La Maison du Croque Monsieur

My job requires me to deal with a lot of people.  While I enjoy this most of the time, there are also those days when I want to steal away during my lunch break, burrow down in a cozy nook, and either get lost in a book or just find a bit of peace and quiet so that I can re-center my thoughts.  On those days, I often head to La Maison du Croque Monsieur.  This lovely little cafe, which features a menu full of savory and sweet variations of the classic grilled sandwich, makes you feel as if you've stepped back in time and across the ocean, to early 20th-century Paris.

After ogling the pastries at the counter, I usually place my order and then go upstairs to claim a seat while my sandwich is being made.

The building is full of old European character and it was once owned by Anais Nin, a Parisian writer known for her erotica.  Nin housed a printing press here and along with her husband and her lover, produced a number of beautiful books within these walls. 

Nin's legacy lives on, not only in the intellectual feel and literary decor of the place, but also in the menu, as most of the sandwiches on offer are named after her lovers.

My personal favorite, of the options that I've tried so far, is actually named after the lady herself:  the Croque Madame Anais.

Once your order is ready, your sandwich is handed to you in a paper bag.  But this is no ordinary fast food. 

With Jambon de Paris, Bechamel, Gruyere and a poached egg, the Madame Anais is comfort food at its best.  
And it's clearly not your momma's grilled cheese. 

Rich, tangy, and oh so satisfying.  It almost makes up for the fact that I can't actually grab lunch in Paris on any given day. 

Almost.  

Thank goodness they serve wine too.

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"She's perfect all over and yet she looks like nobody else."

For a while now, I've been meaning to tell you about a recent exhibit that I saw at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).  "Lauren Bacall:  The Look" celebrated the fashion and style of one of the most celebrated and beguiling leading ladies from Hollywood's golden age. 

As a young model and aspiring, but unknown, actress, Bacall was introduced to Diana Vreeland in 1942, and a year later, Vreeland put her on the cover of Harper's Bazaar.

Film director Howard Hawks took notice, and he cast Bacall in his film To Have and Have Not, which also starred Humphrey Bogart. 

Her sultry gaze and raspy, deep voice made her a star, and her subsequent marriage to Bogart cemented her status as Hollywood royalty.  Bacall's trademark gaze in the film, in which she'd drop her chin to her chest and look up from beneath her lowered eyelids, became known as "The Look."  As alluring as it was, she had actually done it as a way to hide her nerves while filming.  Which just goes to show that the old adage of "Fake it until you make it" totally works.

The exhibit started with a bit of background about Bacall, photos from books and magazines, playbills, ad campaigns in which she starred, and even a tutorial on how to get eyebrows like hers .

These were followed by a number of pieces from Bacall's wardrobe that she had gifted to the museum before her death last year.

This little pink number by Pierre Cardin was one of my favorites.  I'm not sure how easy it would be to sit down while wearing it, but perhaps it was the sort of dress that you wore out dancing, in which case sitting down wouldn't need to be something that you worried about.

 This was my other favorite:  the "Subway" ensemble by Norman Norell.  The sophisticated wearer could don the inconspicuous coat while traveling across the city by train, and then reveal the sparkly dress below once she arrived at the party.

Bacall was very secure in her personal style.  She knew what worked for her body and she stuck to it, favoring simple, but elegant dresses, tailored pieces, and menswear-inspired looks that flattered her tall frame.  She never let anyone dress her in anything that made her uncomfortable, and thus she exuded a laid-back sense of glamour and sophisticated ease.

Her sense of personal style and confidence in herself should serve as a lesson to all of us to celebrate and assert our own individuality.

Unfortunately, this exhibit has now ended, but there always seems to be something interesting on at the Museum at FIT, and admission is free.  Check out their current and upcoming exhibitions here.  And if you're interested in reading more about Bacall, her memoir is available here.  It's definitely been added to my reading list.

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Foodie Friday

Belated-birthday and Easter treats from last weekend:

Orange Dreamsicle Cake (Thanks Mom!)

A Chocolate Bird's Nest (we skipped egg-decorating and made candy instead)

Happy Weekend!

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Foodie Friday

Dough donuts and other delectable-looking pastries at La Maison du Croque Monsieur. 

Happy Weekend!

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Tortaria

 

At work, I share an office with a lovely lady who just happens to also be named Rebecca.  In a matter of a few short months, we become really great friends, and we often marvel at the similarities that we share, which go way beyond just our first name.  So, we were really amused to discover that our birthdays were only four days apart, and we knew that we had to plan an after-work shindig to celebrate.  On a recent Thursday night, we headed to Tortaria and invited all of our work friends.

Tortaria is a cute little Mexican restaurant and tequila bar that makes you feel as if you've stopped off at a roadside bodega while en route to the beach.

It's got a really relaxed and casual vibe.  You just order food at the counter right inside the door, grab a drink at the bar, and then claim a table.

We got the party started with margaritas all around and chips and guac, of course.  Several of the girls ordered the Prickly Pear Margarita, which they raved about, but I went for the La Pasion Margarita.

Muddled cucumber, Serrano pepper, puree of Pasison fruit, and agave nectar.  I'm not usually a fan of spicy margartias, but in this one, the fire from the pepper was wonderfully tempered by the sweet Passion fruit.  I'd definitely order it again.

Over our drinks, we chatted away about work of course, but also about more important topics, like upcoming vacations, weddings, and puppies.

More margaritas were had, and then more and more people started showing up until we had a group of about 15 people.

This is when things started to get crazy.  Pitchers of margaritas just kept appearing at the table and at one point, someone bought tequila shots for the birthday girls (a fact that I did not recall until the afternoon of the next day, when I was scrolling through the pictures on my phone.  This is why it's always good to get the photographic evidence).

At a certain point, R and I decided to share a tray of spicy French fries, Black Refried Bean and Mexican Rice, and Mahi Lime Tacos.

The tacos were a bit disappointing, but the fries were pretty delicious.  As was the fried ice cream that showed up at the end of the night.

We all stayed later than we should have, had more tequila than we should have, and ended up having a much less productive workday on Friday than we should have.  But it was a great way to fete double birthdays and blow off some steam together at the same time.  I'm lucky to work with so many fabulous people.

They pair really well with  lime and salt.

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