Here's a hint: There were a lot of (strange) people like this wandering around drinking lots of beer in anticipation of watching a certain sporting event.
The first night we were here, we were a bit jet-lagged and hungry before a normal dining hour. So we went to La Coupole,
which, while certainly popular with tourists, is also a wonderful example of an Art Deco Parisien brasserie.
It was frequented in the past by such artistic and performing luminaries as Dali, Josephine Baker, Henry Miller, ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Picasso, not to mention Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir.
The real draw, besides the wonderfully homey food served since 1927, is the artistic details added by artists, who one imagines traded their talents for a meal. Each pillar is decorated by a different artist and there are sculptures and a magnificent mural on the side wall.
Even the bathroom is most attractive. Can you see the beautiful floor and counters?
On to dinner. I started with a kir. I didn't touch the pretzels though.
My starter was a beautifully presented creamy Tarama salad. H had gorgeous oysters served with SALTED butter and bread. Here is example number two of a reason to serve salted butter. (The first is on toast.) What you're meant to do is to butter the bread, have a bite and then eat the oyster. They also served a mignonette sauce, which you spoon on the oyster and then down it all the once. The sharp oniony taste was a fine foil to the smooth and salty bivalve.
My main course was big and juicy scallops in a deep wine(?) sauce served around a surprisingly poor risotto. It was only lukewarm (barely) and not cooked enough. In fact, it was almost crunchy in it's baveuse-ness. The fricco on top tasted stale. It was ok though, I concentrated on the scallops and was quite happy not to have to eat much of the risotto.
Dessert was an Pear Tart Bourdalou. This rustic tart is made with an almond custard and it was served with a syrupy reduction studded with nuts. It was good...the pastry was the best part.
That's all for now. More to come...
Does this help?
Ok, I'm going to give it away.
Yup, H and I are in Paris. Lucky, lucky me. We're just here for a few days...and NOT for the World Cup. Sorry, but I don't even really know what rugby is. H is working and I'm visiting my wonderful friend A.
The first night we were here, we were a bit jet-lagged and hungry before a normal dining hour. So we went to La Coupole,
which, while certainly popular with tourists, is also a wonderful example of an Art Deco Parisien brasserie.
It was frequented in the past by such artistic and performing luminaries as Dali, Josephine Baker, Henry Miller, ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Picasso, not to mention Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir.
The real draw, besides the wonderfully homey food served since 1927, is the artistic details added by artists, who one imagines traded their talents for a meal. Each pillar is decorated by a different artist and there are sculptures and a magnificent mural on the side wall.
Even the bathroom is most attractive. Can you see the beautiful floor and counters?
On to dinner. I started with a kir. I didn't touch the pretzels though.
My starter was a beautifully presented creamy Tarama salad. H had gorgeous oysters served with SALTED butter and bread. Here is example number two of a reason to serve salted butter. (The first is on toast.) What you're meant to do is to butter the bread, have a bite and then eat the oyster. They also served a mignonette sauce, which you spoon on the oyster and then down it all the once. The sharp oniony taste was a fine foil to the smooth and salty bivalve.
My main course was big and juicy scallops in a deep wine(?) sauce served around a surprisingly poor risotto. It was only lukewarm (barely) and not cooked enough. In fact, it was almost crunchy in it's baveuse-ness. The fricco on top tasted stale. It was ok though, I concentrated on the scallops and was quite happy not to have to eat much of the risotto.
Dessert was an Pear Tart Bourdalou. This rustic tart is made with an almond custard and it was served with a syrupy reduction studded with nuts. It was good...the pastry was the best part.
That's all for now. More to come...
8 comments:
Hope you're having fun. Paris looks beautiful, and the decor in the restaurants is amazing! Hope you eat alot of yummy pastries!
If envy is a deadly sin, then my heart should stop beating momentarily. :-)
Enjoy!
That dessert looks good. Thanks for sharing the pictures, and have lots of fun!
Ok- I officially hate you know. You went to Paris and didn't take me? I want to hear all about it.
The tart looks fabulous. What's the other time you use salted butter?
Have a wonderful time.
Thanks Val. I am!!
Shortie,
I don't wish heart attacks on anyone, but a good dose of envy...that's ok.
Lori,
Thanks. I've got more. Wait for them.
Em,
You know, I really was going to alert you in advance, just to avoid the shock and dismay you would feel. But then I thought unless I was willing to swing by and pick you up, you'd still feel shock and dismay. And you have to stay longer than a few days. So really...I was doing you a favor.
The other time for salted butter is on toast, which I don't necessarily agree with, but I can see the philosophy behind it.
Thanks Val. I am!!
Shortie,
I don't wish heart attacks on anyone, but a good dose of envy...that's ok.
Lori,
Thanks. I've got more. Wait for them.
Em,
You know, I really was going to alert you in advance, just to avoid the shock and dismay you would feel. But then I thought unless I was willing to swing by and pick you up, you'd still feel shock and dismay. And you have to stay longer than a few days. So really...I was doing you a favor.
The other time for salted butter is on toast, which I don't necessarily agree with, but I can see the philosophy behind it.
How lovely! I am jealous!!!
Thanks Jen,
It is!
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