Copain-isms - Chapstick

Copain and I were trying to decide where we would go for dinner on Saturday night.  I was rooting for La Cave de l'Insolite and he was rooting for sushi.

I love sushi, but I wanted to try something new - like my brilliant idea of La Cave. Clearly the better choice.

I told him that I wasn't doing my hair and putting on good makeup (a rarity, I assure you) for our standard sushi place on rue Dauphine. I wanted a bottle of wine, some ambiance, a dessert that did not include red beans or sticky rice. 

Then, in an effort to convince me that sushi was the better option, Copain said, "but I can use chapstick now!".

FCC: chapstick?

Copain: yeah, now that my thumb is almost healed, I can use chapstick. 

FCC: (drawing a blank - probably from a dry shampoo fume overdose in the miniature bathroom...) After five seconds of confusion,  the air cleared, I came to my senses and put two and two together - 

You mean CHOPsticks?

Me Day

Saturday was a me day. I could tell I needed to get the heck out of dodge and just be with me. You know those kinds of days?

Saturday also happened to be my copine's birthday, and we decided that we would treat ourselves to a hammam, just like we did last winter.  It was such an amazing day that we knew it was a perfect way to spend a Saturday, chill out and feel pampered from head to toe.  

We chose the Hammam de Pacha this time, which did not have the same ambiance as the quaint Bains Montorgeuil, but we still enjoyed ourselves, ate a piping hot chicken tagine, drank freshly-squeezed juices, and came out with clean baby skin and fleur d'oranger-smelling hair. 

Like last year, we followed our spa day with shopping for kitchen stuff for my copine's new house, and I admired all of the things that I want to buy but didn't, because of my relationship with things. I was able to let go for a quick trip to Habitat, where I got a thrill out of buying new bed sheets that were on sale (to match the new pillow and mattress pad that I just purchased on vente-privée!...I really am 30, aren't I??)

My copine had dinner plans with her kids, so I wandered around the rive gauche, in and out of shops, making mental lists of all of the things that I will buy one day, when I don't live in a teeny Parisian apartment...

wine glasses, a teapot, nice plates and bowls, espresso cups with funky patterns, a large, plush rug....I could go on and on....

Don't even get me started on all of the amazing couches I saw at Habitat - I don't know why I torture myself so.

At any rate, I was going to head home, but my growling tummy told me that sushi was a better idea. I found a table for one at Sushi House, ordered a huge bâteau all to myself, and sipped my kir as I topped each roll with mounds of ginger and wasabi. 

My day ended on the phone as I walked home and chatted with my copine d'enfance - poor girl was home with the stomach flu after spending the night before up with her one-year old, also fighting the same bug. (I know how that goes - minus the sick kiddo part). She laughed and told me that I really was old, having chosen a quiet night with myself, rather than having made plans. She totally understood why that sounded absolutely perfect. And that's why we're good friends.

(Then she had to run and pray to the porcelain gods - and forgot to take me off speaker phone :-) )  

Paris Eats - Sushi Style

It's not often that I'm willing to trek to the 14th arrondissement for dinner out - but somehow, Copain convinced me that this sushi would be worth it.  And you know what? He was RIGHT.

When we arrived, we checked out the menu in the window and tried to decide what we would order.  A girl outside smoking a cigarette overheard our conversation and told us that the place "was excellent" and that we should definitely eat there.  So... we did.

It was full, full, full, all the way to the back - we were lucky to get a seat at the sushi bar! The servers and the sushi chefs were the real thing - Japanese all the way (right down to the very cool pony tails they were sporting).  Copain practiced his Japanese (learned from watching too many Mangas), while we waited for our food:

Our view of the goods

We got two platters - one sashimi and one sushi with the "superior" fish. Why go to sushi if you're not going for superior sushi?!

Close up on the sashimi

Close up on the sushi

The service was very friendly and the sushi, which was made right in front of us, didn't take long to be served.  We were in sushi heaven.  We also got some miso and rice to round out the meal.  

If you are looking for a delish, authentic sushi experience, go to Toritcho!! (Also, make a reservation - we were super lucky to find a spot at the bar, but next time, we are going reservation style).

Toilet report: I was very impressed with the "Sani-siège" in the women's bathroom (a self-cleaning toilet seat!), but I didn't want to push the button to see if it worked.  Toilet rating: thumbs up for Paris!

Toritcho

47 rue du Montparnasse

75014 Paris

Tel: 01 43 21 29 97

Metro: Gaïté (line 13), Montparnasse (lines 4, 6, 12, 13) or Edgar Quinet (line 6)