I Prefer Paris

Air Conditioned Restaurants in Paris

Paris is having a heat wave this week with temperatures in the high 90s Fahrenheit and I thought it would be a good idea to run this blog I wrote about in 2017 listing air-conditioned restaurants. I’ve added a few new manes to the list. Stay cool! 

Parisians are not fans of air conditioning no matter how hot it gets and in fact they don’t really believe in fans either. Even in the excessive heat, they still wear scarves. I saw a man the other day wearing shorts, T-shirt and a scarf tied around his neck like it was winter.

Needless to say there’s hardly an air conditioning in Parisian restaurants. Café after café has customers sweating away while ordering ice cold drinks.

I am still a die-hard American in certain respects even after living here almost 12 years, and I have to have AC when it gets this hot. One of my first apartment purchases was a portable air-conditioner.

So last night when I was desperately seeking an air-conditioned restaurant I thought I would do some further research and create a list, so here goes. Now it’s pretty obvious the five-star hotel restaurants and many of the Michelin star restaurants will have A/C, so I will leave most of those off the list below.

Maitre Albert 1 Rue Maître Albert, 75005
Bofinger 5-7 Rue de la Bastille, 75004
Maison Blanche 15 Avenue Montaigne, 75008
Les Cocottes Arc de Triomphe 2 Avenue Bertie Albrecht, 75008
Le 24 24 Rue Jean Mermoz, 75008
Sorza 51 Rue Saint-Louis en l'Île, 75004- Ile St. Louis
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Hôtel du Pont Royal, 5 Rue Montalembert, 75007
Les Bouquinistes 53 Quai des Grands Augustins, 75006
Ma Cocotte 106 Rue des Rosiers, 93400 Saint-Ouen at the flea market
Le Petit Pontoise 9 Rue de Pontoise, 75005
Le Coq Rico 98 Rue Lepic, 75018
Elmer 30 Rue Notre Dame de Nazareth, 75003
Blue Elephant 43 rue de la Roquette, 75011
Bon 25 rue de la Pompe, 75016
La Coupole 102 Blvd. de Montparnasse, 75014
Glou 101 rue Vieille du Temple, 75003
La Rotisserie 19 Quai de la Tournelle, 75005
Les Editeurs 4 Carrefour de l”odeon, 75006
Brasserie Lipp 151 Blvd. Saint Germain, 75006
Mariage Freres 30 rue du Bourg Tibourg, 75004 

Vins des Pyrenees 25 Rue Beautreillis, 75004https://www.vinsdespyrenees.com/

Thanks everyone for your comments for the book giveaway last week. 

August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 29 

I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area. 

Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1500€ for 7 days/one week, 2900€ for 14 days/2 weeks. 

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 r.nahem@gmail.com if you are interested. 

If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Paris video about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.

Click here to watch or link below

https://youtu.be/Am22oSA_UYc

Please remember to hit the LIKE button if you like it and SUBSCRIBE button to subscribe to my channel. 

Les Fables de La Fontaine

Keeping up with new and already established restaurants in Paris could easily be a full-time job. Unfortunately, that job has not yet been bestowed upon me but I try to stay current on the Paris dining scene. 

New restaurants frequently appear on my radar and usually either of two things happen. Either I go within a week or two of learning about one or it goes off my radar and quickly backlogged into the someday, some other time list. 

Les Fables de La Fontaine falls into the latter category. Last month a publicist sent a lunch invitation and I suddenly remembered wanting to go there for the longest time. 

I thought is was just going to be lunch for just Vincent and me, but it turns out the publicist reserved a table for eight to experience a tasting menu from the chef. The group included mostly French food writers and critics, except for Margaret Kemp, who is a well-known, British food writer living in Paris. We had met briefly once before, but during our almost two-hour lunch, we got to know each other much better and bonded over our love of good food. A well-dressed, elderly gentleman arrived late and Margaret told us it was Nicholas de Rebaudy, one of the foremost food critics and food writers in France. 

