Do you remember how the sight of a gallon of ice cream or the entrance to a toy store would make you happier than almost anything when you were a 5 year old?

Well, the sight of this:

made me even happier yesterday.

My buddy, Alison, and I decided to have a French feast yesterday just for shits and giggles.

I miss Paris like you would not believe. I will make it back there in the next two years. Freakin’ Atlantic Ocean … always getting in my way…

Anyway, after church I made a stop at the store for supplies and got. to. work.

First up, French onion soup.

I would like to state for the record that I do not consider French onion soup to be French onion soup if it is not gratinéed.

Cheese is my life.

I used a variation of this recipe but used gruyère (because that’s correct) instead of cheddar and left out the apple cider.

Tell me you wouldn’t want to burn the roof of your mouth off with that melted cheese.

Waiting for cheese to cool is not my greatest strength.

The afternoon’s main event was poulet rôti with frites and haricots verts.

…

Ok, once more in English: roast chicken with fries and green beans.

Otherwise known as the meal I ate at least once a week during my semester abroad (the only meal I consumed with greater frequency was un petit falafel from a place called Maoz…I still dream about those glorious pita pockets).

Ok, so the frites are of the frozen variety (from Trader Joe’s). Fries are just one of those things that I can’t find a justification for making homemade. I rather like having all of the skin on my forearms intact- I don’t need to go burning the heck out of myself with the inevitably giant oil splatters.

But the chicken was from scratch (you know, besides the whole “killing” it part- I’m not that bad ass). I roughly followed this recipe and roasted ‘er off in my ghetto excuse for a roasting pan (see above).

Nope, that’s right. I do not own a true roasting pan. Send help.

That little red soy sauce bottle has the reduced pan drippings in it for extra fat and extra fun.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I love fat.  Even if it’s not bacon.

I think I forgot how much I enjoy French food. This would qualify as bistro food- it’s not expensive, it’s not all that fancy and it’s not snails.

I need to make “themed” dinners more often.

I’m taking votes. Which cuisine comes next?