It's not a typo, Lunch with Linda and Bernie. Lynn wasn’t available this month and I invited Linda and Bernie, a delightful couple from Alabama who spend two months in Paris around the corner from me on rue St. Paul, to join me. Linda sends a daily newsletter to her friends and colleagues about her and Bernie’s outings and sometimes they find things that I don’t even know about.
It was hotter than a witch’s boob last week (sorry, I can’t use the “t” word, this is a G-rated blog) and I was strategizing the coolest places to go to. Unlike most of the U.S., Paris has very little air conditioning in public places and homes. The only place to escape the heat is Picard, a chain of frozen food shops, chocolate shops, the Orange store across the street from me, and five-star hotels. None of these fit in to my Under 20 lunch places, so I was stumped on where to go. I received a hot tip (or should I say cold tip) from Meredith Mullins about an Italian restaurant on the Ile St. Louis that had good food and most importantly, AC.
I passed Sorza hundreds of times and it looked like a perfectly nice place but but enough to make me want to rush in there. The interior is sleek and modern with crimson red walls and black table tops. We arrived at 12:30 and the restaurant was empty. It looked as though the city was already emptying out for the annual vacances which goes from mid-July to end of August. (I would love to take a 5 or 6 week vacation sometime but I still retain my American work ethic and take two if I am lucky and a few short breaks). It was about 90 degrees Fahrenheit that day, so the cool AC felt good.
The first sign the restaurant was going to be good was they served the tap water cold, because most places serve it at putrid room temperature. The 17 euro, 2-course formule had a healthy selection in each category, another good sign, since many formules only offer one or two dishes in each category. Even though it was a blistering hot day, I chose the cheese and arugula soufflé. Linda had the same thing and we both agreed it was light and fluffy but still filling. It had more of a custard consistency to it, a little different than traditional French soufflés. Another plus was they served a refreshing salad of arugula,parmesan, pine nuts, and sun dried tomatoes on a separate plate, rather than the usual paltry garnish of a few lettuce leaves that’s called a salad on most menus. For the plat, I had the risotto with pesto. Beautifully presented in an oversized white bowl with a small cavity in the middle, it was delicious and creamy, slightly liquidy but I would rather have my risotto on the wet side than too dry. Bernie had been testing various steak tartares all over Paris the last two months and he said hands down, it was the best one he had had.
We ate slowly and savored the cool environment before going outside to melt again. Sorza ranks very high on my Lunch with Lynn/Under Twenty Eats with good sized portions, excellent food, hospitable and efficient service, and AIR CONDITIONING. Best of all I got to hang out with Linda and Bernie before they return to Alabama next week.
The word for AC in french is climatise.
51 rue Saint-Louis-en l’ile, 75004
Metro: Pont Marie or St. Paul
Open everyday 12PM to 10:30PM
http://www.sorza.fr/index.htm
AC/climatise sign is prominent
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 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 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
Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour
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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