Lunch with Yuriy and Katya

Yuriy and Katya are big fans of Eye Prefer Paris and in fact I have made Yuriy my official historian. Every time I am stumped for historical details, Yuriy seems to have the answer in spades with usually very detailed and lengthy information that I couldn't find myself.  Even when I don't ask, he always finds something extra about things and I have learned a lot from him.

Yuriy and Katya came to Paris a few weeks ago and they were so sweet to invite me to lunch. They said the restaurant would be my choice and didn't have to be under 20 euros, so I'm thinking the Ritz, Tour d'Argent, Taillevent, but I went easy on them and we went to Maitre Albert, the more casual restaurant by the big deal chef Guy Savoy.

We met in front of my apartment because they were staying close to me in the Marais and we hugged like old friends even though we had never met before. We chatted, chatted, chatted about our lives on the way to the restaurant and I learned that Yuriy and Katya moved from Moscow to the U.S. in 1998 and settled in central New Jersey. They both work in the medical profession and have two children, one in high school and one in college. Over lunch we compared stories about how we both adjusted to living in new places  and what the biggest challenges were. They were used to living in a big city and now live in a small community and they said it was sometimes hard to cope with small town mentality, for example, many people don't understand why they like coming to Paris so much. I shared my dilemmas with the French and we found we were very much on the same wavelength about our sensibilities, what we were passionate about, and of course, why we preferred Paris. Lunch was delicious and quite a steal for 3 courses for only 28 euros. We said our goodbyes after our wonderful lunch, hugging again, and Yuriy and Katya were off to the Pantheon.

It's always such a treat to meet my blog readers in person and the icing on the cake is knowing who they are in the world, plus knowing the faces behind the emails and comments they send.

Atelier Maître Albert
1, rue Maître Albert, 5th arr.

http://www.ateliermaitrealbert.com

 

Dessert- grapefruit terrine with tea sauce 

Dark chocolate fondant, crispy praliné, cacao sorbet and custard cream

Coming soon: Eye Prefer New York Tours

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

Comments

[Claudia B.]

How wonderful to see the face that goes with the name. I, too, share Yuriy's passion for researching interesting facts that go with your wonderful pictures. Thank you bringing us all a little closer together...to each other, you, and Paris!

[Helen]

Once again and always, positively delicious.

[Yuriy]

Richard, thanks a lot, you are my - ours - inspiration :) Looking forward to go back ASAP. Meanwhile, let's transport ourselves to the best of Paris as seen through your Eye (Prefer Paris).