We had another amazing meal at Bistro Niko yesterday--one of the 100 best new restaurants in the country (according to Esquire magazine). I am always thinking, "It can't be as good as it was last time," but it is. One thing is the service. I have started to feel like it is my private restaurant. We had the same server this time and I told him early on that we wanted gougeres. They usually say the same thing: "they aren't on the menu, but I'll put in the order--it will take about 10 minutes." So, right off, I know something others don't. This was Sunday, so they were offering brunch: 11-5. It was a different menu (no shrimp), but there are always loads of things I want to eat, almost everything. They had a great squash soup, which Bonney and the Captain had, and a real French onion soup that my Mom got--large servings in tureen/crocks. Nicky ordered one of the French pizzas for his appetizer. They are on a very thin, almost cracker-like crust. This one was supposed to be flambee, but they must have done it in the kitchen or something. That was probably the only disappointment. It has some smoky lardons on it and was tasty, but just okay. Meanwhile, the bread is of course to die for, chewy on the outside, soft in the middle. And we had a great beaujolais. Several times, I just closed my eyes for a minute to savor a bite of something and make time stop. Ray had a salad. I am always amazed at how a salad can be exquisitely delicious. Perfect dressing, perfect ingredients. No asking you what dressing you want on your salad--they know what is right. Hank had salad nicoise, Ray and Vanessa had chicken paillard--flattened and sauteed, with asparagus and a bit of salad and grape tomatoes. I had hanger steak and frites. OK, the French fries were very good, but maybe not the best I ever had. I ordered the steak medium, because I knew it would be very rare. It was delicious, tender and tasty. Captain and Bonney had the duck--they raved about it. Nicky had a lamb sandwich and I can't remember what Chris had. All pretty much cleaned their plates, except Vanessa. Shee couldn't bring herself to ask for a box, although Ray would have. A second bottle of wine...The service is so awesome. The minute you finish the bread, a new basket appears. Your wine and water are constantly refilled before you need it. But no chatter of course. He seemed to genuinely enjoy waiting on us (who wouldn't? we were clearly having the time of our lives). Ah, dessert. Two baba au rhums (not quite rummy enough according to our tasters), a tarte moelleux au chocolat (a molten chocolate cake (exquisite), a creme brulee, and I had a lemon mousse with blueberries and a sort of meringue with the burned sugar top they put on creme brulee. Sigh. Wonderful. We had plenty of time and admired the kitchen, which is glassed-in for our pleasure. One guy was mincing chives all the time I watched, another parsley. There was a man removing poached eggs from a big bath. Even the bathrooms are pretty nice, and the background music, jazzy but not too loud. Ah...until the next time, Bistro Niko!

In the morning, we all went to the Fellowship, where we announced that Adrian is coming! It was an audience-participation service about things that make you mad. The Captain got up and yelled into the mike about not being timid. Don't worry so much about being polite, but tell them it's not okay when they park in the handicapped spots or litter. The choir sang a song written by Amber, composed of complaints. "Litterers, no-turn-signallers..." pretty fun. Then we headed to Atlanta in our two cars. After lunch, Bonney & Hank's car headed to the airport. As far as I know, they got on their two planes and all went well. We drove back to Athens--and by we, I mean Ray, who limited his consumption of wine. Captain and Vanessa dozed in the back, and I  may have slipped off for a moment myself. As we came into the house (6:30), the Captain said goodnight. I put on my pajamas and watched a little TV, but I think I went to bed before 8. Vanessa and Ray stayed up a little longer, although she was sleeping sitting up when I saw her last.

Sorry, the pictures didn't come across yet. There might be some on Facebook.