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A Day Trip to France (I meant Dallas)








 My friend and I both teach thus both get to celebrate spring break. She lives in Dallas, and I never get to see her so I decided to drive to Dallas and find a spot where we could sit on the patio for hours, eat good food and sip on Chardonnay as we dive into what’s going on in today’s world. I had a place in mind already.

I lived in Dallas last year. A few evenings a week my husband and I would jog the Katy Trail and pass by this place called Toulouse. I can’t describe the herb-frites-butter smell that exited out the back of that building and interrupted my runs, but was offensive and delightful at the same time. I envied the people who dallied on the bustling patio for long hours drinking wine and solving the world’s problems while I jogged past in pain. My friend and I were going there, and the jogging attire was left at home. 

There was one tiny table left on the patio, which seems to be the most popular spot in the place. The atmosphere inside and out felt European (for lack of better words).We each ordered a fresh, cold glass of the Acacia Chardonnay and perused a menu full of items like Trout Almandine, quiche, Dover Sole Meuniere, Filet Au Poivre et Cognac, crispy calamari and mussels prepared five different ways — the type of stuff you eat before a sieste.

I ordered the Mussels Mariniere prepared with garlic, white wine, butter and shallots. My friend ordered the bacon, asparagus quiche with a side salad. We both tried each other’s food, and I can say it was all wonderful. Her quiche was piping hot, had just the right amount of salty flavor and was fluffy. The mussels were merely warm, but carried the flavor of the buttery bath they marinated in. My friend isn’t a mussel person, so when she tried a large one I was worried she was going to lose it. She didn’t. Whew.

Even better than the food was the French bistro atmosphere and great company. The hours slipped passed us as we slipped into another world. So if you ever decide to take a day trip to Dallas, I recommend slipping away to Toulouse on Knox Street with a good friend. 


p.s. The shopping on that street isn't bad either. 


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Comments

  1. AnakaMarch 18, 2011 at 9:13 AM

    So well said. Whether one lives in Dallas or Fort Worth, a trip to Toulouse with good company is well worth it!

    ReplyDelete

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