Welcome to the first of several Paris travel tip posts!
This week we share customer recommendations for Parisian bistros and we announce a Photo contest winner!
Au Vieux Comptoir
Smoked salmon on a bed of quinoa blanketed with fresh red radish. Hello spring!
Photo credit: Au Vieux Comptoir
Ready for a new French word?
The term “bistronomie” has been blowing around Paris for a while now. It’s a word coined in 2004 by French journalist and food critic, Sébastien Demorand (ah, those restaurant reviewers… what will they think of next!)
Bistronomie is a way to describe that culinary hybrid between casual bistro cuisine and the more upscale “gastronomy” that you’ll find in many Michelin-starred restaurants. Very much like the cuisine you’ll find at Rêve.
So where can you get the best bistronomie in Paris?
For its authentic culinary roots and frequent celebrity sitings, our first bistronomic recommendation is Au Vieux Comptoir, located near the Place du Châtelet. It’s highly recommended by several Rêve regulars and it’s no surprise why. Just take a look at the stunning hors d’oeuvre pictured above! Smoked salmon on a bed of quinoa blanketed by fresh red radishes. Hello spring! Au Vieux Comptoir is run by husband-and-wife team Anne and her husband Chef Cyril (sound familiar?) This traditional Parisian bistro exudes the same passion for food and wine that Rêve brings to the table. So next time you’re in Paris, grab a spot at the bar (the name means ‘to the old counter’) and then come into Rêve to tell us all about it!
Au Vieux Comptoir
17 Rue de Lavandières Sainte Opportune
Paris, France 75001
au-vieux-comptoir.com
33 1 45 08 53 08
If you’re a Francophile and a film fan like me, you’ve probably seen Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris,” a film featuring scenes from the quintessential Paris bistro, Le Polidor. We advise you to run, don’t walk, to this rustic Parisian bistro where, legend has it, Hemingway spent much of his time while in Paris (probably as much for the conversation and humor as the hearty food and wine). On the wall a sign announces: Depuis 1845, Le Polidor n’accepte pas les cartes de crédit (Translation: Since 1845, Le Polidor has not accepted credit cards.)
Long communal tables are covered with red and while checked table coverings and it’s rumored that the décor has not changed in 100 years. This rough-and-ready bistro is perfect for a very casual night out in the 6th arrondissement near Lycée Saint-Louis.
Le Polidor
Photo credit: Le Polidor.
Le Polidor
41 Rue Monsieur le Prince
Paris, France 75006
polidor.com
33 1 43 26 95 34
For more Hemingway nostalgia, another Rêve regular recommends La Closerie des Lilas , a timeless bistro founded in 1847.
For its chic atmosphere and swish location, Lilas is more tony restaurant/bar than bistro/brasserie but either way the casual atmosphere is inviting and the food is excellent. We think this dish of sweetbreads and asparagus is much like a dish you’d see at Rêve,
La Closerie des Lilas
Photo credit: La Closerie des Lilas
La Closerie des Lilas
171 Boulevard du Montparnasse
Paris, France 75006
closeriedeslilas.fr
33 1 40 51 34 50
And now for the photo contest winner!
For its sense of light and dramatic mood, we have chosen this scenic of the Seine and the Conciergerie that captures the history, the elegant architecture and so much of what we love about Paris.
Congratulations to Rêve customer, Dave Johnson! Please contact us for your $25 gift card.
More winners will be announced in future posts.
MERCI BEAUCOUP to everyone!