Located on a half-square on the chic rue Saint Dominique in the seventh arrondissement, Les Fables de La Fontaine, has a contemporary décor with a soft palette of neutral colors of taupe and gray. Tables were appointed with bamboo like placemats and fine white china and crystal stemware. 

Chef  David Bouttreau focuses his attention on seafood, daily delving into the top fish stalls of the Rungis wholesale market, searching for just the right mackerel, turbot, lobster, or sole. 

Our table was treated to Le Grand Bleu tasting menu. Five delectable appetizers were served in artfully crafted earthenware, which deserved to be admired before digging in. The beet salad with horseradish mousse, smoked eel, and ginger, looked like a vivid red origami on the outside with its precision cut slices, with the tasty, salty eel inside. A yellowtail tartare with radish and quinoa was light and smooth but the Sichuan peppercorns gave it an extra zing. 

Next up two waiters showed off two whole fish, a daurade and sea bass, on platters and then went back to the kitchen to filet them. I chose the sea bass served with roasted vegetables. Sometimes the simplest prepared foods are best, relying only on their freshness to bring out thier truest flavors. This was the case of the sea bass, served only with lemon, olive oil, and salt. Miraval rosé was the ideal wine to complement the meal. 

Just knowing a soufflé is coming to the table is reason enough to swoon a little bit, and a rice pudding soufflé with salted butter caramel made me swoon full tilt. 

The Grand Bleu Menu is 110€ per person with a minimum of two people. A three-course menu is 52€ and at lunch, you can enjoy a starter/plat or plat/dessert for only 28€. 

Les Fables de La Fontaine 

Open everyday for lunch and dinner

131 rue Saint Dominique, 75007 

Tel. +33 (0)1 44 18 37 55

http://www.lesfablesdelafontaine.net/en/

August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 29 

I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area. 

Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1500€ for 7 days/one week, 2900€ for 14 days/2 weeks. 

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 r.nahem@gmail.com if you are interested. 

If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Paris video about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.

Click here to watch or link below

https://youtu.be/Am22oSA_UYc

Please remember to hit the LIKE button if you like it and SUBSCRIBE button to subscribe to my channel. 

Tip Shaming in New York

There seems to be a pattern expats have when they move to Paris and I suspect it’s the same for expats around the world. They tend to go at least once a year to their former U.S. hometowns, usually for the holidays or in summer but after about 5 years, the visits dissipate and expats go every other year or even wait five years. 

I used to go back to NYC at least twice a year but now just once a year since 2007. 

Each time I return to the U.S. I have to remember certain social practices are different than here. 

One of the adjustments I have to make. is tipping in restaurants. In Paris, it’s fairly easy, the tip or what they call service charge is included in the check and depending on whether I have some change in my pocket, I leave a one or two euro coins on the table as a courtesy. If I don’t have any change and don’t leave anything, it’s perfectly fine, the waitperson usually says merci or bon journee, and doesn’t scowl or call me a cheapskate under his/her breath. 

One other thing I have to remember in restaurants in the U.S. is that the sales tax is not included, where as in France the VAT is included in the final bill. So if I get a check for 20€, I plop down a 20€ bill, a coin or two, and I am done. 

In NYC sales tax in restaurants in restaurants is just about 9%, so with a 20% tip, which is the norm now, it’s almost a whopping extra 30% of the bill. I was in a restaurant where the main course of pasta that I ordered was $15, which I thought wasn’t too bad, but then realized with tax and tip it was now going to be $19.50, ouch! 

The other thing is not that long ago, a 15% tip was the norm, and 20% was if you had great service. Not anymore. In fact on the bottom of the check or on the credit card machines, the suggested gratuity box is either 18 or 20%, so if you want to leave 15%, you have to calculate it yourself. 

