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Post by lola on Oct 13, 2010 16:10:52 GMT
I'm pretty sure it's a US phenomenon. Heavy on the chocolate, light on the martini; cartoon version. We're not the Greatest Generation anymore, when they drank real martinis.
By the way, thanks, tod2, for your finds. I'll have a printout stuck in the guidebook on my next trip.
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Post by lagatta on Oct 13, 2010 23:00:27 GMT
I'm not into martinis - any more than I'm into joints; I'm a wino at heart - but I'd far sooner sip a real one slowly than drink something containing alcohol AND sweet chocolate. Instant migraine, that. I hate sweet beverages.
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Post by lagatta on Oct 21, 2010 14:55:37 GMT
I'm sure Lola's Marie-Claire is getting even more than she bargained for in terms of "Paris Experience" these days!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2010 18:13:29 GMT
Actually, Lyon is the city that is seeing the most agitation -- the most it has ever had, according to the French news reports. Paris is quite calm.
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Post by lagatta on Oct 21, 2010 23:13:18 GMT
Yes, I've heard about the unusually strong activity in Lyon. Just that Marie-Claire will be seeing some action (don't worry, Lola, these marches are safer than things after sporting events. There are a few people there to make trouble, but they show up later). Just not something one sees so much in the US Midwest these days.
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Post by lola on Oct 22, 2010 2:26:19 GMT
I guess my main concern is a pretty superficial one: she had wanted to get out and do some traveling around Italy and Spain, and the jet fuel shortage and train schedule disruption will make it trickier.
The chance to see democracy in action seems like a plus, really, and makes it an interesting time to be there.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2010 20:53:15 GMT
It looks like getting around will soon be easy again.
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LouisXIV
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L'estat c'est moi.
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Post by LouisXIV on Feb 19, 2011 16:54:27 GMT
bjd: I noticed you that you go to the market at rue d'Aligre. I was wondering if you have ever dined at La Table d'Aligre, behind the market and next to a small supermarket. www.latabledaligre.com/accueilI have had some great meals there in the past, but have not been there for a number of years. I see that they have finally made a web site and according to the web site a three course meal is about 20€. If I remember the last time I was there, maybe 6 years ago it was 23€. I wonder if the quality has gone down.
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Post by bjd on Feb 19, 2011 17:29:02 GMT
Louis, I usually eat at home when I'm in Paris! But I have often been past that restaurant -- on my way through the market or to the supermarket.
I don't imagine that quality has gone down -- it's quite a well-known place so they can't really afford to become lousy. I think you have to reserve tables if you want to eat in the evenings, so I would guess that the just dropped the price to attract customers. Don't forget too that the VAT went down on restaurant meals, although that wouldn't have made a 3€ difference.
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Post by Jazz on Feb 19, 2011 19:40:05 GMT
Louis, I had lunch there in 2007 and it was great! The food was delicious, excellent price and the owner was welcoming. It was a quiet day and we had a good conversation. This was one of my best days ever in Paris, I began at the Viaduc des Arts, walked here and explored the market, then had lunch.
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LouisXIV
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L'estat c'est moi.
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Post by LouisXIV on Feb 19, 2011 21:27:06 GMT
Thank you for getting back to me on this. I have recommended this restaurant to many people and I am happy to hear a good value in quality and price. Merci!
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Post by Jazz on Jun 12, 2011 20:01:28 GMT
Given that I am hoping to visit Paris for 3 weeks in October, I've been trying to be aware of where to eat. But, I confess, I usually just 'find' my special places. This site is unusually good, John Talbot has lived in Paris since the 50's and I like his approach. There is a wealth of info and is especially good if you go to his recommendations, arrondissment by arrondissement...see the left column, arr. by arr.: johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/There are also some very good recommendations on this site, not only for food, but for shopping etc.: Look through each quartier, www.doitinparis.com/paris-guide/archive/
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Post by zona on Jun 13, 2011 20:36:20 GMT
I love this thread! My husband and I will be renting an apartment w/kitchen, but still plan to eat out at some of the reasonably priced restos a couple times per week. The suggestions and links in this thread will be very helpful! A friend mentioned A Goût Dujour in the 15th, and the website/menu looks interesting www.au-gout-dujour.com/ ...has anyone tried this place?
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Post by tod2 on Jun 14, 2011 7:41:13 GMT
Zona - We have not eaten at A Gout Dujour but had a fabulous meal at another highly recommended place in 15th. I am giving you an extract from my Trip Report from last year:
Thursday 29th July. Explorations in the 15th...
