The Best Exercise: Shopping

Hi friends! Last night, after kind of wandering around aimlessly for a while, we settled into an outside table at a little Italian restaurant.  My dad is a BIG fan of repetition—he likes to eat at the same places in Paris year after year (after year…), so he’s always a little reluctant to try a new spot.  Luckily, this new spot didn’t disappoint—and I think it might earn a spot on the rotation!

The restaurant was Italian…done right.  When we were in Italy last year, we were repeatedly struck by the difference between American Italian and Italian Italian.  So often in American, Italian food is covered in cheese and heavy alfredo sauces, but in Italy, the food is actually really fresh and light! Portion control helps too…last night, our dishes were pretty small, but they were actually perfect.  No one really *needs* four cups of fettuccine alfredo, but so often in America, that’s what we get!

I started with a delicious mixed salad:

…and then moved on to gnocchi with a tomato basil sauce:

Ryan ate veg as well, starting with bruschetta:

…and then enjoying fettuccine in a lemon cream sauce for his entree:

Yum!

Today was our designated shopping day.  Not wanting to have to wait outside shops and check their watches every time we walk around the city together, my dad and Ryan agreed to give my mom and I one designated “shopping” morning.  They walked around and read their books while my mom and I shopped…works for me!  We both found some really cute clothes…we’re shopping for my sister too, and while it’s hard to shop for someone else when they aren’t there, I think she’s really going to like the things we got her!

As usual, shopping worked up quite the appetite.  One storeowner recommended a restaurant around the corner from her shop for lunch, and we took her up on the recommendation.  I’m glad we did—this might have been my favorite lunch so far on the trip!

This salad was an unusual combo—lettuce, carrots, apples, raisins, goat cheese, and cumin seeds with a sweet olive oil dressing.  It was SO good—and BIG!

Ryan started with a really good salad as well:

Yum!

On our walk home, we stumbled upon a little piece of home:

Haha…it actually didn’t really look like they were selling much from Louisiana specifically (unless pop tarts and lucky charms are from Louisiana)…but it was fun to see the name!

Hope you’re having a good day! Au revoir, mes amis!