruth and I after our meal!

After the meal, we walked over to the Louvre (which we both got into for free!) but we ended up passing out in a food coma on one of the benches. Oh well... We went out to a few bars later which was fun. On her last night here, a few of my friends came over to our apartment and we picked up a few pizzas and bottles of wine. It was a lot of fun!

Yesterday was the first Sunday of the month which means free museums in Paris! I went to the Pompidou Center which was nice. It is a modern art museum in Central Paris, and it is huge! The exhibits are cool- but very very strange to say the least. Nonetheless, I had a good time. I strategically chose the Pompidou because it is the most expensive museum and I don't get in there for free with my Student ID.