A no-brainer, usually delicious, quick lunch is a Croque Monsieur. The classic Croque Monsieur is made with ham and melted Gruyere on toasted bread. The popular version in Paris is made with Poilane sour dough bread and some new varieties have been added in recent years including mozzarella and tomato, smoked salmon, roasted vegetable, and chicken.
Les Chimeres, a cafe a few doors down from me on the rue Saint Antoine, serves an excellent croque, one of the best I have had in recent memory. I especially like the croque fermier made with white meat chicken strips and an extra creamy Gruyere on a generous slice of Poilane bread which is toasted just right with a doughy center and crunchy outside. It comes with a leafy green salad with a mustardy vinaigrette on the plate or you can instead get a mound of crispy fries. All this goodness is just 8.50 euros, a great Paris food bargain and you will be stuffed.
Les Chimeres also has wide and varied menu with many classic French specialties including a first -rate onion soup, beef bourguignon, foie gras, and a terrific, gigantic steak served on a cutting board with salad and slam-dunk french fries.
The staff is very friendly and accommodating and they all speak English.
Please note the croques are part of the cafe menu not the lunch or dinner menu, so make sure to ask for the menu with the croques.
Les Chimeres
133 rue Saint Antoine, 75004
Metro: Saint Paul (right in front of Metro with red striped awnings)
New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale
I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos. I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my 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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