Paris, Food and Euros

Food and Restaurants (Posted by Stephen - July 15)

Paris is expensive ! Perhaps the real reason there are not a lot of overweight people in Paris is the cost of feeding oneself. Oh, some food seems cheap, a baguette costs anywhere from 90 cents to a Euro ( $1.20 - $1.40 us or $1.40 - $1.60 CAN). In restaurants, coffee (French coffee, strong, 3 mouthfuls) is about a Euro to 1,20. Local fast food places advertise hamburger, fries and drink for 7,50 Euro, or $10.45 USD. In the restaurant near the office a croque monsieur (one piece of bread, slice of ham and cheese broiled, small side salad) is 8,50 Euro or over $12.00 USD

To be fair, wine is cheap, or put another way, you can get good wine for less. Here is my dinner lately.

As everyone knows, Paris is famous for food. I would not want to estimate the number of restaurants close to where I stay. Genya and I ate out almost every night, and we only went to the obvious. We did discover a lovely (a bit expensive) place right on rue Amelot, about 4 blocks from the apartment. We had a great, leisurely meal there one night. We also found an Italian place on Place Rebublique (in Paris, Place means "place for tourists") . Despite our misgivings, we ate there and the food was incredible. I tell you this because on Friday I had a colleague in town and we went to dinner at the same Italian place. I am a little embarrassed that already I am starting to repeat. (to make it worse, I ordered the meal Genya had)

In Shanghai, Genya and I had a favorite restaurant (Genya discovered it actually) and at least once, usually two times, when she came to Shanghai, we would eat there. Must be a craving for stability. The experience last Friday was the same as Genya and I had, another great meal. Sitting beside us was a large Italian family, matriarch, patriarch, kids, about a dozen, and the place was full of laughter and animated Italian conversation. Could have been in Florence.

My Favorite Paris Restaurant...so far

Lest you think I do this to create a "local" for myself in Paris (Where everybody knows your name, al la Cheers), I do not think so. French wait staff have a lovely disdain for non-french and it would take many years and much money for us to feel at home in any single restaurant.

Our other "favorite" cafe on rue Amelot.

In the local supermarket I have found a brand of yogurt that comes in small glass jars! Amazing in today's age of plastic. I bought one package (comes in 4 small single servings) and it was delicious. I am now on my 2nd package. I was looking at the package the other day, thinking it must be some local traditional dairy that still makes this delightful yogurt called " la Laitiere". Turns out it is made by Nestle!

The problem for me is I do not want to throw out these glass jars, they must be good for something. I started out using them for change, but I quickly filled 3 with loose change, not efficient really. They are not screw tops, so that is not helpful for storage. I was going to use one for measuring my laundry detergent, but I dropped it and had to clean up the glass...will use plastic from now on there. Ideas welcome. Paris does recycle glass, so I do not feel so bad. They do not recycle plastic or cans...hard to understand. I guess with the amount of wine drunk daily in France, recycling glass is more important. There does not seem to be a lot of canned foods in the stores, and I guess most beer is drunk in cafes, so perhaps plastic and tin cans are not a problem.

Yogurt and glass jar...

I mentioned I had to much change for one jar. I am again getting used to the concept that in Europe (like Canada), change can add up quickly. When I counted the other day I had over 59 Euros in change. That is almost $85.00 or $100 CAD. I probably have another 20 in the office. I need to change my mindset about change in France.

I guess if I keep writing about food I need to create a blog called "Fat in France" or "Porky Paris"