Jumping on a bus around the corner we then change to the number 42 bus headed to Charles Michels. We were intending to have lunch in the area but long before that hour arrived I wantd to see a little of the 15th arr.
We got off the bus and headed to the large Monoprix. Maybe they would have the hair product I have so far unsuccessfully not been able to find. I don't, but their fish counter looks good! After looking around observing the locals at their daily lives, it's time for a cofee at Bistrot Linois before walking some more.
We make our way down Rue Lourmel towards 13 Rue Beatrix Dussane/ 16 Rue Lourmel, to the restaurant 'Le Volant'. All on it's own in a quite street, this locals only hideaway is as French as you can get. The theme of the decor is a sporting one but far from a Sports Bar/Cafe found today. Old photograhs of Georges JoJo Houel a past racing car driver, hug the walls. An attempt has been made to add a modern touch probably since Georges passed away in 2008. A few team jerseys, a flag or two and of all things, a vuvuzella! That really surprised me, but I guess the recent World Cup snuck in here in quite a big way. We do not have a reservation but that's no problem and we are guided to a delightful spot in a corner. The menu is quite extensive but I have one thing on my mind and it's Boeuf Bourguignon. This is the house speciality and I'm here to see if it can beat the one I had some years back at a teeny place in rue Francs Bourgeois quite near the Musee Carnavalet.
Well, it doesn't disappoint and is served with three accompaniments. One pot of mashed potatoe, one of rice, and one of a creamy sort of couscous/grits - I hope someone can jolt my memory as to what it could have been. It's OK, but I think an acquired taste. But what can a person say about French mash except it's divine! So was the beef. Dark rich chunks just falling apart at the touch. In the sauce little button mushrooms - and on top of the portion, some crispy bacon.
Oh wow! That was a lunch and a half! Far too much food ( maybe not for some of the well proportioned gentlemen at other tables) one of which was quite an important person the waiter confided as we left - the boss of some important sporting organisation in Paris, but I am not sure. The bourguignon was 16 euros each, my house wine 7.50 & a coke 3.50. Total bill: 41 euros.
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Post by zona on Jun 15, 2011 18:04:37 GMT
Thank you Tod2 for the recommendation. "Le Volant" will surely go on "le list" (actually a spreadsheet) that is getting longer by the day. Your thorough report set my stomach rumbling for sure! And the best part... We leave tomorrow for Naples...then Paris on the 27th...can't wait!
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Post by Kimby on Jun 15, 2011 18:11:29 GMT
If you drive in Naples, zona, are you aware that traffic signals in that part of Italy are suggestions only?
Never assume that because you have the green light you are clear to enter an intersection!
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Post by zona on Jun 15, 2011 22:43:21 GMT
;D Thanks for the advice Kimby. Luckily my sister and brother-in-law have been living there 6 mos and have offered to chauffeur. So we won't have to drive while we're there -- but it is also good to know just for walking around...if there are no rules, better to assume that pedestrians don't have the right-of-way!
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Post by Kimby on Jun 16, 2011 17:52:14 GMT
That's a very good corollary to my rule, zona. You don't want your tombstone to read "But I had the right of way!"
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2011 18:45:48 GMT
When I drive in Paris early on a Sunday morning, I always assume until I have checked it with my own eyes that maniacs not yet finished with their Saturday night might be barrelling down the cross street with no attention to traffic signals. More than once (at least in the old days), I was right.
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Post by Jazz on Aug 30, 2011 22:29:32 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Aug 31, 2011 1:05:21 GMT
Oh Jazz, I'm so happy to hear from you!
These sound like restaurants I've actually been to - and I wonder (transcription) whether it is actually "Le verre volé" (the stolen glass) or "Le verre vole" (the Flying glass - as if someone is throwing it at an adversary)... Frig the glass, we are opting for a bottle - I could eat there for the 52 € or less, no dessert, rat poison or not.
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Post by sojoh on Aug 31, 2011 19:37:09 GMT
I've been trying to get my hands on a copy of the Ethnic Paris Cookbook ever since I moved to Paris and heard so many positive reviews. The only problem is that it seems to be out of print and isn't sold at any of the bookstores in Paris or online. After reading your comments, I'm going to order a second hand copy of it from one of the vendors on Amazon. Thanks for your enthusiastic review!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2011 20:03:52 GMT
I have a copy of it, thanks to Jazz -- it's great!
