“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” ~Amy Poehler

After an excellent night’s sleep and a wonderful brunch at our hotel, we walked to our cooking class at “In Cuisine” which was within walking distance from our hotel.

“No one who cooks cooks alone.” ~ Laurie Colwin

About twenty of us from Daves travel group were split into two groups of about ten each at this lovely, bookstore/cooking instruction class. While one group created our entree of chicken and mashed potatoes with copious amounts of butter and cream, our group learned how to create the “healthy” dessert of carmelized apples with spices and red wine and whipped cream.

“I love cooking with wine—sometimes I even put it in the food.”  ~ Julia Child

We had to peel and cut the apples into tiny pieces, chop herbs, and stir the apples in the carmelized syrup, and of course add wine and butter, after all, we are in France!

The next part was what we were waiting for as we got to sit and enjoy the fruits of our labors. We enjoyed the delicious chicken and potatoes the other group made for our main course, and then of course the piece de le resistance, the caramelized apples topped with fresh whipped cream. Even better was the conversation as we sat with friends and made new friends.

“You know why the French hate us? They gave us the croissant. And you know what we did with it? We turned it into a croissandwich.” ~Denis Leary

“If you’re afraid of butter, use cream. “– Julia Child

We had a quiet relaxing afternoon, then drinks with friends in the Dome lounge of the hotel which was quite spectacular.

Dinner was Daves’s welcome dinner for his loyal passengers at Le Comptoir Cecil. We had the entire restaurant and it was boisterous, welcoming and joyful. The photos say it all.

“Stay close to any sounds that make you glad you are alive.” ~ Hafiz

It was indeed another wonderful day of new friends, old friends, and new memories made.

“In the sweetness of friendship, let there be laughter and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things, the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. ~ Khalil Gibran