A FAQ is whether I cook in the evening after my main meal at lunch and I launch into a long digression about how I baked as a child when my father went off to war, cooked in college for my humor magazine and prepared elaborate dinners in graduate school for my roommates and wife-to-be. Then stumbling and mumbling I say something about it being easier in Paris to pick up some chicken at my rotisseur, sausage at the Italian traiteur or morsels at the Galeries Lafayette or Bon Marche than to cook something elaborate from scratch, especially if I’m eating alone. More often than not, though, I am looked out for by a guardian angel or somesuch who places food in my face just before I need it. Examples.
Last week, after returning from 10 days in the States, I went to a restaurant in my quartier (Sens Uniques) and as I walked down the street (Damremont) recalled that both best baguette of the year 2007, Arnaud Delmontel, and Chez Virginie, on most “best of” fromagerie lists, were right there. So a baguette, a St Marcellin (that I’d heat to fondu it) and a mountain cheese (that I’d raclette a day later) and I was set for two evenings.
Then a few days later, after a quick trip to Geneva, I was at a real (by real I mean everything didn’t come from that big central Chinese kitchen that I imagine all the traiteurs get their stuff in the window from) Chinese place (Mirama) on the rue St Jacques. Midway through the lunch that had been ordered by a real Chinese lady member of our party, she told us they even supplied take-out to the Elysee. ‘Ohhhh, would they treat me as well as the President of the Republic?” “Sure, I’ll order the Singapore rice noodles for you.” Another two nights taken care of.
Then yesterday after lunch at Le 122, I was walking down Bellechasse and passed a place (Saveurs et Co.) with luscious stuff in the window, kept walking, reversed direction, walked inside and saw some really good looking quiches (5 or 6 different): got the Savoyarde; two more nights.
To visit:
Chez Virginie
54 Rue Damrémont, 75018
Delmontel
57 Rue Damrémont, 75018 or 39, rue des Martyrs
Mirama
17, rue Saint Jacques, 75005
Saveurs & Co.
38 Rue Bellechasse, 75007
Last week, after returning from 10 days in the States, I went to a restaurant in my quartier (Sens Uniques) and as I walked down the street (Damremont) recalled that both best baguette of the year 2007, Arnaud Delmontel, and Chez Virginie, on most “best of” fromagerie lists, were right there. So a baguette, a St Marcellin (that I’d heat to fondu it) and a mountain cheese (that I’d raclette a day later) and I was set for two evenings.
Then a few days later, after a quick trip to Geneva, I was at a real (by real I mean everything didn’t come from that big central Chinese kitchen that I imagine all the traiteurs get their stuff in the window from) Chinese place (Mirama) on the rue St Jacques. Midway through the lunch that had been ordered by a real Chinese lady member of our party, she told us they even supplied take-out to the Elysee. ‘Ohhhh, would they treat me as well as the President of the Republic?” “Sure, I’ll order the Singapore rice noodles for you.” Another two nights taken care of.
Then yesterday after lunch at Le 122, I was walking down Bellechasse and passed a place (Saveurs et Co.) with luscious stuff in the window, kept walking, reversed direction, walked inside and saw some really good looking quiches (5 or 6 different): got the Savoyarde; two more nights.
To visit:
Chez Virginie
54 Rue Damrémont, 75018
Delmontel
57 Rue Damrémont, 75018 or 39, rue des Martyrs
Mirama
17, rue Saint Jacques, 75005
Saveurs & Co.
38 Rue Bellechasse, 75007
It was Chirac, not Sarko...
Posted by: Parigi | February 14, 2012 at 02:58 PM
I fixed.
Posted by: John Talbott | February 14, 2012 at 04:20 PM
Had me worried. I didn't want you to get a reply from the Elysée: "Est-ce que j'ai une tête de nouille singapourienne ?"
Posted by: Parigi | February 15, 2012 at 01:04 PM