Eating and drinking
Restaurants, markets, bakeries and what to order.
Food Tours of Paris: A Different Kind of Tourism
Here’s an open secret: Paris vacations aren’t like other vacations. Normally, when you book a holiday you go by what there is to see and do in that destination.
An Open Letter to Jaded Foodies: You'll Always Have Paris
Every year, France tops the list of the world’s most visited countries. The numbers for 2009 are astonishing - there were 74.2 million international tourist arrivals to France - almost 10 million…
In Paris, It's All About the Food
Close your eyes and think of Paris. Block out the Eiffel Tower, and what do you see?
Tipping in Paris: Rules for Restaurants, Taxis, Hotels & More
One of the questions travelers often forget to look up before they're faced with a bill is what the tipping customs are in the place they're visiting.
Best Cafes in Paris for People-Watching
Paris routinely makes those "best places to people-watch" lists, and it's easy to see why.
Best Paris Blogs: travel advice, ex-pat, food and photos
The internet is an immense and valuable resource that can help you find the answers to virtually any Paris and France travel-related question from “ where can I find the best duck confit in Paris ,”…
Wine Tasting in France
France is host to some of the most beautiful wine producing regions in the world. Almost everyone has heard of the French wine regions Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, Chablis, and Rhone.
Paris Food Markets
A tradition since the Middle Ages, the many open-air food markets around Paris are bursting with fresh produce, cheeses, meats and other delicious looking edibles and seasonal foods.
Paris Flea Markets
For antique lovers, deal finders and shoppers of all kinds, the immense flea markets of Paris are a treasure trove of unique finds, quirky items, one-of-a-kind junk and cherished treasures you are…
Figuring Out a Daily Food Budget for Paris
Whether you're traveling to Paris for the very first time and you're on a student's budget or you're making your umpteenth visit to the City of Light and you've got more money to spend, you're…
Swine Flu in Paris
As of today (May 4,'09) there are four reported cases of swine flu in Paris. (One couple had recently returned from a trip to Mexico). The buzzword here is 'serenity and vigilance'.
Eating on the Cheap in Paris
After airfare and lodging, one of your biggest daily expenses in Paris could easily be meals.
Paris Restaurants to Drop VAT from 19.6% to 5.5%
In case you hadn't heard the good news, eating out in Paris is about to get cheaper - much cheaper - thanks to a reduction in the VAT .
Paris Fashion at the St. Ouen Flea Market
Just before Paris Spring '09 fashion week, last Sunday's flea market hosted a vintage fashion show in the Marche Dauphine.
Solid Gold: Holiday Treats at Duty-Free CDG
Did I say solid gold? We can dream. It's solid chocolate, not solid gold - and at 3 Euros per 'coin' this makes a fine souvenir from France for either Christmas stocking stuffers or Chanukah 'gelt'.
Best Restaurants in Paris: David Lebovitz's favorite places to eat
For most people, one the most important (or the only) reason to come to France is to eat.
Favorite French Christmas Treats: Oysters
Granted, oysters are an acquired taste. Your first encounter with an oyster may seem more like meeting up with an extraterrestrial, but more often than not, these slippery, squishy crustaceans have a…
Favorite French Christmas Treat: Noel Beer
Alcoholic beverages of all sorts grace the holiday tables in French homes, but I was surprised to see Noel beer being advertised in one of Paris's supermarket flyers.
December 1st! French Treats to ring in the Holiday Season
No diamonds. No gold baubles. Just chesnuts, please! Remember that guy who was so hopelessly in love that he spent the twelve days of Christmas thinking of bigger and better gifts to impress his 'own…
Christmas Markets in Paris
Some, but not all of the Christmas markets have opened in Paris. Two of the biggest markets this year can be found at La Defense Esplanade and The Champs Elysees Rond Pont .
Thanksgiving Day in Paris: How long can I procrastinate?
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day - and we've planned absolutely nothing. No turkey, no pumpkin pie, no cranberry sauce.
What to Eat in Paris in the Fall: Champignons
When mornings turn brisk in Paris, there's nothing more pleasing than the scent of a 'pot au au feu' or pot roast simmering on the range, but the Fall season also sends us out to the countryside in…
Where to Eat Near Montparnasse: Plan B
When it comes to finding a good, inexpensive restaurant around Montparnasse, with good ambiance - you may not have the time or energy when you're jet-lagged and hungry.
French food: UNESCO World Heritage Worthy?
No one would disagree that the world would be a pretty dismal place without French cuisine, but last February President Nicolas Sarkozy came up with a brainstorm : Why not declare French cuisine a…
Paris October Highlights - Fast Cars & Hot Chocolate
If you haven't already booked your hotel rooms, book quickly! This year's International Auto Show which starts in Paris in October and runs the 4th through the 9th in 2008 will cause reasonably…
French wine harvest
Yes, in Paris we drink a LOT of wine, and every once in a while I'm humbled. You may remember that in a past post, I gave a 'High Five Rating' to Kristin Espinasse's French Word-a-Day blog.
