Ever since Lynn moved to the Latin Quarter, she has discovered a plethora of inexpensive restaurants. She suggested a lively and crowded restaurant near her, Foyer Vietnam. It was best to arrive early she said and we should get there no later than 12:30. I was running late that day and Lynn held the table till I got there about 1PM.
The restaurant was full with people waiting to get in and Lynn was fiercely protecting my spot. I could see why: It was a no-nonsense Vietnamese restaurant with cheap prices and authentic, good quality food. We ordered the 3-course formule for 13.50 euros.
I started with the tangy, fresh Goi Ga/chicken salad, with cold chicken, crispy bean sprouts, cabbage, and slivered carrots with a pile of fresh mint on top. It had just enough dressing to make it flavorful without drowning it. My main course/plat was Bún chả giò, shredded beef and nems/spring rolls on a bed of rice noodles topped with peanuts, served in a deep white bowl. The nems were crispy without being the least bit greasy and I could here them crunching when I bit into them. Usually I find the portions at Asian restaurants puny and I am hungry and craving more when I leave, but the portion was so big I could hardly finish it. The beef was tender and chewy with aromatic spices. Lynn had squid and onions in a brown sauce and said it was good but a little tough, although she finds squid in general a little tough. Dessert was a trio of thin slices of candied ginger, small butter cookies, and those jelly candies with the sesame seeds on the outside. They were a light, sweet finish to the spicy courses before. The service was a little harried but efficient.
Foyer Vietnam may not be the most romantic setting or the ideal place to have a long lunch, but what it lacks in atmosphere it makes up for in the food. I can live without French fussy sometimes, and sometimes with my hectic schedule, I like to get in and out quickly but still have a satisfying lunch.
Foyer Vietnam
80 Rue Monge, 75005
Tel. +33 (0) 1 45 35 32 54
Lunch 12PM-2PM Dinner 7PM to 10PM closed Sunday
Metro: Place Monge
Eye Prefer Paris on Twitter
I just launched a fun new daily Twitter post- Paris Photo du Jour. Every day I will post a photo of Paris. Follow me on Twitter - http://twitter.com/eyepreferparis
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 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,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
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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