I also noticed that no matter what food service place I went to whether is was a regular restaurant, take out place, food delivery, or coffee bar, when you ask for your bill, a tip option automatically comes up on the screen, asking for 18or 20%. I’ve always had a thing about not tipping in takeout places. Correct me if I am wrong, but takeout staff people are paid a higher wage than waiters because waiters are primarily dependent on tips. For example, I was at a casual vegetarian restaurant in Brooklyn having lunch. I ordered at the counter, sat down at an available table, and when my name was called, I picked up my food and brought it to my table. After I was done I bussed by own tray, emptied my excess food in the trash, and put my plate and silverware in the proper receptacles. When I was paying with my debit card, again the 18 & 20% tip boxes flashed on the screen. Besides someone putting my order in by pressing three or four buttons on the computer screen, there was no other service. Why should I leave a tip? I am happy to leave a tip if someone waited on me, but this wasn’t the case. This, I declare is tip shaming. An extreme case of tip shaming was when I was at the theater. I was with a relative and she asked for a bottle of water at the snack bar, which by the way was a shocking $5 for the lowest brand of bottled water, and she charged it and added $1 tip. A tip for someone who handed you a bottle? 

I have no problem tipping for certain services when it is expected. I tip taxi drivers, wait staff, doormen, etc. but I don’t believe I have to tip order takers, that’s not a service. 

In recent years there has been a move in some U.S. restaurants to discontinue tipping by figuring it into the cost of the food. For instance, New York restauranteur Danny Meyer, who owns upscale restaurants such as Union Square Grill, Gramercy Tavern, and Eleven Madison Park, eliminated tipping in his restaurants in 2015. I think this is an excellent idea. 

What’s your take on the tipping situation? Would love to have your feedback.

August in Paris- My Marais Apartment for Rent August 16 to August 29 

I am renting my Marais loft from August 16 to August 29 (Dates are flexible). Contrary to popular myth that Paris is closed in August, most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open in Paris, especially in the Marais. The weather is usually beautiful, temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit during the day, dropping into the mid 60s at night. In case in gets warmer, I have an air conditioner in the bedroom and a large fan in the living area. 

 

Minimum rental period is 7 days/one week, price 1500€ for 7 days/one week, 2900€ for 14 days/2 weeks. 

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 r.nahem@gmail.com if you are interested. 

If you love salted butter caramels, please watch my newest A Bite of Paris video about Henri Le Roux, the man who actually invented the salted butter caramel.

Click here to watch or link below

https://youtu.be/Am22oSA_UYc

Please remember to hit the LIKE button if you like it and SUBSCRIBE button to subscribe to my channel. 

Galeries Lafayette Champs Elysees

Once the most celebrated avenue in Paris, the reputation of the Champs Elysees has been greatly tarnished in recent months by the violence and destruction the Gilet Jaunes have inflicted on it. Also, once the marker of retail luxury, the Champs Elysees in the past few years has given way to cheap food and retail chains such as Five Guys and H & M. 

The tides are turning on the Champs Elysees by the opening of a new Galeries Lafayette. Housed in the former Virgin Megastore, the  four-story, 700,000 square foot space is a breath of fresh air in the faltering times of big store retail. The building was constructed in the 1930s and some of the original Art Deco details have been restored thanks to Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, who respected the architecture and at the same time updated the design for the 21^st century with innovation and style. 

Interestingly enough, Théophile Bader, the founder of Galeries Lafayette, bought a hotel on the Champs Elysees in 1927 to open a branch of the store, but the crash of 1929 dashed his hopes. Today the new generation of the Galeries Lafayette family is fulfilling Bader’s dream.

I visited the store last week and was very impressed, considering I find most types of luxury stores like this much the same, featuring the same merchandise and brands. Yes, they sell the top luxury brands such as Chanel, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, and Gucci, but they also sell some cool, more under the radar labels such as Haider Ackermann, Sacai, JW Andersen, By Far, Thom Browne,Elie Top and an exclusive collection for the store by Rei Kawakubo for Commes des Garcons. 

