Yesterday in Paris

 

Yesterday, with the best of intentions (ha ha) I headed to the pool 🏊 and got there too late for the morning session (7 - 12:30)

Instead I went and got a much-needed haircut. Damien cuts it in 11 minutes (not kidding). Telling myself I’d hit the pool later for the afternoon session (13:30 - 18:00). 

Ah the little lies we tell ourselves…

Rue Cler, La Fontaine de Mars

Last night I was meeting Karen Schneid and her adorable daughters at La Fontaine de Mars

A quick walk down rue Cler was essential.

La Fontaine de Mars, 75007

 

For years I’ve wanted to eat lunch at La Fontaine de Mars on rue Saint Dominique in the 7th.

Its a terrific example of your classic red checked tablecloth Paris bistro and the ‘Top’ to boot quality-wise. A president had a date night there… I stayed in an apartment around the corner, passed it often and dreamed a little… But going on your own sometimes is daunting. 

I looked over the menu online. Always a good idea. They have a reasonable daily plat du jour/daily special(23€). Bonnie said, when they stayed in the 7th, they would go at noon Sundays and get the chicken. 

Visiter Ann was staying in the 7th.  It didn’t take much arm-twisting to convince Anne we should go for Sunday lunch. La la la la la 🤸‍♂️

I made the reservation. So easy. They were so nice. They asked did we want to sit upstairs or downstairs. Downstairs (street level) I said. They really do prefer you make reservations ahead. Its not a museum. They need to know how many baguettes 🥖  to buy. 

French restaurants open for lunch at noon and close at 3pm. They will not let you in, even 1 minute before.  Its so much better to cooperate and play by their rules. Once you cross the threshold, you are in their domaine. 

Being there early means you have the place to yourself and can take a good look around. Take pictures. Nice old-fashioned soap 🧼 dispensers. 

When I do go into places alone, usually I know exactly what I want to eat and tell the waiter before they even bring the menu. I want them to know I won’t be causing problems or taking up too much time. Ann noticed the couple (spoke English too) next to us made a bit of a fuss ordering. In the end, they got exactly what they saw we were eating - the plat de jour 😊 

On Sundays, Parisians usually arrive for lunch around one o’clock 🕐 They like to sleep in on the weekends.

There is a very pleasant convivial feeling to Fontaine de Mars. How was the chicken you ask? We both thought it was the best chicken 🍗  we’d ever eaten.

Thank you for all your wonderful Duvet advice. My iPad (so helpful aren’t they) popped up an ad and I bought it. Yay Hooray 🍾 If you like this post please support it by buying my Paris letters and watercolors. And do pass on to someone who might enjoy it. Happy Mardi/Tuesday dear PBers! 🍷 🍷🍷🍷🐻

❤️

La Fontaine de Mars Watercolor

La Fontaine de Mars, Paris

 Fontaine de Mars Watercolor 

I dreamed my dog ate at La Fontaine de Mars, original art

I dreamed my dog ate at La Fontaine de Mars 75007 with President Obama and First Lady Michelle on Saturday night.

Yes it's true. The President and his wife had a date nite at a bistro just around the corner from me on 129, Rue Saint-Dominique.

I used to pass it at least once a day but I was saving my centimes for macarons so I never entered - dommage.

Getting ready here for the President's visit? The nappery is distinctly checkered as it should be in any good Parisien bistro.

Yahoo.fr reports the Obamas ate classic bistro fare:
Au menu : foie gras, gigôt d'agneau et ile flottante

You can choose something else if you prefer.

This handy little guide book suggests there are few vrais bistros left. I picked it up first in Paris and then found the English version here..

The 51 true bistros inside have the obligatory zinc or wood bar, daily specials on the chalkboard, small dining rooms, husband in the kitchen, wife up front. Usually the dishes on offer are regional, native to the owner's home and wines are from small vineyards preferably nearby. This whole series of small Paris guides is worth collecting.

I grabbed a shot of the La Fontaine's red checked nappery while passing by. Who knew it would become world famous?

Should you decide you want to do up your dining room Bistro style, Boutique Sabre will have all the appropriate gear.

They have a number of shops in Paris.

And should you decide you want to cook like a Normandie grandmere, look on Amazon.fr for this facsimile cookbook

BONJOUR LUNDI!