In Happy Endings, we travel the part of the globe that says "Dallas" in search of great desserts and great places to eat them.
When I invited my runner friend out for dessert at Toulouse, I never should have mentioned that the cafe is a frites-length away from the Katy Trail. Once he caught wind of this, our date became contingent on a pre-dessert jog. Obviously I tried to cancel. I was suddenly very "busy." I feigned sniffles.
He wasn't having it.
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See also: Searching for a Happy Ending with the Whiskey Cake at Plano's Whiskey Cake
I managed to suck it up in the name of fried dough. It's hard not to fall in love with the doughnut's more refined, sophisticated cousin. These warm, fluffy, egg-shaped confections are listed on Toulouse's menu as "Beignets & Coffee," but the "coffee" actually refers to the accompanying espresso pot de crème. Dotted with whipped cream and coffee bean-shaped chocolates, the chilled custard provides a satisfying temperature contrast to the warm beignets. And, in case you were wondering, yes -- worth the pain and suffering of forced exercise.
Toulouse, the vision of a man who spent a lot of time in and around France, successfully recreates the style and feel of a classic Parisian café, without the stuffiness sometimes attributed to French restaurants. Amid lively chattering, with the better part of the weekend already spent, we plunked down on Toulouse's uber-French patio and passed the evening people-watching and caking up our fingers with powdered sugar.
It's not a bad way to eke out the last few moments of Sunday night and brace yourself for the upcoming work week. But next time, I plan to watch the joggers idly, conserving my calories instead of burning them. For me, the best way to enjoy the trail is as scenery, from the comfort of a well-worn wicker chair.
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