Paris restaurant slates : special of the day (by kerouac2)

[Deleted]

Here is a small gallery of photos taken at random today of Paris restaurant slates, which you might find of interest if you have any intention of visiting Paris and are wondering how much it costs to eat and what sort of things are on the menu.

Restaurant slates are generally just the daily specials or whatever is considered to be the best value for money by the establishment.

It is important for people unfamiliar with French restaurant shorthand to understand that certain dishes would literally translate to a completely different dish if you did not understand that there are some missing words.

For example, I noticed on the examples below things like lasagnes salade -- which is not lasagna salad but lasagna served with a side salad -- and of course the ubiquitous moules frites, which would literally mean "fried mussels" but which you are supposed to understand as being "mussels with fries".

Also, I should point out that as per my usual method, I made absolutely no selection when taking these photos -- I photographed each slate that I came across without consideration of whether the place looked nice or not or what kind of food that it served. The only slates I ignored were those that I figured would be considered illegible to most people.

I plan to start a gallery of menu displays soon which will give a lot more information on the offerings and the prices.

I encourage others to do the same here if they are interested, because it is really the best way to compare prices and so see if we understand the menus of foreign places.

[BigIain]

I would have to go with the confit de canard... and a pint of Carling obviously

[bixaorellana]

As an American, I got a big kick out of seeing these. In the States, the slate menu board is frequently used to indicate a French, i.e., refined sensibility. From your excellent display, it's obvious that in France, Joe's Good Eats is as likely to have a slate board as is the nicest bistro.

What is rumsteak?

There is SO MUCH variety shown!

[pookie]

Wish this post was around when we went to Paris 4 months ago.Prices are so much better.

We stayed by the St Michel RER

[Deleted]

I think I might do my next session of this around the 6th and 7th arrondissements, where I don't think the prices will be the same.

[bazfaz]

One of the menus headed Americaine showed the item: classic dog.
I thought we had to go to China for this speciality.

[Deleted]

Okay, here is a whole new set of slates, many from the 6th arrondissement (the higher prices!).

[Jazz]

These are great! I have spent many hours reading slates in Paris in anticipation of the chosen meal and love the whole idea. mmm....some fine handwriting. While the prices in the 6th are higher than in the first group, it's obvious that there are many places to eat reasonably. I like the 'gilded' frame of the first one...haha.

[hwinpp]

I like these slates as well.
My favourite place in Siem Reap uses them too! Next time I go I'll take a picture.

[Deleted]

A few more slates from May 1, 2009

[Deleted]

Apr 25, 2009 22:04:54 GMT bixaorellana said:

What is rumsteak?

Sorry that I missed this before.

Rumsteak = rump steak

If you were hoping for rum, the word is rhum.

[BigIain]

Some of these slates just make the mouth water! I often spend all afternoon on the lookout for the evening meal and slates are a "must read" for me at any time of day.

[Deleted]

New York Magazine,4/20/09,The Neighborhood News: Riverdale: City Councilman G.Oliver Koppell proposed a law banning sandwich-board signs on sidewalks. "Blind people walk into them", he said

[LouisXIV]

Kerouac2, I thought you might like to see a typical "restaurant slate" in the USA

[Deleted]

A blind person could run into THAT!

[tod2]

I love reading chalk boards - thanks so much Kerouac!
Now I'm really looking forward to Paris even more than ever

[imec]

This is terrific! It's of particular interest to me as I'm planning my first trip to Paris this summer. The food and wine are, for me, primary reasons to travel. I tend to be a bit uptight however about just seeing a place and giving it a try - I tend to research ahead of time and only go to places on my list. I would really like to break out of this mould though and am wondering if there are any tricks to determining the likelihood that the food will be any good by reading these signs? e.g. cliched dishes that would suggest that they're trying to attract dumb tourists; too many dishes indicating potential for frozen/microwave fare; prices so low that the quality just couldn't be there etc.

Or are there other indicators beyond the slate which may provide a clue as to the quality of the food. I don't mind eating in dives as long as the food is good and safe.

I'm asking these questions specifically in the context of dining in Paris - I have my own code for identifying hits or misses in North America.

Thanks

[hwinpp]

Next time I'm in Siem Reap I'll take a photo of the board at Barrio. My favourite place there

[Deleted]

Imec, I generally just work on instinct to choose a restaurant, along with the occasional recommendation from a friend. I don't think that I have ever eaten anywhere mentioned in a magazine article, for example -- anyway, those places are rarely in my price range.

In terms of Paris, most of the tourist traps are exactly where the tourists are. Yet, I see many of them writing about those places and loving them. After all, those are the restaurants that have engineered themselves to give the tourists EXACTLY what they want.

[hwinpp]

Not as aesthetic as your stuff, K2, but very tasty, French restaurant in Siem Reap:

[Jazz]

This is very interesting. Hwin, why don't you start your own thread(s) about Phnom Penh where you live? (in the Asian Branch) You could be our 'Asian correspondent'!...I think you are the only person here who lives in Asia. I have never been, would love to go, and certainly, would love to hear of your day to day life... perhaps why you chose to live there, the history, and whatever else intrigues you.

[hwinpp]

Ha, ha, no time, Jazz.
But I'll go on posting pics. I like the ease with which you can do it here.

[Deleted]

The return of the restaurant slates, 2010 edition...

[lagatta]

Quel(s) quartier(s)?

[Deleted]

Those were surrounding Les Halles in the 1st. The three below are in my neighborhood in the 18th.

[fumobici]

Sensory overload! ;D We could do a separate thread on each one. Most of these of these are familiar or at least are self explanatory, some leave me looking for a French-English dictionary. Almost all make me hungry.

Oddly perhaps, here in the PNW of the US blackboard specials aren't usually the most affordable but are where the chef/cook gets to showcase whatever fresh and exceptional seasonal ingredients are available and display some of his or her creativity beyond the narrow confines of the fixed menu. In fact here the blackboard specials are usually more expensive (and interesting as well) than the fixed menu items.

[bixaorellana]

As always, fascinating. Do you get hungry as you go around snapping the slates, Kerouac? Not only are these photos an interesting look at a food culture, they can simply be used to get ideas of what to cook at home. Thanks!

[Deleted]

When I see the offerings and the prices, my mind runs up and down my supermarket aisles and makes the same dishes in my head for 4€ (assuming I were not so lazy).

In my street...

[lagatta]

You also have all those Chinese and Vietnamese restos at Place de Torcy...

Yes, a lot of the Parisian lunchtime food is appetising, but it is very meat-heavy. I'm not remotely vegetarian, but I do crave more vegetable dishes and not always so much meat.

Is the couscous at that place any good? A lot of those cheap couscous places are nothing wonderful to put it mildly. I'm spoilt a bit by some Moroccan friends who make splendid couscous and tagines.

[Deleted]

A cheap couscous is a cheap couscous -- obviously. You can't look for gastronomy in a couscous at 7.50€. In any case, I have never eaten any couscous in my neighborhood.

As for the Asian restaurants, it's a shame they don't do restaurant slates, but their menus are the same every day!