I do enjoy torturing my husband. On our way up to Boston for a friend's wedding this weekend, I tried to get him to eat a Devil Dog. I do this occasionally - try feeding him Twinkies or Twizzlers or orange mac and cheese out of the box, just to give him a glimpse of my all American childhood. After all, shared cultural references are important in a marriage. So when we stopped for a bottle of water, I thought I'd try my luck with Hostess cakes. Getting a Frenchman to eat anything from a US highway rest stop is a bit of a stretch, but when you put it under plastic, and let him see the expiration date in 2038, failure is almost guaranteed. I love him anyway. 
Lunch in Paris is the April book of the month on CommitmentNow.com - and after a weekend alone in a hotel with my husband (hurrah!), I am feeling very committed indeed. The hotel had an aquatic theme - so along with the sailboat carpet and coral sculptures, the "Do Not Disturb" sign said "I'm marinating", which made me feel like a hanger steak. That said, 8 months into parenthood, a girl can't get picky about her "Do Not Disturb" signs.
Thank you to friends and fans for Boston restaurant recommendations. The Neptune Oyster Bar was at the intersection of several lists. Your oyster picks go clockwise from the lemon. (I do like a restaurant with a well oiled system in place.) Our clams with garlic and white wine were simple, plump and briny. The baby octopus with Israeli couscous was a treat - it's a texture I adore - totally unavailable in France. The highlight of the evening was "Neptunes on Piggyback" - toasts of duck confit and spicy mayo topped with a juicy fried oyster, served with on a bed of marinated raisins and topped with a tangle of delicate greens.I'm off to NMH, my old high school, today. I'm having lunch with my former theatre director - slightly odd to think that the last time he saw me I was wearing a corset (and had a 24 inch waist)...
