La presentation – c’est tout!
Hub fixes eggs for breakfast six days out of seven. Occasionally he whips up an omelette; stuffed with cheese, bacon, mushrooms, or assorted vegetables. Good, hearty filling. Eggs ‘n stuff on a plate.
But you gotta have the “stuff”, right? Otherwise it’s …. well, it’s just eggs … and they are way too bland to ever be considered a tasty omelette.
That’s what we thought.
Until that spring morning in Paris – brunch time, really – after we had wandered through the enchanting Passage de Choiseuil, perusing old book stores and vintage jewelry displays.
Not surprisingly, we found a café on the corner – a nondescript burgundy awning displaying simply, “Café”, in faded gold paint, slightly dirty windows; a few patrons huddled over newspapers or talking quietly with friends; certainly not one of the bustling “must eat” locales touted by Frommer’s guidebook. We didn’t care. We’re not part of the “must eat here” tourist crowd; we were hungry; and the café offered food.
We both ordered omelettes, having chosen cereal and fruit that morning for breakfast. We didn’t ask what ingredients would be mixed in with the eggs; trusting the kitchen staff to make the decision. After all, it was Paris. We’d adopted that certain “je ne sais quoi” attitude for our few remaining days in the city where delightful surprises greet you around every corner.
When the omelettes were placed in front of us, we both gasped, and I reached for the camera. Repeatedly we had been taken aback at the beautiful displays of food served during our European travels. This offering was no exception. Not only was the display richly colorful in its simplicity – white plate, yellow omelette and leafy greens – but the omelette itself, consisting of “just eggs” cooked in butter, was one of the most delicious we’d tasted.
We’ve made plenty of omelettes since our return home. But we always include “stuff” because we are absolutely positive, no matter how much butter we melt in the pan, we can never duplicate the mouth-watering visual effect of those Café omelettes.
Note: I might not be able to respond to comments until this weekend. Please know I’m reading your posts, but my on-the-road laptop is not co-operating for responding to comments on my blog or yours!
bemuzin 
Comments on: "O is for Ooh-La-La Omelette" (14)
Don’t you write beautifully it never really dawned on me how much of a storyteller you are I loved this post 🙂 it’s just 9am here and you’ve made me really hungry that French omelette looks soo good but I would love you to be brave enough to try one at home to see if you can replicate it 🙂 chants go on go on go on go on haha
Justine, thank you for such a nice compliment. Sometimes I feel like I’m singing when I write, and that means i’m in the flow.
No, no, no to your taunting chant! Now where’s the butter?!?
That’s great I love that you feel like singing when writing I really believe that is a great place to be and and and well go ooooon …tosses you a few packs of butter and waits for a post one day on the result haha!!! Xx
Uh oh poured melted butter on my popcorn 🙂
Ummm yikes that sounds pretty disgusting lmso!!!
Bring me that big, beautiful, delish omelette here already!
I clicked the “like” button but I wish there was a button for “j’adore” ! 🙂
Moi aussi! Merci 🙂
Ooooh, I want that! The omelette, and the shoes … 🙂
Those shoes are smashing albeit looking a tad uncomfortable. They literally were in a window as we turned a corner!
Yes, the red shoes are as yummy as the omelette looks. We are getting plenty of eggs from our spoiled pet chickens but I always forget to make an omelette which we love and is a meal in itself. I did make a quiche the other day and once again remembered that eggs do a meal make. Thanks for the reminder. Hope you are having a great time.
Quiche sounds pretty good right now. Maybe with a crisp white wine!
I have to post the men’s red shoes next!
I understand not being able to duplicate the omelet. We went lobster fishing with a friend in Maine. He owns a lobster boat and we pulled our dinner from the ocean and he cooked them for us. We will never be able to recreate the experience of the meal. The omelet looks beyond yummy.
Exactly! Some things just can’t be duplicated out of context. The lobster fishing must have been quite interesting. Another yummy butter-drenched meal!