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Post by lagatta on Sept 1, 2011 0:16:57 GMT
So do I, one of the most thoughtful gifts ever!!!! (Kisses to Jazz).
A bonus is that pretty much all the ethnicities in the book have also migrated to Montréal ... I can easily source the ingredients. Hell, where I live I can source almost all of them on foot (except for a limited supply of Japanese stuff - the best shops for that are a bit farther away).
Right now I'm eating some baba ganoush (eggplant dip or spread) from Chez Apo Beyrouth-Eravan, a tiny shop near me run by very elderly Armenian-Lebanese (there are also Armenian minorities in Israel, Syria, Jordan and other Levantine places). Honestly I wonder what will happen when these lovely people die or are simply to frail to run it any more. They do have help - I've seen Latin-American and South Asian people working there recently - but there aren't a lot of places where you can get an EXCELLENT lamajoune (very thin Armenian pizza with a bit of spicy meat, onions, other veg finely chopped) for $1 Cdn. And the rest of their marvels.
This is obviously thread drift from "Paris", but what the hell...
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Post by Jazz on Sept 2, 2011 3:20:20 GMT
Lagatta, each time I read any of your food posts, I think that you are living in a most special area and, that you are a fantastic cook and one who truly appreciates food. So happy that you and Kerouac like the Ethnic Paris cookbook. When I first saw it, after I returned from Paris, you and Kerouac were the first two people that I thought of.
Sojoh, Please, get the book, used or otherwise. I've ordered about 10 different used books from Amazon (either in 'very good', or 'good' condition) and they have all been in mint condition. One, the Eyewitness French Cheeses book cost only .01 cent (!) plus $7. shipping---like new, and, excellent!!!)
Just recently I've discovered your delightful blog and am slowly working my way through it. Love it! Given the 'sense' of you that comes through, I think that you would enjoy the book.
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Post by Jazz on Sept 2, 2011 4:45:53 GMT
Ok. Back to basics, eating. And on this thread, eating in Paris. I can't help myself, even though with each trip I religiously compile lists of cafes and restaurants to go to, in great detail, by arrondissement, price level etc.etc. (most of which I never go to, but find delightful alternatives), but I still make the lists. Perhaps I just love looking at their sites, reading the menus...? last night I became entranced by the mussels menu at Leon de Bruxelles... Some that interest me, god knows why since they are all in in arrondissements that I doubt I'll spend much time in this visit: Au Bon Saint Pourcain, 6th.Arrondissement, lateamlejal.free.fr/siteabsp/index.htmlLe Cafe des Lettres, (in the 7th!) www.doitinparis.com/weekend-getaway/literary-cafe-paris-7164/Huitrerie Regis, (6th).....oysters! huitrerieregis.com/
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Post by sojoh on Sept 2, 2011 7:11:37 GMT
Jazz, I've been to Huitrerie Regis! It's a tiny little place with a friendly atmosphere. Because of the close proximity of the tables, we ended up talking with the other diners and having a great time. I'll definitely order a copy of the "Ethnic Paris Cookbook". The only thing that was holding me back was the cost of the international postage but I just realized that I can have it shipped to my daughter in Boston. It's a shame that they aren't still selling it at any of the bookstores in Paris. It sounds like a really good one. And thanks for your kind comment about my blog.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2011 11:52:48 GMT
Sojoh -- why not just get it from amazon.fr ("livres en anglais" section)?
1. The Ethnic Paris Cookbook de Charlotte Puckette et Olivia Kiang-Snaije (Relié - 21 novembre 2007) 1 neuf à partir de EUR 40,38 6 d'occasion à partir de EUR 11,81
Extrait – "... 250 THE ETHNIC PARIS COOKBOOK C~!-OSS~IZY This glossary includes ..." En savoir plus
2. The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (Relié - 30 avril 2010) 1 d'occasion à partir de EUR 3,78
Extrait – "... ~ '11 2-5O THE ETHNIC PARIS COOKBOOK 651`1I-055AKY This ..." En savoir plus
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Post by sojoh on Sept 4, 2011 9:35:54 GMT
Sojoh -- why not just get it from amazon.fr ("livres en anglais" section)? Thanks, Kerouac. I'll have to look at Amazon.fr again. If I remember correctly, most of the sellers for the used copies of the cookbook are located in the States so I was trying to save on the international postage. I'll look again to see if there is a seller in France.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2011 9:56:59 GMT
When I order English language books from Amazon, they nearly always are shipped from the UK.
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