Going through a tunnel-like entrance on the main floor, facing left is a grand marble staircase and brass banisters, something you would find in a 1930s movie musical with dancers parading down the steps. There’s also a replica of the bottom half of the Eiffel Tower climbing up to the second floor atrium. The sleek cosmetics and beauty department is a glossy affair with mirrored walls and counters, rows of quirky color nail polishes and festive, white paper streamers hanging from the ceiling. 

The second floor is a designer’s showcase, where the big bang brands are sparsely displayed on racks so that each piece stands out on its own. On the cutting edge of technology, the digital hangers have a touch screen that tells you the sizes the garment is available in and also directions to the nearest fitting room. Don’t want to wait on the queue to pay for your purchases? No worries, the 300 store stylists will ring you up straight away, in addition to assisting you with finding the best personal look for you. The men’s fashion department is equal in size with the women’s, which is rare, and also has cutting edge labels. 

I frequently go to the movies on the Champs Elysees because the theaters are some of the best in Paris, but it’s always difficult to find well-priced, casual restaurants because there are either fast food joints or overpriced tourist traps. The Galeries Lafayette Champs Elysees has an excellent food court with a good selection of appealing food counters and communal tables to sit at. I had a swell, spicy Asian chicken salad at Little Zhao for lunch for 7€ and other offerings in the food court include paté at Maison Verot,vegan fare at Maisie Café, and seafood from Kaspia Deli.  On the dessert side, there are branches of Pierre Marcolini and Alain Ducasse chocolate, plus the only outside branch of Stohrer, the oldest patisserie in Paris. Good news is the food court is open till 10PM every night and the store until 12AM. 

Cult fashion designer Jacquemus, has partnered with Kaspia restaurant, to open a Citron, a Provence inspired restaurant that is the new chic boite to be seen at. 

Galeries Lafayette Champs Elysees

60 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008

Metro: Franklin Roosevelt 

https://www.galerieslafayettechampselysees.com/

Links Eye Prefer 

Check out the article about inexpensive restaurants in Paris by Alec Lobrano for the NY Times 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/10/travel/affordable-dining-in-paris.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=Travel

Many of you weren’t able to come to my photo exhibit at the Pont Royal Hotel in February and March and I am sorry you missed it. 

I am now offering the selection of photos from the exhibition for sale by mail order. Since they are prints and not framed like they were at the exhibition, the cost is considerably less. 

Photos come in three sizes 

•  10 X 12 inches Price $60 
• 12 X 15 inches Price $95 
•  16 X 20 inches Price $125 
•  Shipping in the U. S. by U.S. Mail is $12 per order 
• A 15% discount applies for orders of three or more photos 
•  Photos are printed Fuji Archival paper 

Click here to view the full selection of photos 

https://www.richardnahemphotography.com/eye-prefer-paris-exhibition

If you would like to order photos, please email me @ r.nahem@gmail.com and I will process shipping and payment. 

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.

Les Foodies

One of the few complaints I have about the part of the Marais I live in is the lack of really good and original restaurants. Yes, there are scores of cafes and restaurants that serve good French food but almost none are exceptional. Until now.

Les Foodies is a welcome relief of fine dining on the rue des Archives, where a long stretch of lively cafes cater to people who mostly want to drink and end up ordering food by convenience.

The chic, well appointed bar and dining room sets the tone for a serious meal to come. A backlit wall with uneven rectangular panels with occasional splashes of color channel Mondrian while enhancing the shiny lacquered tables tops trimmed in gold. 

The menu was a mélange of dishes and ingredients from all over the culinary map. Chef Davide Galloni is of Italian and Thai descent and sources the food of his dual nationalities in the kitchen, then adds things like hummus to the menu. 

An oversized white plate resembling a crater was filled with a fricassee of artichoke hearts, a poached egg, polenta and Brussels sprouts. Rich and layered, the dish excelled. 

Fish tartares are very much in vogue in Parisian restaurants these days, and a tartare of lagoustines, sea scallops, served with a frothy lime Zabaglione and pistachios brought out the best in this trend with superior quality fish. 

