I hadn’t seen Meredith Mullins in a long time, as she was frequently traveling, so she surfaced in mid-December and asked if I wanted to go a new restaurant discovery for an under 20€ lunch.
In the last 10 years the Boulevard Beaumarchais, which runs from Bastille towards Republique, has come a long way from a sleepy boulevard lined with camera shops to main artery for shopping, restaurants, and food shops, including the Bobo concept store Merci, and the chic market and café, Maison Plisson.
J.J. Beaumarchais looks like a typical Parisian bistro on the outside and inside, without much distinction. Luckily, the food speaks for itself.
The straightforward lunch menu, two courses for 20€ and three for 22€, offers a selection of three starters, two main courses, and one dessert.
I chose the coconut soup with pimento oil and the presentation in a ceramic bowl lined in a soothing aqua color, and the sting of the pimento rounded out the flavor of the sweet coconut.
Meredith’s starter, a soupy concoction of a poached egg with truffle cheese and chestnuts, served in a bowl, was like eating a new type of comfort food.
In selecting my main course, I wasn’t in the mood for fish, so I reluctantly ordered the bavette. I find the meat on bavette steaks is usually tough and stringy, and I am not usually satisfied. The bavette arrived camouflaged in a heap of twisted, stemmed greens, with a pool of foam on the bottom. Once I cleared the greens away, a healthy looking bavette appeared. Cutting into it was easier than usual, which was a good sign, and it was tender, juicy, and cooked just right. The roasted Jerusalem artichokes with a texture similar to roasted potatoes, were a hearty enough accompaniment to the steak and the foam served as a flavor enhancement.
Although I wasn’t in the mood for fish that day, upon having a taste of Meredith’s main dish, steamed ling fish (similar in texture to cod fish) with mushrooms and cabbage, I would definitely return to J.J. Beaumarchais for this dish.
Crumbles are a staple on Paris restaurant menus and as much as I like them, they are becoming boring. The elevated version of at J.J. Beaumarchais with poached pears, a smattering of caramel, and crunchy, cookie-like bits, was familiar but certainly not a bore, as our spoons fought each other for the last bite.
Meredith and I sat at a quiet table at the front, and we were able to catch up without being interrupted, with the efficient but not intrusive service.
The tasting menu at night costs 40€ per person for four dishes, and 55€ for five dishes, so the 20€ lunch was definitely a bargain for cuisine of this caliber.
J.J. Beaumarchais
92 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75011
Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner
Sunday for lunch
May in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent May 12 to May 23
I am renting my Marais loft from May 12 to May 23. May is one of the nicest months in Paris, with temperatures in the low 70s Fahrenheit during the day and low 60s at night. All the gardens and flowers are in bloom, the outdoor cafes bustling, and lots of cultural events.
Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1500€ for 7 days/one week,1900€ for 11 days-May 12-23.
Conveniently located by the Saint Paul metro, in the heart of the Marais, the apartment is a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S. The apartment is located on the second floor with a large elevator
Please email me at [email protected] if you are interested.
Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more. In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.
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