Favorite meal: Paris

Is it possible to narrow it down to just the one?

In October 2016 the hubs and I went to Europe for a three city whirlwind tour - London, Dublin and Paris. Oh, Paris, je swoon! I had not been since the summer before my senior year of college, and so much had changed since then.

Yet, I was still so excited to explore Paris with my husband and do things I wasn't able to do my first trip (fun fact, when the internet is not helping you plan your trip in the early 2000s, you learn the hard way that Versailles is closed on Mondays. Le sigh.).

We flew from Dublin to Paris and landed late afternoon. After getting settled in our Airbnb (in what would become a favorite due to the crêpe stand located on the ground floor of our apartment!), we set off to wander around Montmartre.

One of my favorites bloggers is Emily Schuman of Cupcakes & Cashmere, and she had just been in Paris and recommended Le Consulat for dinner. There wasn't much online about it, but it is always helpful to have recommendations. You guys, it was like Paris got dressed up for our arrival. It was October, and a perfect fall day, and the evening started with a light drizzle that I may have found to be romantic because I could sport my favorite trench and a killer hat.

But when we walked up to Le Consulat, I truly felt like I was living a dream of what people imagine Paris is like. That perfectly dewy cobblestone, the soft glow of the street lamps, and the delectable aromas wafting from nearby restaurants. We found comfort in a table at the back of the restaurant and before you knew it I had a glass of rosé and a plate of cheese, and all was good in the world.

Being our first night in Paris, and with the slight chill in the air, I started with the French onion soup (err, onion soup?) and found myself in absolute heaven. I anticipated a dark broth overflowing with onions and gruyere and instead was greeted with a lighter broth and perfect bits of cheese that melted instantly in your mouth.

Oh, but the star of the show was the moules frites (or rather, mussels and french fries). If I ever found myself in need of a last meal, this my friends, would be it. There were endless mussels in a broth that was the right amount of salty, and french fries that were scooped that managed to be crunchy and soft at the same time.

My fondness for this restaurant runs deep. So much so that when I returned to Paris last spring, I made a point to take my friend there - wishing with all my might that it was not a one off experience. It did not disappoint in the slightest. With this trip in the spring, we found ourselves seated out front on the patio, and made friends with the women at the table next to us, and joined a FaceTime video with two brothers who were visiting from Belgium who had called their mom (they later sent us all drinks as a thanks!).

The setting and the food both times have made Le Consulat top my list of my most favorite dining memories, and I cannot wait to return again.