Restaurants – Life of kk

Growing up, there was really only one restaurant in town: The Rustic Oak. Sure, we had fast food places – McDonald’s, Arby’s, Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips – but The Oak was the only spot for a **good** meal.

The two things I remember most about The Oak was the massive fireplace that was always roaring (and the stacked wood outside the front door to keep it going) and their soup and salad bar. The salad bar wasn’t anything fancy – tan tubs of iceberg lettuce, grape tomatoes, olives, bacon bits that could crack your teeth, and croutons nestled in ice under a brightly lit sneeze guard – but as a kid, unlimited anything was exciting. If you saw me and my parents at the Rustic Oak in the 80s, we were probably celebrating something.

I don’t remember eating out much growing up, unless we were on vacation. And even then, when we would go to the Jersey Shore every year, we’d stay in an efficiency hotel room, equipped with a small kitchenette, where my mother would cook dinner for us after the beach a few nights during our week-long stay. The hotel hallway would smell like fried chicken cutlets all night.

This is the kitchen where my parents insisted on cooking dinner a few nights a week while we were on vacation. Photo from The Pan American Hotel.

Most of my restaurant meals were Happy Meals picked up from the drive thru after church on Saturday nights. My treat with my babysitter while my parents went out for the night. And when we did go out! Man, did those nights feel luxurious. It’s probably what led to my obsession with restaurants and food and eating out today.

I LOVE EATING AT RESTAURANTS.

Like, really love it. I would eat out every single night if I could. And it’s not because I don’t like to cook – because I do – but I just like having someone cook for me even more. I love reading menus and eating. I love to eat. My Insta feed is filled with deliciously plated foods and fancy cocktails, with the occasional sweater-wearing dachshund mixed in.

In what could only be described as a cruel twist of fate, I am raising a child who does NOT like to eat out. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE??

To be clear: Little Mister likes restaurant food, but he wants to eat it at home (the place where – after you eat your meal – no one cleans up after you and does the dishes and offers you dessert).

Every weekend when Mr. KK and I are ready to leave the house and relax with an adult beverage and a meal cooked by someone who is not Yours Truly, the negotiating begins.

“Where are we going?”

“What kind of food is it?”

“What else is there to do there?”

“Is anyone else coming with us?”

“Can I watch a movie while I’m there?”

After a long week, I don’t want to see the inside of my kitchen – for cooking or for eating. Instead, let’s enjoy each other’s company, take our time easing into the weekend, enjoy some delicious food, and revel in the fact that we don’t need to clean up!

(Also, if parents say we’re going out to eat, WE’RE GOING OUT TO EAT!)

I went to Paris in August!

It was my first time traveling to Europe and I experienced it with Mr. KK’s cousin and Aunt – a girls’ trip with 3 generations of women (with me in the middle).

This was the first vacation I’ve even been on that I did not plan. As the resident family vacation planner, this was a foreign concept for me. I literally just showed up. When asked what I wanted to do on our trip, my response was: “Eat lots of croissants and see the Eiffel Tower.”

Mission accomplished!

We spent 5 days in the City of Love, where we ate all the food, and drank all the drinks. Our trip was the perfect balance of seeing the sights but not overdoing it. I’m so excited to share our 5-day itinerary with you!

Business Class for the Win

Yes, we flew business class overnight from JFK to Paris. And it was the single best experience I have ever had flying. First of all, the whole seat situation was amazing. Roomy. Reclining. Padded ottoman foot rest. Blanket. Sleep mask. Private TV. You would have thought we were flying on that plane for a week with all the amenities!

My home for 7 hours. This cubicle is almost bigger than a room in my house.

That look when you realize that you are a travel princess. Also, travel outfit on point.

We were welcomed with a glass of champagne! “Oui, merci!” Followed by a multi-course meal that included lobster salad, a cheese plate, chicken, more champagne, baguette, dessert, and more champagne. And then, they took our order for breakfast, which was to be served approximately 3 hours after we finished eating our late-night dinner.

I am spoiled for all other travel.

