While most of the country is hunkered down on the couch in front of their big screen TVs, with beer, chili, chips, pizza and every other traditional Super Bowl fare, we are making our way down Burro Alley in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Santa Fe is the capitol of New Mexico. I love this city. Its full of art, artists, museums, boutiques, history, architecture, sculptures and restaurants. I am concerned with the latter. Burro Alley is where I found a French restaurant and bakery called, “Café Paris.” We found it last August. The alley is closed to traffic, so in the summer they have tables and umbrellas set up for outdoor dining. I can see the outdoor tables are no longer there. But there is a sign that says they are open!
This is the only French restaurant I’ve been where everyone spoke French. (Except of course, in France) We are hastily shown to a table by the window. There is one other couple in the restaurant. They are Germans living and working in Albuquerque. The waiter hurries again to hand us some menus and then hurries to the next room to help position a TV in that dining room. Seven French speakers are opening their wallets and putting money in a pool… they are betting on the SUPER BOWL! Sitting at a long table with glasses of Perrier or Red Wine they have clearly chosen sides. The men want the Steelers and French Polynesian wife of the owner of the restaurant is choosing the Seahawks just to make it interesting. Every time one of them leaves the room she calls to the back, “Touch Down Seattle!” This works one or two times and they come scurrying out to see the score. After that, they are wise to her tricks. She is laughing and joking with everyone. She looks over at us and suggests we join them. She is a traditionally built Polynesian woman. Her long black hair is pulled back in to a thick pony tail. She has a silk flower behind her ear. Her husband is in serious French conversation with two other men at the table. She comes up behind, puts her arms around him and kisses him loudly on the cheek. He continues talking, not missing a single beat in his discourse.
My favorite sins are French Pastries. The Café Paris has a dessert case full of irresistible temptations. I choose a 'Tarte Tatin'(apple tart) and my husband can’t decide between the a Tarte Citron(lemon tart) or la Fôret Noire(Black Forest). Finally, the Black Forest wins. Unfortunately, the Steelers are winning too. Our island girl is not so happy because she is losing her bet.
My idea was to get out of the house, away from all the Super Bowl hype. I thought I would be safe at a French Restaurant. I was wrong. But at least I got to watch un match de football américain avec les français.
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