3 a.m. … not sleeping – again – how can I with Juliette out there somewhere in the dark? Might as well make some lists about what I’m going to do about MAL …

Decor:

ditch that rickety shelving

lace curtains for the front windows

round table from the apartment covered with one of Mom’s pretty tablecloths – good for displaying new gift items and seasonal things in front

fresh flowers at all times – I could do these myself but it would be nice to give a local florist the business

Merchandise:

homeopathic remedies

aromatherapy oils

makeup lines – Lancome, Clinique, Stila, La Mer, Darphin …

candles

lotions, soaps, etc.

pretty cards, stationery

jewelry (local artisan?)

handbags?

new mom and baby products

Food:

Breakfast:

Keep traditional breakfast items – eggs, etc., and biscuits with sausage gravy (have to find a good line cook to make!)

Breakfast crepes: eggs, bacon or sausage and choice of cheese; orange marmalade

Find good source for croissants and pain au chocolate – I read somewhere that good ones are available frozen here and you just bake them off, but I’m skeptical …

Lunch:

Keep hamburger, cheeseburger and fried catfish sandwich with Creole mayonnaise

Homemade soup – tomato-dill bisque? plus soup specials daily

Sandwiches:

Ham and brie with honey mustard on croissant

Croque Monsieur

Grilled Mediterranean vegetable – eggplant, sweet red peppers, onion and zucchini with goat cheese and pesto mayonnaise

Salads:

Mixed baby greens with roasted pear and warm brie – champagne vinaigrette

Frisee with bacon, blue cheese and poached egg – red wine vinaigrette

Arugula with asparagus, walnuts and goat cheese – balsamic vinaigrette

Salade Nicoise (with or without anchovies)

Crepes: Chicken Florentine; Chicken and mushrooms with Gruyere  and pesto; ham and Gruyere

Specials: (Dig out Mom’s recipe for hot rolls to go with these.)

Thursday: Eleanor’s Famous Pot Roast with mashed potatoes and green vegetable

Friday: Fried Catfish with fries and coleslaw

Saturday: BBQ ribs with fries and coleslaw

Desserts:

Sweet crepes – lemon and sugar; strawberries and whipped cream; Nutella; vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce

Creme brulee

Mom’s old-fashioned chocolate layer cake

fruit pies, shortcakes in season

Beverages:

Must buy a good machine for espresso, cafe au lait and cappuccino

Check soda fountain to see if everything still works

Real lemonade and iced tea (sweet and unsweetened, herbal?)

Loose teas by the pot

Perrier

There … I think I’ve written the whole menu. But what’s the matter with me … how can I possibly let myself think about moving ahead on any of this when Juliette is missing?  Oh, merde, none of this makes any sense without my daughter!