If that sounded satisfying enough, two more courses followed. We had to pace ourselves a bit. A house made ravioli more on the traditional Italian side stuffed with black truffle, was exquisite simplicity in its execution and taste. Another form of ravioli with monkfish and squid ink in a Langoustine bisque was also excellent but a little too rich to finish.

We weren’t going to order dessert but when we saw something resembling a terracotta flowerpot served to another table, we were all over it. On closer viewing, it was a real flowerpot and it was stuffed with a light, whipped mascarpone, and red currants.

Portions at Les Foodies are more than ample and surprising for this caliber of restaurant. I’ve been to so many restaurants that have had exceptional dishes, only to have them be a tease of taste, rather than enough to be truly satisfying. 

Another plus was the laid back and friendly service. 

Although the dinner menu runs about 50-60€ per person, the good news is that Les Foodies offers a 21€ entrée/plat or plat/dessert at lunch. 

I must go back for lunch and I hope you go to. 

Les Foodies 

6 – 8 Square Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, 75004

Metro: Hotel de Ville 

Open everyday except Monday 

http://lesfoodies.paris/#restaurant

LINKS EYE LIKE 

Please read the NY Times article about artist Christo wrapping the Arc de Triomphe in 2020 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/arts/design/christos-next-project-wrapping-the-arc-de-triomphe.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

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.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 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 

 

Roxie Paris

Roxie Paris is set to bring the elegant supper clubs of the 1930s and 40s back into vogue again. 

Newly opened at the end of 2018, I was invited for dinner two weeks ago. Located on a side street off the Champs Elysees, the exterior already emits a throwback to the 1930s with a black lacquer marquis spelling ROXIE in bold letters. 

Two good looking, well dressed staff members warmly greeted us, took our coats and escorted us to the dining room. The lacquered interior looked like it was dipped into a bottle of red high gloss nail polish. On the stage were two singers, one strumming the guitar, crooning pop songs we all know and love in a relaxed, folksy style.  Behind them was a fabulous Art Deco style mural with a naked goddess spreading her arms and a round chandelier 

We were escorted up a shows stopping double-sided staircase, the kind you would imagine a line of beautiful dancers dressed in sequence and feathers would come down. Upstairs we were seated at a table overlooking the stage downstairs. 

In true French tradition, we were offered Champagne as the first order of business, although we opted for wine with dinner instead. The menu choices were quite appealing and it took some serious decision making before Vincent and I made our final choices. A crispy tuna maki was crispy and light with a bit of crunch to it, with super fresh tuna. Vincent enjoyed his salmon cooked with a piquant Asian style sauce and I savored my chicken rolled in crushed peanuts and cornflakes in a peanut sauce. Dessert was a divine chocolate sensation hard to describe. 

The name Roxie is inspired by Roxie Hart, the femme fatale that's the heroine of the musical Chicago is based on. Roxie brings back the days of private supper clubs and speakeasies but in an updated version. 

Instead of torch singers slinking over a grand piano, Roxie has a musically versatile six-piece band and singer performing everything from Aretha Franklin to Joe Cocker to Lenny Kravitz to Adele. Unfortunately the band was not performing the night we were there, but I’d like to return and see them. 

The bar at Roxie serves creative cocktails with throwback names- Ginger Rogers, Roxie Hart, and Louis Armstrong plus a formidable menu of whiskies and bourbon.

Roxie can be rented out for a private function for dinner and/or drinks, so if you want a bang up venue for a special occasion, this is it. 

 

29 rue de Ponthieu, 75008

Metro: Franklin Roosevelt 

https://roxie-paris.com/

Only three more weeks left of my photo exhibition at the Hotel Pont Royal, 5-7 rue Montalembert, 75007 

Bicarin at Bar Becutti Paris

In 2006, the same year I started Eye Prefer Paris, I was lucky enough to attend the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. A friend of mine from New York sent a group email offering an extra bed in her hotel room near Torino when she was going to the Olympics. I was the first one to answer and voila, off I was to Torino in February of 2006. 

