My friend Kelly is a terrible influence.

We started running (a term I’m using very loosely here — I may be the slowest runner on Earth) together, and she always suggests something delicious and fattening for dinner after. One night she drove me home from work because it was raining, and instead of running we made these ridiculously delicious cookies. So when I saw into her at this work event at the Newseum last week, I should have known she was going to suggest we go to a fabulous bakery for lunch.

I just didn’t realize how awesome the bakery would be.

I’ll admit that I’ve never had macarons in Paris, so I can’t say for sure that these are perfect. But they certainly seem perfect. You can buy individual giant ones or an adorable sampler box. I wanted more flavors, so I went with the sample box.

Every flavor was good. Seriously! My favorites were the raspberry and the coconut, but they were all light and delicious.

Oh, and I also got some kind of cheese bread thing to take home, which was really tasty.

Then, because Kelly told me the sandwiches were fantastic and my friend Melissa and I were going to the Newseum anyway, I went again. The next day.

And then — and this is totally not Kelly’s fault — Melissa and I ended up near the one in Georgetown. So I got a canele and palmier. The canele was good, but the palmier was heavenly — super buttery and flaky.

So, if you ever happen to be in Georgetown or near the Navy Memorial in DC, go to Paul. C’est fantastique. Thank you, Kelly!