Weekend in Paris.....where I ate and loved

Oh Paris. You were grey, you were rainy, you had panache, nonchalance, beauty and as always, a belle epoque chic AF glamour that can’t be replicated. From your residents to your sidewalk cafes, curated gardens and your metro signs. It oozes.

I have been to Paris many many times and never truly had a stand out meal. The best news is that this time and for this short little weekend hop across the channel, in addition to the glorious above…. I ate well. Not just in a “here’s a tasty croque Monsieur and green salad” way. Which is nothing to be sniffed at. But also not in a dicky 100 page wine tome, sea foams, liquorice mousses, clear the crumbs immediately from the table far too serious Michelin way. Which is all I have ever had previously in Paris.

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I put the shout out to you glorious MDD readers and got so many wonderful reccomendations (see the page over with all the reccomendations) https://www.mariadoesdelicious.com/post/paris-as-reccomended-by-mdd-followers

Here is a run down of the places I loved /visited

Friday dinner: Chez Janou.

The bar is GORGEOUS. Gorgeous. Smoky mirrors, warm yellow walls, great lighting. Fab to meet for a drink, it makes you feel like an absinthe and its 1920. The food however is very average and its also been discovered and very touristy. Apart from the chocolate mousse which is literally ridiculous, I would say- come for a drink in your party best and then move on to dine elsewhere.

Saturday morning: Cedric Grolet (Opera) for pastries.

A HUGE queue here for takeaway pastries and the beautiful drama and show of the creation of. We dutifully bought Pain au chocolat (which was amazing) and a pile of plain croissants to have with a cappucino. Amazing pastries- seriously good but its very Insta famous and I think you could do just as well with a local friendly boulangerie.

Saturday Lunch: Robert et Louis

Very rustic and fun, lots of meat smoking on open fires and traditional (quite heavy) French food. Roast potatotes, snails and meat meat meat. Very good good and SUPER reasonable and we had amazing staff. It was just pre a World Cup Rugby final so there were lots of very happy gents drinking red wine by the gallon and supping on large cuts of beef. Happy ruddy faces, warm fire vibes. Enjoyed it but it wasnt stand out food but a lot of fun.

Saturday dinner: Le Coq Rico.

LOVED it. Poulet done every which way. You are bought a menu which specialises in Chicken, chicken and more chicken. You literally choose which type of chicken you like and then it is bought to your table. We went for a beautiful organic little bird from Bresse. It is then perfectly roasted and paired with the most amazing fries and gravy and a crisp green salad. It is not cheap (roughly 85 Euro for a whole chicken) but that was plenty for the 3 Delicious family members. Literally the best fries I have ever had, cooked in all that lovely birdy fat. Great wine list, fabulous.

Sunday morning: Local boulangerie. Croissant, boiled egg and coffee. Happy place in a Parisian local cafe.

Sunday Lunch: Fontaine des Mars.

Gorgeous, classic French Bistro done right. This is the place you want when you visit Paris. I had the duck cassoulet which was a thing of beauty on a wintery November Sunday. (Note- there aren't that many places open on a Sunday in Paris but this is a total win). It's classic red leather benches, striped awning, professional waiters, white tablecloths, great house red in carafes. Thats the vibe. You will love it.

So those are the places we dined, drank and loved. Cant wait to hear more from you my wonderful MDD followers. Thank you!