A Paris Trip isn't Complete Without.... - Sunday, 7 October

The Sunday morning service at The American Church in Paris on the banks of the Seine in the 7th arrondissement.  It's the most racially and culturally diverse church I've ever been to.  Today, the offering was danced down the aisle!  Search my blog for multiple stories about the church and stop in when you're in town on a Sunday.

And, of course, the trip isn't complete without at least one lunch of confit de canard.  It's not the haute-est of haute cuisine, but one of my favorite things to eat.  The leg and thigh of ducks specially raised for magret and foie gras are cured, then roasted very slowly in duck fat, then submerged in duck fat, refrigerated and aged for at least a week and up to three months.  Then you can dig them out of the container, wipe off the excess fat, warm them up in the oven (ideally crisping up the skin), and luxuriate in the most tender, moist, succulent, flavorful poultry you’ve ever eaten.

I haven’t found anyone other than Surdyk’s deli (and myself, of course, on a non-commercial basis) in the Twin Cities who makes it correctly – if you find it on a menu it’s usually just slow-roasted duck leg/thigh.  Must start a new batch when I get home!

On my way to lunch I came across this completely empty bike rental rack near the Sorbonne.  Not sure I've ever seen that before!