OK, Sunday in the JDD, Herve Guenot published an article on the "paradoxe tenu," saying that the number of unemployed under 25 in the Ile de France rose 31.2% last year while French eating establishments lacked 15,000 employees, despite the fact that Paris is the #1 tourist destination in the world, generating 14.3 millions of Euros.
He gives the usual explanations: from the owners: there's a lack of professionalism, chewing gum while taking orders, not saying "Bonjour," but also from the applicants, that there's no future and there's no preparation between school and work environments.
In any case, this is a long-winded way of winding into my 3rd meal at Frenchie, where three of us had simple, inexpensive but quite fine food.
Firsts were a zippy gazpacho of cherries and a salade of melon with mache and bourtague (fish roe) - just fine.
Then my two lady companions had the salmon (that Colette deemed overcooked, but I thought was perfect and I usually like fish and meat more raw than she) and I had the lamb ragout on too many gnocchi for my diet.
We terminated with a cheese plate and two very delicious plates of fruit surrounded by what was essentially an uncooked creme brulee.
Our bill for three, with one bottle of exceptional Cotes du Rhone (disclosure: they did comp us to a bit more) and 3 coffees was 85.90 Euros. Thus per couple it's 57 Euros. Barely believable and I say in 1 year, he'll be in a new place with up to 60 covers charging 40 Euros. Pretty fair I say.
The point Dad, you were saying about the French Paradox II? Ah yes. The Chef needs help in the cuisine and the salle to adequately serve his absolutely full place; today again, he was turning folks away.
*The French Paradox I is of course (source Wikipedia) the observation that "the French suffer a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease, despite having a diet relatively rich in saturated fats."
14.3 millions of Euros?
you mean 14.3 billions?
Posted by: Chrisos | July 09, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Whoops, of course. Thanks.
Posted by: John Talbott | July 10, 2009 at 08:34 AM
We took your advice and went here last week and had a gorgeous meal. Nigel's lamb with the lemon puree was melting and the dessert of passion fruit tart and salty butter was just divine. WE has a chat with Greg afterwards and he recommended his brother-in-law's place L'office, which I see you too have found.
Posted by: Sally Ann | January 25, 2010 at 04:45 PM
Small (geographic) world eh?
Posted by: John Talbott | January 25, 2010 at 05:18 PM