Day 1: Arrival & First Meal

We made it! We checked into our super cute boutique hotel, Grand Boulevard Experimental. It was every bit as charming as you would imagine a hotel in Paris would be. It had this lovely rooftop bar where we had our very first cocktails of the trip. The rooms were quaint, and I had a room all to myself, including a HUGE bathroom with two sinks and mirrors. Truly indulgent.

The hotel still used real keys. And held them at the desk for you.

Our first meal was at a traditional French bistro, Bistro Des Tournelles. We were starving! We ordered the mushrooms with garlic and parsley, Croque Monsieur, ravioli, filet of beef with fries (steak frites!), and the roast chicken.

And I couldn’t go to bed without doing one VERY PARIS thing on our very first night. We hopped on the Metro and went to see the Eiffel Tower all lit up at night!

Pictures don’t do it justice. And it sparkles on the hour every hour.

Day 2: Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Cocktails & Dinner

The sun shone bright on our first full day in Paris. I was so exhausted from traveling that I slept for 10 hours. TEN HOURS! I woke up with a start at 8am just minutes before my breakfast was being delivered. Can we pause to talk about how delicious the yogurt in France is? Thick and creamy, topped with honey. I ordered it every morning.

The Eiffel Tower was majestic at night, and equally as impressive during the day. We rode the elevator up to the top for the most fantastic panoramic view of the city.

If you look closely you can see the Olympic Rings on the bridge over the Seine.

After the ET we walked over to the Champs-Élysées (so many tourists) but we felt the need to see the Arc de Triomphe and be all Paris-like.

Our itinerary included some of the best known craft bars in the city, and our stop that night was The Cambridge Public House.

Dinner that night was at an Italian restaurant, Carbonis. This was my favorite meal of the entire trip (imagine, my favorite restaurant was an Italian restaurant in Paris!). Every bite was amazing.

We needed to start with drinks, of course. My introduction to the Sbagliato Negroni.

Heirloom tomato salad, watermelon, marigold, bottarga

My favorite bite of the night: pappardelle with sweet corn, crispy shallots, guanciale, chili oil.

Caserecce with tomatoes, fried eggplant, spiced lamb, dukkah

Day 3: Train to Reims to tour Veuve Clicquot

You can’t go to Paris without taking a day trip to the Champagne region. Well, I can’t. And the Veuve Clicquot tour in the caves is not to be missed!

The tour ended with a tasting of four signature champagnes, one of which is not sold in stores and only served in the caves.

After a short nap on the train on the way home, we relaxed at the hotel until it was time for dinner. That night, we went to Le Mary Celeste, a cute little wine bar with small plates. We sat at a crooked little table, squished in the back corner, and basically ordered almost the entire menu.

Highlights included:

Put a fork in me!

Day 4: The Louvre, Notre Dame, Cocktails & Dinner

We started our morning at the Louvre – pre heist. I wanted to see the building, as it’s an impressive city block; however, I didn’t feel the need to go inside. But we did have fun taking photos outside.

Notre Dame was, well, it was a church. Mostly covered in scaffolding. With a ridiculous number of people trying to see it and get inside. I’m glad we walked by to snap a pic so I could cross it off my list.

During the afternoon we did some shopping around Le Marais. We became regulars on the Metro. I felt like a local.

Another day, another cocktail bar! This time we headed to Little Red Door, named the Number 5 best bar in the world in 2022 (and Number 6 in 2023). Hard to get in, hard to leave. Dark. Moody. Delicious.

After cocktails, we headed to dinner at a mediterranean restaurant Kubri. There were so many things we wanted to try, so naturally we over ordered!

This roasted cabbage with aleppo pepper butter and peanuts was divine

Day 5: Charcuterie and Pasta

After a weather forecast that threatened rain the whole week, it finally came. The lunch vibe we wanted was wine and charcuterie, and we found the perfect place. It was a BYOB – build your own board, from a thick booklet of cheeses, meats and accoutrements. I present: Le 17.45

That lunch required some rest before gearing up for our last dinner in Paris. We went off itinerary and ended up at a little hole in the wall Italian restaurant Sugo. The menu was small, but the pastas were fresh and delicious.