It happened to be Valentines Day was the only day I could have lunch with Lynn, and even though Vincent is my only/#1 Valentine, I had to share the love with Lynn too.
There’s been a developing restaurant trend in the last two to three years where emerging and established chefs have opened restaurants in areas that are necessarily known for great eating establishments. Nowhere is this more present in the 10th and 11th arrondissement’s where about a half dozen restaurants have sprouted.
Vivant has been hailed as one of the most innovative of the lot and I wanted to see what the buzz was all about. Lynn and I walked a distance from the metro stop in the freezing rain and almost passed the restaurant right by, as the non-descript glass front didn’t even look like there was a restaurant inside. But upon opening the door and walking past the sweeping velvet curtain to shield diners from the cold was a warm and inviting place. The Art Nouveau style tile mural, the handsome bar with a wood slab with the most enticing loaf of home baked bread, and the little twist of modern furniture was quite appealing to the eye.
The formule for two courses was 29 euros, higher than our usual 20 euros, but we decided to splurge. I started with the steak salad which was somewhere between room temperature and warm, and the tender beef was a bit rare. Lynn’s squid risotto was presented in a beautiful oversized black ceramic bowl and we stared in awe at its artfulness for a few moments before she started to chow down on it. Lynn raved about it and gave me a taste and I can see why she was heavily singing its praises. My plat was the signature dish of Vivant, poularde, a type of chicken, with roasted root vegetables. The layer of fat around the chicken gave it such a succulent flavor and it was plump and juicy plus the combination of the chicken and hearty root vegetables was the just right stick to the ribs food I needed for the icky, damp weather. Lynn had the beef cheeks in brown sauce which the waiter highly recommended, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. As good as the food was so far, there was no way we were leaving without having dessert. An intriguing chocolate concoction somewhere between a mousse and a pot a crème was served with Kalamata crushed olives and we both nearly swooned from the marvelous taste sensation of the dark, intense chocolate with the tinge of saltiness.
I briefly met the seemingly modest Asian chef Sota, and he has nothing to be modest about: the food at Vivant was superb and food picky Lynn said hands down it was the best food she has ever had in our three years of lunches together. As I am writing this I am already longing for the chocolate dessert again.
Vivant has recently opened a wine bar a few doors down from the restaurant that serves casual food and small plates.
Vivant
43 rue des Petites Ecuries, 75010
Metro: Bonne-Nouvelle or Poissoniere
Open Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner
Tel. +33 (0)1 42 46 43 55
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
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.
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.
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