Torino is a charming, slightly beat up Italian city with an old-world feel to it. There were tons of cafes and coffee bars in the old world style, with fine wood and brass counters. While researching Torino, everything I read mentioned becerin, a hot drink consisting of espresso, hot chocolate and hot milk. I remember the first one I tried: it was a remarkable taste of bitter chocolate, and strong espresso with a foam of milk. I couldn’t get enough bicerins that week I, having at least two or three a day while totally getting into the café culture of Torino. 

I’ve long savored the memories and taste of my bicerins for years, hoping I would return to Torino someday. This hasn’t happened but almost something as good did. 

About two months ago I walked by a new café on rue de Rivoli right off of rue du Louvre. I’m not sure what drew me to the café but when I walked in and read the drink menu, I saw they listed bicirin. I was ecstatic of course and ordered one immediately. Out came a clear glass mug with a stem, layered with the hot chocolate and espresso on the bottom with whipped cream on top, dusted with cocoa. Sipping my bicarin, vivid memories of Torino danced in my head, while the delectable liquid warmed me on a cold day.  It turns out Bar Becutti in Paris is a branch of the same café in Torino, so my bicerin was authentic. 

Becutti Bar 

91 rue de Rivoli, 75001 

Metro: Louvre Rivoli 

Please don't forget to RSVP to Pauline Bernard event@hotel-pont-royal for the opening of my photo exhibit on February 5. 

 

Rhum Bar 1802 and MASHA Restaurant

In my younger days, I was a full out disco king, going out to clubs like Studio 54 or Area in New York almost every night of the week. Strutting my best moves on the dance floor, I was stiff competition for John Travolta aka Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever. 

Nowadays, I don’t go out much anymore at night except to have dinner at restaurants. I’ve put my platform disco shoes, shiny shirts unbuttoned practically to the waist, and bell bottom pants into storage and now wear furry slippers, a Snoopy T-shirt and sweat pants at home. I’m in bed by 10PM and addicted to binge watching on Netflix and the new golden age of television. 

Every once in a while, I’m invited to a new club or bar and although I don’t put my disco apparel on, I make an effort to dress myself up. In November, in a rare occasion, I was invited to two events back to back, the opening party of a new bar and the opening of a glamorous supper club and lounge.

Rhum Bar 1802 is the first exclusive rum bar in Paris, opened in November 2018 at the new Hotel Monte Cristo. The name of the hotel is based on the book, The Count of Monte Cristo by legendary French author Alexandre Dumas. Born of mixed race parents, his ancestors produced fine rums in Santo Domingo, where Dumas frequently visited. He returned from his worldwide voyages to Paris with the best rums he could find. The bar is specifically dedicated to Dumas’ passion for the great elixir. 

At the opening, shots of various rums were offered along with explanations and histories of their origins. I don’t really drink straight-up rum but I did have a refreshing cocktail of rum and Champagne. The interior of the bar and lounge has the feel of a the salon of a grand t tropical plantation, decorated with wicker chairs, ceramic plates posted on black walls, tropical plants, and center bar with dark wood and blue and white ceramic tiles. 

The extensive menu offers dozens of rums from around the globe including Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Guatemala. White rum, amber rum, old rum, and spiced rum are the different categories. 1802 invites clients to store their special rum bottles in their cellar. They are also inviting 100 people to join the exclusive Monte Cristo Club where members receive the following perks: four hand selected bottles of rum, free participation at events at the bar including tastings and master classes, 15% discount on hotel rates, and a mixology class for four people. 

Rhum Bar 1802 at Hotel Monte Cristo 

20-22 rue Pascal, 75005 

Metro: Censier Daubenton

https://www.hotelmontecristoparis.com/en/

Open every day 6PM to 1AM 

The next night I was invited to a private dinner by a friend of a friend of mine at a new restaurant and lounge, Masha, in the 16^th arr. near Place Trocadero. 

