I had been to Les Cotelettes a few years ago when they first opened and even though the food was good, I encountered a big problem with the service and haven't returned since. A new friend lives right across the street and is friendly with the owners and recommended that I give it another shot. Les Cotelettes offers a 16 euro formule for 2 courses at lunch and was close to my house, so I said why not.
The three owners of the restaurant all worked together for many years as waiters at the same restaurant in St Tropez and became a close knit family. They pooled their resources and talent for restaurants and opened Les Cotelettes three years ago on a quiet impasse off the rue St. Antoine in the Marais. The simply appointed, unassuming dining space is spacious but a little somber during the day, needing a little more lighting. We arrived at 12:30 and it was empty but by 1:15 it was completely filled with mostly French diners. I later learned they were regulars for the most part and I saw my local cheese monger having lunch.
The formule menu offered only two choices of each course. I chose the sauteed chicken livers over salad served with boiled potatoes as my entree. The livers were just the right consistency which is tricky because so many times they are overcooked and dry and the vinaigrette was the kind that's so good that it's always a mystery that you can never recreate it at home no matter how hard you try.
Lynn had the cumin scented dorade with sliced wonderfully buttery carrots and said it was crispy & moist. I very rarely eat rabbit but it was done fricasee style and I like almost anything fricasee style. It was served on the bone and was juicy and finger licking good as I devoured every morsel till the bones were completely stripped. The accompanying noodles were oh so buttery and slippery. We shared a dessert of a straightforward riz au lait topped with strawberry confiture and our spoons kept on bumping into one another as we rapidly dug our way to the bottom of the dish, savoring the creamy texture and sweet taste. The presentation in the china plates with the old fashioned patterns made the food feel like you were getting a home cooked meal that your mom just whipped up.
As we were dining, Lynn noticed a plaque on the wall with the writer Georges Simenon's name on it. Simenon was a prolific writer who turned out over 200 novels in his 86 years,and his most celebrated books were the wildly successful series of 75 novels and 28 short stories featuring Commissaire Maigret.
One of Lynn's favorite French writers is Simenon and much to her delight we found out from one of the owners that Simenon lived nearby and was a frequent patron of the restaurant that was there before.
Les Cotelettes proved itself worthy the second time around with good service and well-executed bistro fare. I will be return.
Les Cotelettes
4 impasse Guéménée, 4th. arr.
Metro: Bastille or St. Paul
Open for lunch Monday to Friday, dinner Tuesday to Saturday
Tel. 01 42 72 08 45
Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale
I am happy to announce the sale of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos. I am offering 17 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my courtyards, doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.
Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.
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 Charlotteís 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
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