JAIME IZQUIERDO 3057883093 1005 SHORE LANE MIAMI BEACH FL 33141 WWW.OPENFOOD.BIZ WWW.MIAMIART.NET WWW.BODYTALKMIAMIBEACH.COM SAMPLE WRITING: ONE-MONTH IN PARIS FIRST DAY My one-month in Paris started on the first of July; the weather in Paris this time of the year feels like a combination of spring and autumn. I walk around with a light rain jacket, an umbrella for the rainy days, or a linen jacket if the weather is sunny. I decided in this trip to let myself get lost in the city; walk with no agenda or plan with the exception of food. My daily plan the last two days was to pick a patisserie where to get sweets for my coffee; and a Bistro where to have dinner for the day. I took a studio in the 10th Arrondissement, in an area of the city that is rather young and offers many choices of healthy eateries, all opened late. I bought water for my room and settled in; went for a walk and dinner at a near by Bistro where I had my first dinner, a vegetable pate and a fillet of fish with Mornay sauce; but this was not one of the brasserie I came to visit in Paris and I returned to my hotel satisfied but unimpressed. Local bistros offer daily specials and food is not bad but being conscious of ingredients I prefer to eat at restaurants I know are also conscious of using only the best ingredients; I also found out in Paris that the cost is very similar both at common bistros and the special restaurants I had researched prior to my trip. I stayed in a studio located in the tenth arrondissement; the room was not modern but clean; floors were wooden and recently swept; the fridge and kitchen were not new; the bed was clean and made up; the best feature was the bay window. I was to stay here for one month and I was not certain I was going to be happy; I like comfort and I am used to a more updated environment. Never the less when I arrived I was made feel at home. I settled in and stepped out that evening to find a warm neighborhood inhabited by young people; bistros, organic markets and ethnic eateries. I was charmed and returned to my studio feeling like a local. On July 4 I woke up earlier and just in time to arrive at Pain de Sucre at ten in the morning. This is a super small patisserie-boulangerie with prepared sandwiches and pastries; I purchase a few items and headed out to walk and get lost in the city. I stopped at cafes for espresso and to connect to a wifi, talk to my girlfriend and family in the States and basically connect with my normal life of family friends and work. I ate as I walked and shopped in little shops around the Picasso museum; I decided to visit it but never found it. Tired I called an Uber and headed back to my studio for a rest; I carried with me a Serrano Ham sandwich from Pain de Sucre. Late in the evening I headed out for dinner at one of my new favorite Bistros in the world, Chez Michel located not too far from my pied de terra; 10 Rue de Belzunce in the tenth Arrondissement. This turned out to be one of the best prepared meals I have ever had; all parts and ingredients were to perfection. I ordered the 37 Euro choice that included appetizer, entree and dessert; I was also served an surprisingly delicious amuse bouche of miniature snails, about two dozen piled in a small dish accompanied by pin to pull them out of the shell; a side of a luscious mustard mayonnaise and a basket of rustic bread. My appetizer was as fish soup poured on top of chorizo and croutons; soup was perfectly spiced poured at the table from a ceramic vessel. I had to consumed the entire thing, enough for two portions. My entree was the best breast of duck I have ever had, smoked and sautéed to perfection; eating it felt as if I were eating a thick slice of bacon dipped in a perfect apricot demi glade mixed with toasted almonds and other amazing things like clove and green herbs. At this point I decided I wanted to see the chef, meet the person responsible for this perfect food; Chef Masa came to see me; very cordial and delighted to meet, I complemented him. My dessert was comfort food, rice pudding served with the best tasting preserves of apricots and raisins. I will definitely visit Chez Michel one more time this month.