As I entered the chic lobby café, dressed up in bold black and white zigzag patterned floor, black and white striped wicker banquettes, and teal blue mid-century dining chairs, I knew I was in for a special treat. I was escorted downstairs to the restaurant area, a series of three rooms. 

An extended mural on the wall behind the dining banquettes by Japanese street artist Fan Sack, dominates the space (in a good way) with its sumptuous colors of red and pink. Japanese inspired throw pillows in rich patterns on the cream leather banquette softened the décor of the dining room. 

Our genial host and owner of Masha, Antonin Cornet, invited some of his good friends and colleagues to experience his new venture. He proudly spoke of his new baby and highly praised his Asian chef Takahiro Matsumoto, who formerly worked with Paris chef’s Eric Frechon and Pierre Gagnaire. Matsumoto has conjured up an appealing menu of French classics with a Japanese spin and sushi chef Makoto from Tokyo slices the freshest sushi and sashimi. 

Antonin highly recommended the tuna tartare with caviar as a starter, which I had no objections to and thoroughly enjoyed. Next up was a slow cooked salmon, another recommendation, which was spot on too. Still clinging to a formal French menu, there was a selection of cheeses from la maison Quatrehomme before the dessert course. Desserts were tame compared to the excitement of the other courses but the crème brulee with Hojicha (green tea) was a tad exotic.

After dinner Antonin invited us into the speakeasy for a performance by the camp singing trio of Romain Morian, Lolly Wish, and Charly Voodoo. The wild acting trio sung and joked their way though the room enticing the guests to play along with them. In between their sets, a DJ played some of my  favorite disco hits from the 1970s. I was having so much fun that I didn’t leave till past the Cinderella hour, about 12:45AM. 

Masha

85 avenue Kleber, 75016 

Metro: Trocadero 

www.masha-paris.com

Open for lunch Tuesday to Friday

Dinner Tuesday to Saturday, Sunday for brunch

Moi in my disco days-Dare to dance the Hustle with me? 

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.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 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 

 

 

Holiday Dinner at La Bauhinia at Shangri-La Hotel Paris

I was invited last week to sample the holiday menu at La Bauhinia Restaurant at the Shangri-La Hotel Paris. 

Walking through the lobby, a grand, festive Christmas tree set the mood for our dinner. 

We were seated on the mezzanine of the two-story dining room with an opulent crystal chandelier hanging from a glass-domed roof. The décor is a mix of elegant French; a red velvet circular banquette in the middle of the room and Chinese inspiration; soft mint green velvet chairs and the same color on walls with painted cherry blossoms and birds. 

The first course was the freshest lobster meat with the most delicious ginger lime broth poured over it. I could have downed a quart of the broth right then and there. Medallions of tender, roasted deer was served with sampling of various colored roasted beets. Vincent opted for the regular menu and had an excellent Asian style codfish with a soy and citrus glaze. 

In the beginning November, I was emailed a press release from the hotel about the upcoming holiday events and menus. The thing that made me salivate was a buche de Noel from pastry chef Michael Bartocetti, made with chocolate mousse infused with lemongrass and candied banana and the outside garnished with chocolate and lime truffles, peanut praline and white chocolate. The buche was inspired by Michael Bartocetti’s vivid remembrance of a toy train given to him as a child. In fact, the original buche is in the train shape on display in the lobby.(The train can be ordered through the hotel). 

You can imagine my anticipation for dessert, with the buche still fresh in my mind. 

It went way beyond my expectations on every level, especially mixture of the peanuts, banana and chocolate. 

The holiday menu is available through December 30. 

http://www.shangri-la.com/uploadedFiles/Shangri-la_Hotels/New_Website/La-Bauhinia-Diner-de-fete-2018-FR.pdf

Click here to read about my first visit to the hotel

Please watch my latest A Bite of Paris video, Honey Tasting at Famille Mary, where I taste a bunch of yummy flavored honey's. 

