SnackTime With Jen— Paris Treats With Phyllis, February 19th

Never one to gatekeep a good idea, travel tip, beauty ritual, swoon worthy item or delectable dessert, I had a wonderfully nourishing experience witnessing people close to me have a momentary taste of heaven (at my suggestion of course) that I hope they remember forever because I know I certainly will.

My dear friend Phyllis made last minute plans to be in Paris during the month I was already scheduled. In addition to clocking hundreds of thousands of miles together over the years in Central Park as marathoners, Phyllis and I have enjoyed countless meals, snacks and desserts stateside. So having her in Paris with me was a treat in and of itself! I couldn’t wait for her to try the snacks I had been raving about for years.

Thrilled to see her and meet an industry film friend of hers named David, I meticulously planned a custom food tour for the three of us beginning at the renown boulangerie Du Pain et des Idées. She scooped up an amazing flaky Pistachio Snail and we bounced out and over to Fifi Praline to admire and sample their wonderful chocolates.

Our next stop was to my favorite boulangerie in all of Paris and for that matter… the world! I am of course talking about Mamiche. I just can’t say enough about this exceptional bakery. It is life changingly good! But hearing that and tasting it yourself is a whole ‘nuther level of wow.

Phyllis isn’t really a donut kind of gal. (No judgement.) And when I suggested she try a Chou, their signature French crème puff, she was uninspired to say the least. But she ordered one anyway in addition to a slice of their chocolatey Babka and a Cheese Stick or two to go.

Once outside the bustling bakery, I encouraged her to sample the Chou. She took one bite of that dreamy, puffy, cream filled pudge and had to lean against the building with her eyes closed to process the moment. I was already cracking up because I knew Mamiche had her at hello. I wish I would have snapped a pic of her just then but I was grinning so big I couldn’t grab my phone in time to capture the memory.

Her right hand flew quickly over her heart and when she finally opened her eyes, the only thing she could breathlessly say was, “Jen!” Yeah. Been there. Tasted that! I erupted in delight. She and David polished off the whole shebang in record time and watching her enjoy the hell out of that Chou was better than the high of running twenty miles together and more delicious than any ice cream sundae we’ve ever shared at Serendipity 3.

After we sat at an outdoor café so David could enjoy an espresso, we continued on the tour. We stopped by Jeffrey Cagnes to pick up a Lemon Tart, BO&MIE for a chocolate filled New York Roll that is similar to the Supreme Croissant from Lafayette Bakery in NYC, and we visited all the foodie shops along Rue Montorgueil including Stroher for a Rum Baba. We strolled and chatted, oohed and aaahed and got in a healthy amount of steps to offset the intake of sugary calories.

We finished hours later with a light lunch at Le Compas where we indulged in their spectacular Salmon Tartare with a frisée salad and super crisp salty fries. The food tour was just beyond my greatest expectations.

Spending the day with Phyllis was amazing. But the highlight of the day for me was the utter thrill she experienced biting into that decadent treat and rejoicing with reckless abandon over the Chou.

Life can be so delicious for an observer like me who finds real joy in the excitement and delight of others. I’m forever grateful for that special time with Phyllis and being able to witness her life changing moment of yum!

Everyone I know just loooves a little snack. Especially me.