Celebrate: Eat Dessert First

We weren't expecting much yesterday; just an ordinary brasserie where Tom could have an espresso and pie, and where I could have a glass of wine, at the end of a productive afternoon.  Tom had just finished writing the preface to a new edition of one of his books, I'd started writing a book, and we'd just walked to the American Library in Paris to return and check out books.  It was good to be out of the apartment, which is filled with 10,000+ books.  Books, books, books.

Parc Saint Lambert just before sunset on a lovely summer evening.

Because of the completion of the preface, the occasion called for a minor celebration.  I remembered that there was a brasserie on the Avenue de la Bourdonnais between the rues General Camou and Montessuy which had caught my attention because it has such an honest and classic appearance, and because it isn't big.  It is right around the corner from the American library.

Le Relais de la Tour is the name of the place.  We paused briefly on the sidewalk to check it out.  When we decided to enter, the servers were friendly and welcoming, professional yet humorous.  One showed us to the best table in the place -- a round booth tucked in the corner.  I noted that the decor is an honest, refreshing, non-presumptuous Art Deco.  We were comfortable in our spacious booth.

A couple tables were occupied by older, local residents.   This is a very good sign, especially in a highly touristy area like this neighborhood at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.

The Relais menu proclaims that all desserts are home made, so we ordered a chocolate mousse and a café gourmand.  It was all suberb, and our little desserts were indeed home made from the best ingredients.  You can't fake high quality chocolate! The creme brulée was perfect, and the ice cream in the profiterole was excellent.  I ordered a glass of wine which was not inexpensive, but it was very good.  We like Relais de la Tour very much, and we will return.

Dinner in the evening was just a light meal at home.  Then just before sunset, we walked down to our favorite local park, Saint Lambert, where we sat on a deep blue park bench and took in the sights of families enjoying the cooling evening air in that lovely green space.

Café gourmand at Le Relais de la Tour at 27 Avenue de la Bourdonnais in the 7th arrondissement.

Those two outings plus a trip to the grocery in the morning were more than enough to allow us to complete our daily goal of walking 5 miles.

Here's another photo from Tuesday's evening walk.

Rue de Furstemberg in the 6th arrondissement.