We landed in Paris and first thing mom says is " boy is it cold" and it was! The bitter cold air seemed to penetrate my socks and bite at my nose. So first thing we drove by taxi not train to the Marais where our very cosy little studio apartment awaited us.

Our first meal out was at non other than our favorite restaurant LeTaxi Jaune. A little French bistro in the heart of the Marais French brasseries start to feel very similar after a while. This little restaurant is different in some important ways. When we walked in the atmosphere was warm, inviting and not at all commercial. Our waiter explained in great detail in English each of the items on the menu. I can't over how helpful this is when you are in France. Our dishes were the vegetable soup, scallops, the cod, and for desert a light and airy raspberry Baba Rhum.

The first three dishes were wonderful, full of well balanced flavour and little suprises thrown into the mix. The vegetable soup was superb. The white cod in a green vegetable butter sauce on a bed of mashed potatoes. The scallops are a popular dish there and so well prepared! The portions were just right for dishes this flavorful. And to top it all off we shared a most excellent bottle of red wine. The bill for 2 came to €100 exactly. Money well spent.

text by Natalie Hicks