Mon restaurant favorit!

There is a place here in town, a place filled with the smells of baguettes, roasted chickens and coffee. There are people sitting and talking to each other, sometimes for hours, and it is one of my favorite places to go. La Madeleine is a French bakery cafe with several locations around the south (and in Phoenix, hurrah Courts!). Their food is divine, the service marvelous, and the atmosphere is so very French. This morning Parker and I went for a little treat that Audrey and I used to take advantage of about twice a week before Parker was born: pain au chocolat and freshly squeezed orange juice. Audrey used to eat a whole chocolate croissant herself with no trouble when she was only two. And I let her, of course; I'm training her well. When I worked at the Gap a few years ago (to get discounts on maternity and baby clothes), I would go next door on my lunch breaks and partake of their heavenly Tomato Basil soup and free bread and jam. Yes, free French bread, as much as you want. This place rules.

If you've ever been to France, you know what heaven pain au chocolat can be. I remember when we went to pick up Elliott, and the nice hotels we stayed in would leave a basket of pastries in your room, and on arrival, it was a race to the basket between me and Stephanie for the 2 or 3 pains au chocolat scattered among the other goodies. I can safely say we each ate at least 2 a day, and were no worse for the wear, what with all the walking we did. It's not easy to find good pain au chocolat, but if you come to Texas, I will take you to the place where they are just as good as any patisserie in Paris.

Parker and I also picked up a baguette, and we ate at least one-fourth of it between the restaurant and Gymboree. And then we had this for lunch. Yum.