Inspired by the then recent 150th episode of No Reservations, I decided to head down to Paris to try some of the places that Anthony Bourdain had visited.
Yes, once an establishment has been featured on No Reservations it does tend to experience an increase in tourists visiting it, but the fact of the matter is that Bourdain knows his stuff. Tourists or no tourists, the places he visits on No Reservations more often than not are worth a visit.
…and yes I am well aware of the irony that I was, in fact, a tourist.
Le Comptoir de Realis
9 carrefour de l’Odéon, 75006
Le Comptoir de Realis is a small 20 seat bistro run by chef Yves Camdeborde. At one stage it was one of the hardest restaurants to get a booking for in Paris during weeknights. Both times I have been, it has been extremely busy. The first time (this trip), I was lucky enough to walk straight in to a table, probably owing to the fact that it was a weekday lunch (there is a no bookings policy for lunch and on weekends for dinner). A month later I was back on a Saturday evening and spent just over an hour standing on the sidewalk waiting for a table. It was every bit worth the wait – the couple behind us that decided to walk away made the wrong choice. The food is amazing, the service excellent, the ambiance chilled out and fun, and the price very much in the mid range – not a fancy, expensive venue at all.
Classic French dishes, done well – as simple as that.
One of the things that I can no longer get now that I’m back in Australia is proper Foie Gras. I miss it. A lot.
Escargot
Croque-Monsieur (aka grilled cheese and ham sandwich)
For the life of me I cannot remember what exactly this was. Some sort of pie.
Can’t remember what this was either, but it was amazing.
Creme caramel.
Tarte tartin.
Some street artist had put these up in random spots all over Paris. I noticed one a few years back, and by this trip the artist had expanded his coverage and there were lots more hidden all over the city.
Le Creperie de Josselin
67 Rue du Montparnasse 75014 Paris, France
I’m sure I’ve mentioned this place before, and every time I’ve been to Paris I have been here (except for the time I went in August which, as I mentioned, involved so many great places in the city being closed).
One of my favourite ciders. If anyone knows where I can find it in Australia, I’d be much obliged!
Les Cocottes
135 Rue Saint-Dominique 75007 Paris, France
Les Cocottes is a well known venue by Michelin Starred chef Christian Constant. After a long career working in very high end fine dining establishments, Constant decided that he wanted to open a place that served French “comfort food” in a chilled environment. Les Cocottes was the result, and looks more like the kind of place you’d expect to find in New York or Melbourne.
The food was great, the service was excellent and, again, it was a very fun place to eat. While central, it’s hidden on a side street and so it’s not touristy – you have to know it’s here and be looking for it to find it and as a result it’s a very interesting mix of local and foreigners and there are lots of interesting conversations to be had with strangers. My pick of the bunch.
More of the classic Foie Gras on toast.
Crab salad.
Pigs trotters with something inside. This was one of my favourite dishes.
Langoustine ravioli. This was absolutely divine.
A veal pasta dish if I remember correctly.
Waffles + salted caramel sauce. I believe OMG is the correct term.
Seasonal fruit salad.
Chef Constant’s signature chocolate tart. How could I say no?
It might be a Paris cliché, but this amazing tower never ceases to amaze me. It’s a beautiful piece of engineering.
