Deprived? Who, me?

One of the things that fascinated me about my workplace in the Silicon Valley was the very American profusion of food : the huge refrigerators in the kitchen were filled with every possible kind of soft drink (including those nasty nasty frappuccinos), the freezer was stocked with instant meals and frozen burritos (we're talking engineer food here), and the cabinets and shelves looked like a movie theater snack stand : chips, nuts, beef jerky, microwave popcorn, crackers, cookies, chocolate bars and candy.

In the lobby, all screaming orange and blue with our cool 3D logo up on the wall, there was a bucket-sized bowl filled with mini peanut butter cups. I assumed these were for guests to nibble on while they waited, but I still picked up a few from time to time on my way out. At the first traffic light, I would unwrap the golden foil. At the second, I would start loosening the sides of the small ribbed paper cup, but very gently, so as not to lose too much chocolate into the creases. At the third, I would free the chocolate bite from its casing. And once on Highway 82, picking up speed, turning the music on louder, and checking the clock to see if carpool time was over, I would gobble up my mini-friend, letting it melt on my tongue, sweet milk chocolate, then soft, gooey peanut butter.

After my post about missing those little peanut butter cups, fellow Parisian food blogger Meg told me she was about to place an order on Expat Shopping, and kindly offered to throw in a couple of pb cup bags for me. I went to get them last Wednesday at her gorgeous appartment, and this was of course a great opportunity to meet her, and The Critic she mentions in her posts. Both were, as expected, super kind and friendly: we drank a little wine, I nosed around the kitchen - couldn't help it - and I left their place light-hearted and happy, from the encounter and the bounty.

And now, our very own living-room boasts a big basket full of pb cups. We are gradually converting all our friends to the magic -- if there are enough of us, perhaps we can start lobbying for a steady import stream.

As a sidenote for Parisians, the ground floor of the new Lafayette Maison has a cool selection of food items, including the large peanut butter cups. The package of two will cost you 1.55 euros, but sometimes you just have to have your shot of peanut butter and chocolate.