Late Night Paris Restaurants: Le Quinze
Described as a 'neo-traditional' restaurant, Le Quinze transcends categorization. 'Branché' i.e.
Internet Cafes in Paris
Stopping into an internet cafe at various points during a trip is becoming more and more common for most travelers, regardless of age or whether or not they'd consider themselves really tech-y.
Cheap Places to Eat in Paris - Paris Blog's 10 Favorite
Parisgirl’s dining preferences have changed along with the current exchange rate between the Euro and the dollar.
Sitting Pretty: Best Cafe for Watching the Tour de France arrive
It's not too early to start staking out your spot for the triumphant arrival of the Tour de France in Paris.
A Great American: Founding Father and Wine Enthusiast-Thomas Jefferson
Happy 4th of July! In celebration of the 4th of July, I’m spending the day reading The Billionaire’s Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace.
Most Expensive French Wines
French cuisine and French wines are world-famous, there's no denying it. And while most of us are quite content to order the house red in a Parisian cafe, knowing it'll still be better than most…
Weirdest French Food
(Photo from Restaurant Moncourrier , Avenue Gambetta, Ussel/Correze) French chefs are world famous for their mastery of sauces, desserts and their ingenious presentation, but French cooking can also…
Two Great Restaurants, Two Great Neighborhoods
No two Paris neighborhoods could be more different - the 1st arrondissement on the Right Bank and the 13th arrondissement on the Left Bank, but after having spent several hours yesterday and today in…
The Best Ice Cream in Paris: Berthillon
When you're in Paris and you're heading for the islands in the middle of the Seine River, your first and most logical landmark and "must-see" is (of course) Nôtre-Dame .
Review: Pudlo France 2008-2009
Pudlo France 2008/2009 By Gilles Pudlowski Publisher: The Little Bookroom Price:$29.95 Foodies who’ve been following in Gilles Pulowski’s ‘foodsteps’ with his past Pudlo guides to Paris restaurants…
Five Great Ways to Meet Gorgeous French Guys & Girls
Don't miss our tips on how to impress a French girl , either! 1. Take a train trip. Book a reservation in a compartment rather than the aisle seating which is much more conducive to talking.
Best Eclair in Paris
Recently, while walking along Rue Montorgueil in the 2nd arrondissement, I couldn't pass by the Stohrer bakery without dropping in. This is not your ordinary bakery.
Dining Alone in Paris
Dining alone is not much fun – even, and especially if you happen to be in the most romantic city in the world. You’ll note that the French love to eat together.
Vegetarian Chic: La Victoire Supreme du Coeur
The name of the restaurant is enticing - The Supreme Victory of the Heart. Its new location on Rue Bourg Tibourg in the 4th arrondissement is perfect for people-watching.
St. Germain des Près: Wine Bar & Bistro
The best way to find the best places to while away a Monday afternoon in Paris is to wander aimlessly. This is one of my specialties - frittering away time (at least now I can call it research!).
Restaurants Open on Sunday in Paris
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2008 Sundays in Paris. Here's another example of when your trusty restaurant guidebook isn't worth the dollars, the Euros or the luggage space you used to bring it along.
French Comfort Food: Blanquette de Veau
It may be springtime in Paris, but there's still a crispness in the air and you're likely to find a 'blanquette d veau' or veal stew on the menu at your local cafe or brasserie.
Comfort Food in France: Couscous
Prepare to be shocked. I think it's safe to say that we may be the only couple - EVER in the history of gourmet dining in Paris - to cancel a reservation (made six months in advance) at the Tour…
Merde, Maupassant, & Other Acceptable Dinner Topics
Although ‘merde’ may sound like a cross between Tuesday and Wednesday (mardi and mercredi), it really means ‘shit’.
Paris Chocolate Bars: Hot chocolate nirvana for less than 2 Euros
You've been walking all day and you need a serious energy boost. Recently I wrote a post about chocolate bars, and praised A La Duchesse Anne where a cup of hot chocolate can be had for 2.90 Euros.
Quick Carbo-loading before the Paris Marathon
At 7.90 Euros, this Pasta Arrabiata is delicious and affordable! Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2008 Pasta Break 53 Rue Montparnasse 75014 01 43 27 60 79 You may want to join the throng at the Paris…
Satellit Cafe
Blick Bassy and his 'équipe -complètement sympathique' Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2008 Those of you who were there last night for th Blick Bassy concert know!
Best Hot Chocolate in Paris for the Best Price
A La Duchesse Anne Montparnasse Call me old-fashioned but part of the pleasure of sipping a hot chocolate in Paris is savoring the cozy setting of a real 'salon du the', not the latest trendy…
How Much does a Gourmet Meal Cost in Paris?
