I continued my building of a community in Toulouse. I went to Le Panache Friday night as I usually do. Ervin and Enzo and I discussed the race and how we were feeling after it. Enzo is still having some calf issues but says he is going to start running on Sunday. Jean Luc and Hugo (the kitchen staff) asked me how the run went.

After I had been there for a little while Enzo’s girlfriend and his other friends that I had met on Sunday showed up at the restaurant. Again, everyone said hello and chatted as best we can between French and English. These meetings do help me to work on my French. I have to come up with French so I can hold conversation.

Enzo opened a new bottle of wine that he was testing for the restaurant. It was a white natural wine – tharséo made with Terret Gris and Muscat d’Alexandre. Both grapes I have not had before that I know of. It was cloudy in look and the nose was not that pleasant. It was okay but not great. Enzo ended up deciding he really did not like it. I doubt it will be on the wine list. It was nice that he let me drink it and asked my opinion.

We started with while as I was having Moules (mussels) and then the Cabillaud (cod) with risotto. As usual the food was outstanding.

Things either went uphill or downhill from there. I was starting to leave a the group asked me to stay and party with them. Enzo opened a bottle of the red from the same vineyard and it was much better than the white BT bufentis – Grenache and Syrah. It has a good full body. I am finding that I like the Grenache/Syrah blends. This one we both liked and thought it was better the white. I think this will be on the menu.

Between the wine, Enzo and Evrim were offering and making shots for the group. We ended up having three shots. It was a long but fun evening. I did not leave until around 12:30.

Looking at the pictures, I realize how much I look like my father.