We’ll Always Have Paris
by Victoria

In just a few days, I’ll be returning to Paris — a city that has long held my heart. Our travel group will board a quiet evening flight and soon we’ll find ourselves cruising down the Seine from the heart of the City of Lights to the historic shores of Normandy, with a little extra time in Paris at the end to truly soak it all in. Spring couldn’t arrive at a better moment.

Honestly, forming this travel group might have been one of my best ideas ever (right up there with putting crème brûlée on the menu).
Over the years, we’ve sipped bourbon in Kentucky, glided through the Venetian canals, toasted with Kölsch in Cologne, sampled olive oils in Provence, devoured pizza in Rome, and delighted in the wines of Burgundy. We’ve built memories through food, wine, and the joy of discovery. None of which would be possible without my dear friend and travel partner Renée, whose patience and meticulous planning keep everything running smoothly. Her calm precision and attention to detail make it all look effortless.

My first visit to Paris was eight years ago, and though I’ve returned several times, it’s that first trip that holds a special place in my heart. I was preparing for our restaurant remodel and wanted to infuse it with some genuine Parisian charm. A delightful couple — longtime guests and true Francophiles through and through — graciously invited me along. What followed was a whirlwind journey through bistros, cafés, and brasseries.
We wandered, lingered, and absorbed the art of ambiance. I took notes on everything — table legs, glassware, bar tops, light fixtures, paint colors, even the way the menus and silverware felt in hand.
So much of what you experience in our restaurant today was born on that trip. That trip changed how I see the world and how I designed our space back home.

Now, our travelers are no doubt daydreaming of buttery croissants, café au lait, crisp glasses of rosé, croque-monsieur sandwiches, and the glorious French onion soup. Steak frites, escargots, wheels of brie, pastries piled high with cream — I could go on and on.

I too am excited about the food & beverage experience, but what I am really craving is something I’m not sure how to articulate. Beyond the culinary scene, it’s the “joie de vivre” I am looking forward to the most. The pace, the energy, the art, the history, the elegance — there is a certain poetry to Paris, a sense of soul. I’ve been a little angsty lately, and I’m so ready to connect with that European rhythm where meals linger longer, conversations flow, and life just feels… lighter.
Paris is a gentle reminder to slow down, to savor, to live intentionally.

I’m feeling ready for that shift. For fresh inspiration. And I look forward to bringing a bit of Paris home to you.
I’ll be posting along the way so join me on Facebook and Instagram. I hope you’ll join us, if only in spirit.

Au revoir for now,
Victoria