Click here to watch or link below. 

https://youtu.be/oR2LLlFSjeM

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.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 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 

 

Le Camion qui Fume and the Bus Burger

In 2011, California ex-pat Kristin Frederick, started the first food truck in Paris, Le Camion qui Fume (The Smoking Truck). 

In a familiar ex-pat story, Kristin quit her studies in finance and enrolled in the top cooking school in Paris, Ferrandi. Although she loved learning about French cooking, she couldn’t find an up to snuff hamburger in Paris compared to the U.S. Using her newfound cooking skills, she devised a burger using top quality ingredients and her own recipe buns. 

Along with her partner Frédéric Fédière, who was in charge of the marketing and social media, it became an overnight sensation. Patient Parisians, who are usually stubbornly traditional about their food and dining for hours on end, fully embraced the new form of quick food, so much so, they waited in line for hours to try an unknown version of Le Hamburger. At a certain point, Kristin had over 150 customers on line, while single handedly trying to serve all of them. 

Fast forward seven years later to 2018 and Le Camion qui Fume is now a mini-empire, with three restaurants, delivery and takeout service, and three food trucks.  Food blogs and websites, and influencers including David Lebovitz, Le Fooding,  Le Figaro, and the late Anthony Bourdain hailed it as the best hamburger in Paris. 

I had never tried a burger at Le Camion qui Fume because I am not the type to wait on line for hours for food, and pretty much anything else, except maybe for tickets to a Barbra Streisand concert. Last week I was at the right place at the right time; I was finishing up an errand near the Oberkampf branch of Le Camion qui Fume at 12PM, just when they opened. I was the first person in line and I ordered the daily changing formule, a burger with blue cheese and caramelized onions, coleslaw and a bottle of sparkling water for 11.90 €, an excellent deal considering a mediocre burger at a corner café can run anywhere between 14€ and 18€. 

Even though I was having my burger in the restaurant, the presentation was the same as if I was taking it out, very ordinary and unexciting (Notice I didn’t post a photo, as even my great photo skills failed to make it look good). Luckily the taste of the burger made up for the presentation in spades, living up closely to its legendary accolades. Juicy, and flavorful meat, perfectly caramelized onions (not too soggy or burnt) and melt in your mouth blue cheese were stuffed into fluffy bun. The side dish of coleslaw was not too sweet and not overloaded with mayonnaise. As I sat outside cherishing my fantastic burger of the busy intersection of rue Oberkampf and Ave. Parmentier, the restaurant started to fill up and by the time I left the line was six people long. Other appetizing burgers include avocado and bacon, pulled pork, vegetarian (made with mushrooms) and barbeque. 

By some strange happenstance, while I was walking up rue Oberkampf to take the metro home, I saw a big bus parked on the street with a logo that said Bus Burger. Curious to know what it was, I knocked on the door and a young man greeted me. I asked what the concept was, and he said it was a bus with booths and seating that did a two-hour tour of Paris while serving hamburgers.  Was it my lucky hamburger day? 

Maybe I will compete with the Burger Bus and start a foie gras bus. 

https://lecamionquifume.com/ 

https://www.bus-burger.com/copie-de-accueil

Checkout this great New York Times article about the Rungis food market by friend Liz Alderman. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/world/europe/france-rungis-food-market-les-halles.html

My Paris Apartment for Rent –November 18-December 5

I am looking to rent my fabulous Paris apartment in the heart of the Marais near St. Paul metro, anytime between November 18 to December 5 for 7-10 nights. It's a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft style apartment 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.

The price 7 nights is 165€ per night/1155€, for 10 nights 150€ per night/1500€ Photos upon request.

Please email me at r.nahem@gmail.com if you are interested. 

I am so pleased to have Ann Mah as my guest this week at on A Bite of Paris. We went to Le Mistral, her favorite Paris bistro and had their signature dish, aligot, a rich, creamy mix of whipped potatoes and cheese from the Aveyron region.

Click here   or link below to watch Ann and I enjoy aligote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiRHIW7Oitw&t=4s 

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.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 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