$60 per person. And up. $136 per person at the Grand Vefour (88 Euros for the lunch menu -not including wine) $170 per person at the Jules Vernes (Eiffel Tower) (110 Euros for the lunch menu…
Romantic Dining in Paris that you can afford
News Art Cafe/Salad bar. An intimate respite from Montparnasse traffic (just around the corner from Avenue du Maine on Rue de l'Ouest) All you can eat salad bar with exotic ambiance, great music, and…
How to find a typically French restaurant in Paris
The answer is not simple. After years of visiting France, I've come to this conclusion.
Dining a la Jet Lag - Part 2
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2008 In the Latin Quarter . . . You had every good intention of picking out a typically French bistro.
Jet Lag Relief: Cheap Meals at Strange Hours
If you're converting dollars to Euros, the news is grim. We 've spent the last few days scouting out restaurants in traditionally inexpensive neighborhoods - the Latin Quarter and Montparnasse, and…
Paris Blog's Favorite Paris Restaurants
What makes a meal memorable, particularly in Paris? Obviously, the Michelin star system will be the guiding light if you're a tried and true 'foodie', but for many Paris visitors, a restaurant does…
How Parisians Stay Thin
You would think with the vast number of bakeries, candy shops and specialty foods that the average Parisian would be hefty, but the typical Parisian is trim. Want to know some of their secrets?
What's Cookin for Christmas?
It's one thing to read recipes for French cuisine, but what's going to be served up on the tables this Christmas?
Everything's Coming Up Chestnuts
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 One of the simple pleasures of Christmas in Paris is the prevalence of chestnuts in holiday recipes and Christmas treats.
French Gourmet Christmas Treats
Christmas is the sweetest time of year in Paris, and even if you can't make it across the pond, Paris gourmet treats can make their way to your doorstep.
Talking Turkey in Paris
If you've been in Paris for longer than a few weeks, holidays like Thanksgiving might be just the thing that trigger 'culture shock'.
Korean cuisine in Paris
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 Parisian bakeries in Seoul, South Korea and royal Korean cuisine in Paris. It sounds like a good exchange.
Wine, Wooing and Song: Bel Canto
You can still enjoy opera in Paris without ever setting foot in the L'Opera de Paris. Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 Bel Canto 72 quai de l'Hotel de Ville 75004 Metro: Pont Marie Tel.
La Truffade - When it's Cold in Paris
It's a Monday night in Paris, but it could just as well be a Saturday night. Le Plomb du Cantal , 3 Rue de la Gaite is jampacked at 9 pm.
Paris via Seoul, Korea
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 No matter how far one gets from Paris, one is never too far from a baguette and the Eiffel Tower - so we discovered in our circuitous return to France.
Create a Travel Rumor, Win Tickets on Lufthansa
What are some of the rumors you've heard about Paris that made you want to visit? That it's romantic? That the pastries are the best in the world?
Where do you eat in Paris?
"You know they think we're all dips, that is, the Parisians, about the Americans." This isn't my comment - it's the observation of an American recently returning to the US - an American whose…
The Calf's Head Update
Somehow eating Calf's head isn't the first thing that comes to mind when I'm looking for a quick snack in Paris - it's really more of a Normandy specialty and that's where you're more likely to see…
Fun French Food
Part of the fun of going to France is trying food that you might not necessarily try in your home country: i.e.
More Paris Cafe Drinks for Hot Summer Nights
Okay, so the waiter at one of the Rue Mouffetard cafes told me " Mojitos have been around forever," which is true, especially if forever begins in the 1980s, but according to Wiki, there's been a…
Paris Cafe Drinks: What to Order
You aren't officially Parigot until you can sit in a cafe and sip your expresso for an hour. Here are some summertime options: Un citron presse.
Paris Restaurants Plus Music, Plus Happy Hour
Finding a Parisian restaurant that's open on Mondays can be a challenge - finding one that's good, reasonably priced and is offering an intro to its wine list - and at half price - well that sounds…
Favorite Places to Hang Out in Cafes:
We are creatures of habit in this city. These are some of the places we like to hang out: Any of the cafes at the Edgar Quinet Metro stop: Cafe de la Paix, Cafe Odessa, Cafe de la Liberte.
Paris Restaurant Guides: Pudlo in English
2007-2008 Pudlo Paris by Gilles Pudlowski, English translation: Simon Beaver, The Little Bookroom publisher, New York, Restaurant Guide in English 417 pages, $19.95 12.99 UK.
Romantic Paris Restaurants: Summer Dining in Paris: Stake out your spot!
In the past, Parisians may have stampeded out of the city in July and, particularly in August, but in recent years the city has done its best to lure residents back with a plethora of festivals,…
Weird Restaurants in Paris
A restaurant where you can drink your cocktail on the top of a Formula 1 motor? A restaurant that has goldfish in its toilets?
