Where I Eat in Paris
A master list from a non-master non-chef
Monicuddlers, I feel I may have accidentally stumbled on one of the most glaring differences between French people and the rest of us (aside from possibly Japan) with my last post. Absolutely riveted by the whole thing. My husband is in complete agreement with the grumpy lady, by the way.
The fundamental question, I guess, is which is ruder: a little volume-control issue or taking it upon yourself to tell a stranger off for it?
Anyway, love a friendly cultural showdown. An agreeable disagreement (emphasis on agreeable.) A comment-section Olympics. Starting to even love the sheer variety of creative intellectual ways Parisians find tell me off, so keep up the antics and jump in here.
In the meantime, let’s talk about something we can all agree upon. The French are hella good at restaurants. Duh. So after many requests here sit I, consolidating my list of favourite eateries around the city for you to speak quietly in. Or loudly, at your own risk.
I should caveat my list with two points. 1) I am the complete opposite of a food critic. Or chef for that matter. I can just about cook for my kids these days but throwing a dinner party involves about a month’s psyching myself up and panicked attention to recipe-detail for fear of kitchen fires etc. 2) This list is kinda Rive Gauche-centric because it’s where I live and I like walking places. I may need to call in a Rive Droite guest editor at some point to balance things out (Lauren Collins?) For now, here’s where I enjoy eating, drinking* and being merry.
*My key cafes in which to drink wine/ coffee/snack but not have an actual meal are here. Not the same thing, as any Parisian waiter will tell you.
OK. In no particular order, by category of whims…