La Bicyclette
11 Apr 2013
La Bicyclette is an adorable French bistro in Carmel with a wood-fired oven, and it came very highly recommended by my BFF, so I knew we couldn’t pass it up. Carmel itself is a wonderfully beautiful place to wander around, and…
I knew Eric would feel right at home anywhere with bikes as decor!
Here’s a somewhat blurry shot of their oven. They bake all their bread in it too, so you can just imagine how heavenly it smelled.
And a chalkboard boasting delicious desserts! I love the copper pots too. (I asked Eric how embarrassed he would be on a scale of 1 to 10 if I took this picture. He said only a 3, depending on my level of discretion. So I was extra discreet!)
Eric and I decided to have pizza: local mushroom for me…
And lamb sausage with mint for him. Both were succulent and so satisfying.
Because I had spent a good four hours walking all over Monterey, I really had my heart set on coffee, even if it was decaf. I ordered a cappuccino, and it came on this lovely tray. I used to drink them all the time, but for some reason I don’t seem to have them much anymore. Thus, they are a special frothy treat.
And, of course, I had my heart set on dessert too. We ordered a crock (!) of chocolate mousse and probably should not have eaten it all, but we did. I have no regrets! As we were finishing up dessert, a couple sitting next to us asked us what we were in town for. I told them that my husband was at a conference for high-energy astrophysics, while my PhD in Russian literature and I were just tagging along for fun. He laughed and said, “What, you couldn’t get into business school?” They were delightfully kind and funny, and were celebrating their 40th anniversary. I look forward to doing the same, thirty-eight years from now, and every year along the way.

Apr 11, 2013 @ 11:12:35
Mushroom pizza and chocolate mousse: two of the best foods in the world!
Apr 11, 2013 @ 15:41:04
I quite agree! So delicious, and possibly even better cold for lunch today:)
Apr 11, 2013 @ 12:33:15
40 years!
This month, Dad and I celebrate 40 years since we started “going together”. Oh, the miles and smiles. . . . and the tears and the love!
Apr 11, 2013 @ 15:48:34
How wonderful! You are truly an inspiration to us all! 🙂
Apr 11, 2013 @ 15:53:32
So glad you made it there and that the food was as tasty as I remember! I look forward to returning on our next trip to Carmel—I would go anywhere for the copper pots (they inspired my own, but I don’t keep mine nearly as shiny as I should)!
See you soon! xo 🙂
Apr 16, 2013 @ 13:51:23
Thank you so much for the recommendation! I was so charmed by your time there that I had my heart set on it:) Ohh la la, I didn’t know you had any copper pots–I would love to have some to hang in our kitchen someday:) We definitely saw some people sharing a pot of soup–so charming!
Apr 11, 2013 @ 15:56:09
Wonderful memories from Carmel. Wish we could have been there with you to enjoy it.
Apr 16, 2013 @ 13:51:54
Me too! It was glorious!
Apr 11, 2013 @ 16:40:26
Oh my gosh! When Milutin and I went to La Bicyclette, we ordered the same delicious desert… and it is indeed enough for two (almost a little bit too much for two), but sooooo good! I’m glad you guys enjoyed it too!
Apr 16, 2013 @ 13:52:57
Oh, so glad you enjoyed it too! Really, I think it was probably enough for four, but I didn’t mind eating it all! Hope you guys are doing great! 🙂
Apr 12, 2013 @ 05:31:26
what a cute restaurant! we have something similar in our teeny town-minus the bikes-minus the frothy drinks or that fab dessert. So I guess it’s a quaint italian restaurant 🙂
Apr 16, 2013 @ 13:54:02
Oh, that sounds lovely! Quaint is my favorite:) And any place that has a wood-fired oven gets extra points from me!