We spent the past week in France (see pornographic food image above as proof) doing all the things France calls you to do; a lazy oscillation between eating and drinking - drinking and eating. Beyond that, there was little on the agenda except long bouts of aimless walking and hours spent watching the world float by with a glass of Sancerre in hand.
I was doing exactly the latter one afternoon, settling in for a late lunch alone - newspaper in hand. The temperature was perfect, like a t-shirt fresh out of the dryer. (Warm and comforting, but also with a twinge of desperation to it - you know that perfect warmth, that ideal comfort wouldn't last forever, so you squeeze it close to your face and enjoy every second it is there).
I ordered lunch and settled into what I thought was artful observance of the crowd around me, but more likely was highly obvious/creepy staring that was in no way "artful".
The café bustled and hummed as they do, with suited servers elegantly flitting through the crowd like birds at a feeder. A young man glided to a table down the sidewalk to an older woman waiting patiently, empty coffee cup in front of her. She exuded simple Parisian elegance deep into her 80's: the suit, the tight curls of her hair, perfectly re-applied lipstick and a purse that cost more than my first car (a puce colored 1996 Honda Civic. RIP Hondararri, you were a gem.)
He looked at her empty coffee cup and the untouched, still wrapped piece of chocolate on the saucer. He asked:
"You didn't want your chocolate?"
She looked down and said politely " Oh, no thank you. I don't like chocolate much."
"Ah, that's right. I forgot. A caramel then? I could get you a caramel?"
She smiled a bit, a shy wisp of a smile:
" No, thank you. That's so kind. I don't like caramel either."
There was almost a pout on his face. He so clearly wanted to give her a little treat, a little something.
"Je reviens." "I'll be back."
He slipped into the belly of the cafe and the world continued to trickle past in well dressed, beautifully perfumed waves.
She sat, unfazed by the din of the crowd, soaking in the warmth of the afternoon. After a few moments he reappeared and produced a plate with two delicate cookies:
"Lemon! I found you lemon cookies. Would you like them?"
Her shy wisp of a smile was gone, she beamed up at him:
"Those are my favorite."
And they both smiled at each other for just a second more. He, triumphant and she, perfectly delighted.
It was such a tender and quiet moment. The desire to bring someone joy, and witnessing it happen.
For my part I had to basically be mopped off the sidewalk, old softie that I now am. We hope in our very small way that Family Dinner can bring these bits of joy to you each week.
This week we have cookies from Lark Fine Foods. Burnt Sugar Shortbread, Cha Chas, Pistachio Cherry Sable, Salted Caramel Almond Chocolate Chip... Whether you enjoy them with a cup of coffee at some point this week, or fresh out of the box the second they arrive - we hope they bring you a little spark of delight.
Have a great weekend folks.
