holybelly café

In times of hardship, it's important to remind ourselves that the pain and struggle is only temporary. Each coming day will not seem so dark nor so cold. The same is true of the sunnier periods, too, though. Saying so may seem pessimistic, but I think it's an important prerequisite to genuine gratitude. I've been concentrating on counting my present-day blessings now that I'm on the brink of another transition (internship --> thesis research). Let's begin with my first chocolat chaud of the season á la Holybelly, shall we?

To me, hot chocolate is cozy comfort materialized and sweetly made edible. I'm thankful, too, for evergreen-cool road trip stories, the daily possibility of stovetop apple-banana oatmeal, email reminders to download the latest New Girl or Grey's Anatomy episode, catch-up cocktails with girlfriends, falling asleep to really hard rain (an upside to Parisian autumns), unexpectedly good hair days, flirting while my heart flutters, clean clothes straight from the dryer, lazy Sunday mornings, countless inside jokes with coworkers, thoughtful packages from my parents, la chance to explore a new city for the first time (more details to come), and wine tasting, beer tasting, and chocolate tasting... all in the same week. I musn't forget to express my gratitude for Kinfolk gatherings either:

(Photo Credit: Hebe Wilson)

(Photo Credit: Hebe Wilson)

Photo Credit: Hebe Wilson

Photo Credit: Hebe Wilson

The Friday before last, I ventured to Holybelly for the first time. Lauren warmly welcomed me out of the humid-chill (a downside to Parisian autumns) with a cocktail of gin, cider, and, pear. I mingled with other friendly diners as I sipped. On the menu that evening: kale salad with hazelnut, fig, and fourme d'amberte, osso bucco served with wild rice aux trompettes de la mort, fruit pavlova, and apple tart. Multiple glasses of wine from Nico's family vineyard were enjoyed throughout. From these photos and description alone, you can probably sense how wonderful it was. What may not translate, however, is the very particular feeling borne from sharing a locally- and family-tradition-sourced meal with kind strangers just as passionate about these experiences as I am. The setting and atmosphere couldn't have been more perfect either. Lauren, Lise, Sarah, and Nico's talents converged beautifully at the latter two's café, now earnestly serving Melbournesque "delicious food & coffee" by the canal. After last Sunday's coffee date with Lorelei there, I'm looking forward to making even more convivial memories. So, so thankful. What's on your gratitude list?