Memories of Paris, Jim Morrison, and A Healthy Frappuccino | SCD, Paleo, Vegan

"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons."
T.S. Eliot

I can vividly remember my very first taste of coffee; my sophomore year of high school my mom and I escaped to Paris for an experience of a lifetime. Well, at least an experience of a lifetime for a high school student. I can remember sitting in the quaint hotel eating some of the richest food I had ever indulged in for breakfast; puff pastries, thick baguettes, delicate slices of aged cheese, cured meats. And I can remember that first sip of coffee, rich and dark, thick as molasses. It was bitter to my young palette, but there was something that drew me in. A sophistication I yearned to attain, even at the young age of fifteen.

My trip to Paris with my mom will forever be embedded in my mind. Just thinking back to those days brings a smile to my face and a silent laugh to the air. I remember strolling the streets of old Paris, wearing a vintage fur coat of my mothers, my hair cut short in a bob and thick black eye liner that made me feel like Twiggy. I remember dragging my mom through Père Lachaise's cemetery, because surely my heart would break if I didn't stop to visit Jim Morrison's grave. At an age of naivety, I felt that moment was the greatest moment in my life. To visit the resting place of Jim Morrison, the iconic lead singer of the band The Doors, a self-taught poet, and legendary rock star, would be a conquest that I would never forget. It was during this time my mother introduced me to more sophisticated creatives like Colette, Molière, Oscar Wilde, Marcel Proust, and Gertrude Stein. These iconic novelists and playwrights fed my passion for the written word and creativity and the thought of visiting their tombstones as well opened my mind to a new world.

But at the time, music was rich to my bohemian soul and fed my blossoming vision. As we made our way towards Jim Morrison’s grave, the air was filled with heaviness and an eerie perception loomed around us. The cobble stone paths that led the way were slightly uneven and covered in a trace of moss, hinting to the rich history of this Parisian park and cemetery that surrounded us. On most days, his resting site is so crowded with visitors it is difficult to truly embrace the nostalgic moment. But yet, mysteriously, our visit brought us to an empty grave filled with stillness. In the air, a spiritual feeling lingered and if I closed my eyes and listened hard enough to the silence, I could hear the subtle sounds of Jim Morrison’s raspy, raw voice whispering his poetic, dark lyrics across the cemetery.

I was surprised to see his grave was modest and sensible, tucked into a small space between several other enclosures. The bust that once adorned the site was sadly stolen in 1988 and the neighboring graves were wrapped in layers of graffiti that built up over years. At the time of our visit, there were no barricades and we were free to roam as we liked. But today, due to the consistent defacing, officials have put up metal barricades to surround the site, forever changing the feel and atmosphere.

I have so many fond memories from that trip, memories to last a lifetime, memories that perhaps one day I will share with my own children over a strong cup of coffee or cappuccino. And maybe, just maybe, The Doors will be softly playing in the background. I have yet to introduce them to the band that captivated my mind for so many years of my youth.

Some of the finest moments in life are rooted in simplicity. For me, coffee and music have always invoked a sense of emotion and remembrance. There are times when I can smell the slightest aroma of savory coffee and I am instantly whisked back to Paris, sitting in that quaint hotel with my mother, sipping cappuccino and nibbling on puff pastries all while dreaming of strolling down the cobble stone paths of Père Lachaise.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes.”
Marcel Proust

VANILLA FRAPPUCCINO
SCD, Paleo, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan
yield: 2 servings

INGREDIENTS
2 shots espresso
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup coconut milk
2 cups ice
2 Tbs. almond butter
10 dates
1 tsp. MCT oil or coconut oil

DIRECTIONS
1. Blend all ingredients together in a blender or Vitamix.
2. Divide among two glasses and enjoy.
2. You can add an optional cacao drizzle by mixing together 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil, 1 tablespoon cacao powder and 1 tablespoon honey. You can also add a dollop of chilled coconut milk, the thick cream on top.