A few restaurants in Paris…
A good friend of ours was asking about restaurants in Paris – I undertook to provide him 10 that I know. So I got back to my notes. Don’t know if that makes 10, but here are some.
First the brasseries: Bofinger, near place de la Bastille, probably the oldest and better known in Paris; Alsacian in style; seafood and choucroute are the specialties. Awfully busy when we had dinner there Cynthia and Laurence in 2000; suspect it is always like that. Great atmosphere! Same Chez Lipp, another well-known and busy brasserie on St-Germain; last dinner there earlier this year.
While on St-Germain, I have a weakness for Les Deux Magots, because of the literary connection to Simone & Jean-Paul I suppose, and because of its proximity to that lovely boutique hotel where I stay when I can, L’Abbaye de St-Germain.
Memorable feast, mainly on asparagus-inspired dishes (“en saison” then), at Le Café de la Paix, at the Grand Hotel Intercontinental, near or on Place de l’Opéra if I recall, on a professional occasion a couple of years ago.
Two solid, French-cuisine ones, hosted there by a good French colleague of mine and his wife: Chez Françoise, near les Invalides and a favorite of French parliamentarians as the Assemblée Nationale is nearby, and L’Auberge Bressane, on avenue de la Motte-Piquet, in the 7e, where le poulet de Brest is “de rigueur” and delicious.
A few discoveries of our own: Vins des Pyrénées, a small “estaminet” in the Marais, where Cynthia and I had a wonderful lunch; that was at least 8 years ago and I don’t know if it is still around – Google may know! La Méditerranée, in the 5e or 6e arrondissement, near Place de l’Odéon. Seafood as the name implies, but also the wines, one in particular, Pouilly-Fuissé, 2002 "Cuvée Henri", recommended by Jean-Charles, the manager, very particular about organic wines, who also recommended a wine store in town, Louis Vins, 9 rue de la Montagne Ste-Genevieve nearby (http://www.fifi.fr/). Jean-Charles has even his own site: http://www.vinpur.com/.! La Petite Cour, rue Mabillon in the 6e, giving on a small courtyard (you would have guessed!) “en contrebas”; romantic, quiet when we were there. Good meal but I remember it more for the conversation we had with the three matured women sitting beside Cynthia & I, from Spain, Argentina and Switzerland!
A last one – and I think that makes 10 – L’Angle du Faubourg, on Faubourg-St-Honoré (literally across the street from where I lived a glorious summer some 35 years ago!). Invited by another good French colleague of mine who knows his cuisine and wine. Very chic, très “in”; what you would call a “restaurant gastronomique”…with “l’addition” that goes with it!
There we go, Ed!
May 17, 2008
