Okay, as much as I love making food from the market, at some point I got a little tired of the fennel. So I felt like I needed something more substantial, some real French food.
So I went to a bar/restaurant in the neighborhood, La Fauvette, the other night.
I’m not sure why I continue to be just a little bit shocked at how inexpensive French food can be in France, even in Paris, but this is what I got for 38 euros (okay, I did also leave a 2-euro tip, which the waiter seemed somewhat surprised by — tipping is not obligatory in France by any means, though waiters in the center of Paris are sort of used to Americans overtipping).
A pint of beer, smoked herring with steamed potatoes, chicken breast in mushroom cream sauce with penne, a carafe of white wine, creme caramel (flan), and Armagnac brandy. And it was delicious. Especially the mushroom cream sauce, I could just lick that up.
I mean, this isn’t fancy food, by any stretch of the imagination, but it was delicious.
I knew I’d have to go back, and tonight I did. I started with salade de gesiers (salad with warm gizzards, probably chicken, possibly duck). Then on to a blanquette de veau with rice. Which was so good! All accompanied by a carafe of rose wine. And then finished with a tiramisu and an Armagnac. All for 31.50 euros. Okay, I left another 2-euro tip, which was probably excessive, but it was so damn good!
I’m really going to have to rein in the tipping, though. It seems a little off-putting to the waiters. 😀
Okay, I swear this blog isn’t just going to be about food, but I mean, it’s France, so it can’t NOT include the food.
Speaking of which, the chanterelle mushrooms (which, oddly enough, the French call girolles) in the markets are just looking amazing, so I’m thinking I’ll have to make something with a chanterelle cream sauce in the near future.
Also, the red kuri squash — which I thought were from Japan, but which the French call potimarrons, which I though was the word for pumpkins, though they’re clearly not — are just everywhere and looking beautiful. So I’m very excited to be able to make my kuri squash gratin once I have a proper kitchen. Which I’m hoping will be sometime soon.
A Simple Life in Paris 
It all looked delicious, albeit a bit meat centric for me. I am loving your posts, BTW. Have been meaning to give you a couple of places we loved when were there in 2019. Several of our friends have eaten at one of them, and they all loved it. The first is in Saint Germain des Pres “Fish La Boissonnerie”. Everyone raves about the roast chicken. There is an irresistible bar tender there!. The other place is Cafe Varenne in the 7th arrondissement. We later found out it is one of Ina Garten’s favorite places. We only found it since it was near out hotel. Anyway, bon appetit!
Thanks so much, Clark! I will definitely have to check those out!
that tiramisu looks like heaven – thanks for blogging, I really enjoy reading them
I just caught up on your posts – it is so fun to read along with your new adventure, Bill!
these stories and pictures are not helping contain my jealousy. keep them coming Bill !
Hope to see you and Jen join me in Paris soon!