CURIEUX SPAGHETTI BAR
14, rue Saint Merri
75004 Paris
tel : 01 42 72 75 97
www.curieuxspag.com
Metro : Rambuteau (line 11) ou Hôtel de Ville (line 1)

Located right behind Georges Pompidou centre, this small restaurant is a true nugget. Mixture of design, baroque and mind-expanding, it is difficult to describe it. Anyway, it is a very good place for a brunch. There is to drink and to eat: sweet,
savoury food, crêpes, eggs, salads, in brief, the buffet is hudge. The atmosphere is busy and mirror balls make us forget that we are on Sunday afternoon!!! It is necessary to reserve; there are 3 services of brunch: 11h-12h30 and 14 h 30. Afterwards, nothing of such as a digestive promenade on quays closed in the circulation and we arrive at the feet of Louvre and its pyramid. This it is Paris!

Florence
Hotel Eiffel Capitol

L’ARROSOIR

75 avenue Daumesnil
75012 Paris
Tel : 01 43 43 64 58
www.restaurant-larrosoir.com
Metro: Gare de Lyon (lines 1 & 14 RER A & B) Reuilly Diderot (line 1 & 8)

This small corner of paradise, located near to Gare de Lyon train station, under one of the arcades of the Viaduct of Arts, looks like an English garden. It is very warm-hearted, with its old stones, very bright, decoration is simple and from good taste. In brief, we feel very comfortable. I opted for a brunch while my friends took dishes which are delightful and very much abounding. Concerning the brunch, tartines, scrambled eggs, potatoes, cheese, fruit salad. etc, I loved. Good presentation and very well served. To be kept on your address book, for sure.

Florence
Hotel Eiffel Capitol

REIMS CATHEDRAL ANNIVERSARY

I passed a week-end to Reims and discovered that THIS YEAR IT IS THE CATHEDRAL 800th ANNIVERSARY.
Reims Cathedral is very important in French history. Kings used to be crowned there (not all the kings) so if you come to France may be you could spend a day in Reims. Especially if you come between May and October as there will be many events for the anniversary.

So here is what you could do during your day to Reims:
Departure early in the morning (really early), around 8:50 am from Paris Gare de l’Est.
From Reims Train Station, take rue Colonel Driant until rue de Thiers which leads to the Hotel de Ville square. In front of the City Council (Hotel de Ville) you have a nice view on the Place Royale through rue Colbert.

Then take rue du Cloître to the Cathedral. If you compare it with Paris Cathedral, it seems really bigger and sober: There are fewer decorations and as the glass windows were broken during the war some are modern but less colorful (but there are also Chagall glass windows!). You started your tour day!

You can assist to the shows given between May and October 2011 or visit the city.

Before starting your visit it may be better to rent audio guides at the Tourist Office which is located next to the cathedral. They may give you the precious information I could not get about history or architecture. One can read some explanations written in French sometimes in English and German. But not everything is well explained! We were very lucky getting a French guide when entering to the Palais du Thau, he was really good and we got good knowledge to make a tour of the city after. You can also visit the Tourist Office Web where they suggest a guided tour from April to August for example. Their contact are really good answering to all questions.

Beside the Cathedral, the Palais du Thau is very important for the Kings Crowning Ceremony. And you will discover the real size of the statues that seem so tiny at the front of the Cathedral. After that you can go to the restaurants at the walking zone (which is interesting also for the buildings architecture) specially at Place Drouet d’Erlon.

After lunch the buses (lines A or F) will drive you to Saint Remi’s church and its monastery. There one can also discover the history of Reims and its surroundings. I found it quite interesting but not really well explained.

Your main regret will be the return to Paris: last train is before 8pm which is too early to see the Cathedral marvelous enlightening at this period of the year...

Everyone knows Reims for Champagne. It is really a nice city full of history. Plenty of monuments but getting modern infrastructures (there will be a Tram within few days!!!). It is really a beautiful French city not to be missed.

Anaïs
Regetel

FRENCH PASTRIES

Crèpes,

There are lots of persons that when coming to Paris want to try the crêpes.

Personally I don’t really prefer the “Real buckwheat Crêpes”, and if I have one it will be a salty one (ham and cheese for example), so I did not try to make them at home. If you want to try one, you can read the message of Valérie or Geraldine who talk about good restaurants (label Paris-crepes).

So as we love crêpes at home I had to learn how to do them and it is really simple! It is like a pancake recipe without yeast. I always melt first little milk (less than 1/2littre) with 3 eggs and then add flour (2 or 3 cups), salt and melted butter (a small spoon of it). If we want sweat crepes I add some vanilla sugar.
I see if it is liquid enough and add milk or flour according to my needs. Then I leave it for 15 minutes (recipes say more, but I’m not patient enough), and start trying the first one in a really hot pain where I passed a small paper with few butter. I sometimes miss my first crêpe. But then they are all ok.
I really believe that crêpes recipe changes according to one’s taste. At Grands-Boulevards station (line 8 or 9) they sell thick crêpes, personally I prefer them thinner.
My favorite crêpe is the sugar one (just few sugar inside). But you can add chocolate, marmalade, almonds, honey, chestnut…
Bon Appetit!

Anaïs

When coming to Paris don’t miss the Marais. It is one of the nicest districts of Paris. There you will discover history, art, architecture, shopping…
Take your time and enter the court yards where you will find nice shops that seem hidden in a private world. For example at 8, rue des Francs Bourgeois (75003 Paris) there is a nice courtyard with with a haberdashery and the Photo-Gallery YellowKorner.

To go to the Marais, you can get of at metro staion Chemin-Vert (line 8) and Saint-Paul (line 1).

Anaïs
Regetel

Photo © Legnit

LE BOURBON

1, Place du Palais Bourbon
75007 Paris
Metro : Assemblée Nationale (line 12)
Tel : 01. 45. 51. 58. 27

It is the third time i have lunch at le bourbon. Food is just ok (nothing excellent), but the place seems welcoming and very Parisian. Moreover we felt cramped for room. When the wether is good it is better to take a table outside, you have a nice view on the square and the National Assembly.
The service is not really fast, but they are nice and helpful.
Main dish is about 15€.

Anaïs
Regetel

Restaurant du Rond Point
2bis, avenue Franklin Roosevelt
75008 Paris
tel : 01 44 95 98 44

Located within the theatre of the Rond Point, this restaurant is ideal before going to see one of the shows. Reservation is hard recommended to avoid waiting and to be sure of having a table because the restaurant is pretty small.
Service is quick and efficient. I was a bit disappointed by my risotto of St Jacques and Gambas (seafoods were very good but the rice had nothing special). On the contrary, I liked the chocolate cake. Ambience is rather convivial and nervous. The waiters do not stop running but they are very courteous and nice.

Florence
Hotel Eiffel Capitol

TERMINUS NORD
23, rue de Dunkerque
75010 Paris
Tel : 01 42 85 05 15
www.terminusnord.com

Located right in front of the Nord station, this brasserie is incredible! Crowdy, Art deco, busy waiters, no doubt, we are definitely in a brasserie.
As the manager who received us was nice and smiling, as our maitre of hotel was unfriendly.
Concerning the cuisine, I took bulots and shrimps. I was disappointed enough because bulots was tough, tasteless, what is amazing for a brasserie specialized in sea food. For dessert, I took one classic: a floating island. Nothing too bad but not extraordinary either. For sure, I won’t go back.

Florence
Hotel Eiffel Capitol