Creperie Row on Rue Montparnasse
We tried out one of the creperies opposite Chez Josselin on Rue Montparnasse Metro: Edgar Quinet simply because I've noticed on www.oumanger.com that there had been some negative reviews of Chez…
Vegetarian and Almost Vegetarian Restaurants in Paris
This sweet and sour salad is 'almost' vegetarian with little bits of chicken for the person who is quite ready to go 'cold turkey' vegetarian.
Vegetarian Restaurants in Paris: Montparnasse
Eggplant, seared leeks, and goat cheese roll-ups Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 Rather than trek over to the Marais, we could have walked right around the corner to the Backstage Cafe at 31 Rue de…
Vegetarian Restaurants in Paris
I'm always on the look-out for good veggie restaurants in Paris - just in case my vegetarian sister if makes it back to Paris, and if she's reading this post today, (yes, of course you will!), so to…
In St. Germain-des-Pres
Blogging has made me bold - maybe too bold sometimes, but I'm much likely to strike up conversations in cafes or restaurants with neighboring tables especially if people look a little bored.
Is the chef French in a French restaurant?
Last night we took a walk over to St.Germain-des-Pres which is one of our favorite places to take an evening stroll and pop into a restaurant for a casual dinner.
Know your meters and your liters
When you belly up to the bar in France, it helps to know your metric measures - and I'm not talking poetry.
Pizza Roma
What is it about a pizza joint? No matter where you go in the world, from Paris to Tonga, there's something reassuring about pizza.
Mousse au Chocolat
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 One of the 'simplest' and best desserts you can order while in Paris is a 'mousse au chocolat'. It's light but rich at the same time.
The latest French diet Fad? Flax-fed animals/Omega 3
Today's Aujourd'hui reports that in a 160 person study sponsored by the Blue, White Heart label (Bleu, Blanc, Coeur), one of the 80 participants eating a flax-based diet lost 14 kg (which would be…
French Lesson: Did you catch yesterday's mistake?
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2006 Did any astute Paris Blog readers catch yesterday's mistake?
The Simple Things in Life: A Petit Pot de Creme
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 In France, the word ‘little’ is very big – ‘a little favor’ - ‘a little hello’. And there’s the ‘petit pot de crème’.
Cool Paris Restaurants/French food sites
In composing yesterday's restaurant list, Places to Eat in Paris , of a few of our favorites, I came across some helpful sites if you happen to be in Paris: Restoaparis.com lists restaurants…
Places to Eat in Paris
Here it is - as promised! Places to Eat Around Town: Although La Defense's McCafe didn't make my list, you have to admit, it looks pretty good for McDonalds.
Weather Update
Forget yesterday's rain hat warning. Not a sign of a cloud in the sky today even though everyone was getting a whiff of rain in the air yesterday . . .
Hotel Advice from Thackery
For as long as tourists have been visiting Paris, writers far more talented than this blogger have been giving advice about how to pick out a good hotel - what is truly amazing though, when you're…
Good Reasons to Rethink Dining In -in Paris, or Elsewhere
Chris says that the next apartment we find will have the kitchen and the office in the same space. Blogging and cooking cannot be done simultaneously - trust me on this!
Car-Sharing in Paris
Le Figaro newspaper's, Charles Gautier reports today that the parking garage behemoth - Vinci Parc and Avis will join forces to provide short-term rentals (from a few hours to one day's use) on a…
Jonathan Littell - Having Your Gateau and Eating it Too
It's interesting to see how French newspapers and English-speaking newspapers chose to report the American-born author's decision to become a French citizen.
Year of the Pig in Paris
Angelique leads the dance. The third women with the chicken fingers is Chris. One of the seated guests was trying to coach me about the hand movements for this dance but - it's kind of like kareoke -…
Valentine's Day Dinner-The Day After
www.mikegeno.com/fork%20n%20knife.html Lemmings. What is it about February 14th? If you are reading this after having come home from dinner at a jam-packed restaurant - the reservations had to be…
Breakfast in Paris
Breakfast used to be café au lait, hot chocolate or tea with buttered and toasted baguettes sliced in half (called tartines on occasion).
Guide to French Restaurant Menus - Deciphering Bite by Bite
(c) 2006 Chris Card Fuller In today's earlier entry , I talked about the basic layout of ‘la carte’ or the menu.
Paris Restaurants: Deciphering Menus Bite by Bite
(c) 2006 Chris Card Fuller When Bill and Mary came to France, we took them to restaurants we knew and liked. Most of these places didn’t have menus that had been translated into English.
Bringing in your New Year with a little bit of bubbly
You may be in a quandary about WHICH of the many fine champagnes to choose when you're in Paris.