I’ve loved Paris from the time I saw and read the Hunchback of Notre Dame as a child. And I’ve had the fortune of going there every year sometimes twice to head back to my favourite haunts and live vicariously through good friends who live there. I haven’t given up yet and am still dreaming of the day we will live in Paris…
So, here’s my list of good eats, inspired by a recent Affordable Paris Eats post by my dear Mexican friend and former Macau eating and walking partner, the lovely Heidi of Aromas y Sabores with stunning photography on her blog that makes you want to pack your bags pronto and head out on your next adventure.
The web is full of lots of wonderful tips from blogs of expats living in Paris, like David Lebovitz, Lost in Cheeseland and Pret à Voyager, an amazing American graphic designer based in Paris whom I took a map making course with on Skillshare. And Ruth Reichl also has an amazing list.
My list here is mostly our regular haunt with intelligence from a French chef other half who used to work in Paris – and his favourite usual haunts with new tip offs from his Paris-based chef friends.
1. Fauchon as mentioned by in Heidi’s blog is our annual mandatory stop for patisserie, cheese and all sorts of wonderful gourmet things.
26 Place De La Madeleine, 75008 Paris
2. KGB – Kitchen Galerie Bis, the younger sibling of better known Ze Kitchen Galerie with a range of wonderful simple food that don’t disappoint. A great review on Timeout Paris here.
25 Rue des Grands Augustins, 75006 Paris
3. Ma Bourgogne. Great classic beef tartares (with capers) and lovely escargots and sole smacked right at Place Vosage for a strategic spot of people watching.
4. Felicity Lemon. Named after the character in the Agatha Christie Novel, the 20eme is becoming an increasingly hip. Here you’ll find tapas meets cantine fare at fair prices (50€ for two)
1-9 Rue Denoyez, 75020 Paris, France
5. Telescope in the 1eme, a cool hip spot for a lovely cuppa. Need I say more?
6. Eclectic this lovely restaurant just opened 3 months ago in the 15eme Métro: Charles Michels close by a brand new mall complex and serves up delicious fare. Service is still slow and spotty, but the food speaks volumes and I can’t wait for them to be fully in momentum.
The decor is design skewed and fits with its adjective name – without the pretentious vibe. There’s also some Asian inspired creativity going on and after a full week of eating truffles, I opted for a tom yam cod that tasted nothing like tom yam, but lightly curry spiced and cooked a perfect texture.
7. Maison L’aubrac where chefs go to eat. The 24/7 steak house serves up quality cuts if you’re in search of some late night food after too much to drink.
Lastly, on my Paris bucket list is this 5 from Bon Appétit which hopefully we get to try the new -old classics, including Chez George one of Julia Child’s favourite haunts.