Cafe Michel

Every time I pass this cafe I think how nice it would be to have a meal here.  Maybe it's the carved gargoyals that draw me in or the cozy seating just inside heavy brocade curtained windows.  It just appears warm and inviting.

Vetran's day, one of the American holidays that Chad has off but the girls have school, provided the perfect opportunity to check it out.  This restaurant actually is close to the embassy, only a 15 minute walk!  

The menu, in English, was exquisite.  It felt like I would be dining in true Russian style.  A chilly day on the outside, the heavy, hot meals seemed to complement the season.  A special menu featuring "pumpkin" caught our eye.  We shared a plate of pumpkin risotto and a bowl of steaming hazelnut soup.  I never could have imagined up a soup made from nuts, but here in Russia where life can seem a bit cold and bleak, it seems appropriate.  The creamy, nutty flavor was softly bland but intriguing.  

We left satisfied but agreed that splitting two entrees was the way to go.  It would be a pricy meal out if we were planning on a filling dinner, but lunch didn't manage to break the budget.