Dalai Lama
Photo by Allison Planck; Minolta x-700
BREAKFAST, BRUNCH, AND LUNCH:
The Affordable Meal
Eating out in Paris is a great way to understand the culture and to experience another way of life. That being said, it can also get extremely pricey. Although dinner is one of the finest and most extensive meals in France, going out for dinner in the city is expensive - and more of an occasional treat if you're on a student budget. Eating out for lunch is a more affordable option that will also fill you up for a good part of the day. Many restaurants and cafés offer set lunch prices and include an entree + a plate or a plate + desert for under 15 euros. An option for the weekends is to scout out some brunch spots - yes the French do brunch, too! On the weekends, the French love to eat and socialize and can be found doing that throughout the day so these brunch spots can get packed, but they are definitely worth it.
Left: Brunch at HolyBelly
Center: Brunch crew outside HolyBelly
Right: Brunch at HolyBelly
Photo by Allison Planck; iPhone 5c
Photo by Ian Webb; Minolta x-700
Photo by Allison Planck; iPhone 5c
Oh, Holybelly. This place will always hold a special place in our hearts (yes a good restaurant can do that to you). Let's establish something right off the bat - this is not an American diner. You will hear a combination of both English and French being spoken here and both are happily and equally welcomed. There is a reason why this restaurant-café is so well known, and it is for their exceptionally friendly service and their amazing food. Every four weeks the menu changes, featuring everything from customary French dishes to avocado toast (picture on the right) and even cornbread and beans. Their little spot near the Canal Saint Martin is a universal meeting point for both locals and tourists in Paris offering great atmosphere, amazing coffee, and exceptional food!
Left: Breakfast at Sésame
Photo by Allison Planck; iPhone 5c
Also close to the Saint Martin Canal, is Le Sésame. This is a cute and elegant little restaurant that specializes in bagel sandwiches and a morning brunch spread. You'll notice a lot of written English in restaurants around the Canal because it is a very modern and young area, and English acts as a language meeting ground for many European countries. However, this does not mean that everyone speaks English - remember to be respectful and try your best at addressing people in French first. If they want to speak in English, they will! Try the breakfast/brunch spread here for a more traditional French morning meal.
Left: The gang outside of Bob's Juice Bar
Right: Lunch at Bob's Juice Bar
Photo by Allison Planck; Minolta x-700
Photo by Allison Planck; iPhone 5c
For the average Angelino, smoothies and vegetarian dishes are easily accesible and even meat eaters like me, often dine vegetarian. One thing that I did realize after the course of several weeks was that my body was craving green and colorful veggie dishes from back home. The French traditionally eat alot of meat and bread, and some times the vegetable accompanier in meals can fall a little short. Call in Bob's Juice Bar! Their vegetarian dishes packed with protein, summer veggies, and dark leaves will get you feeling back on track. They also offer fresh pressed juices and a variety of other specality items that you don't usually find in the average Paris café
Left: La REcyclerie brunch
Right:Marché aux Puces, Montmartre
Photo by Allison Planck; Minolta x-700
Photo by Allison Planck; Minolta x-700
Are you ready for the best weekend brunch spread you've ever seen? Head over to La REcyclerie on the edge of Paris to try a little bit of everything and to do some shopping while you're at it. The restaurant is based over a train station platform and is attached to a pop-up flea market and a small garden farm. After you indulge on chicken, bacon, custard, bread and jam, a baked egg, salad, fruit purees, coffee and juice (PHEW!), head down to check out the booths of handmade jewelry and second-hand clothing. The biggest flea market in Paris is also just a couple blocks down - called the Marché au Puces. Spend a whole day exploring this area of Montmartre!
Left: Picnic on the Champ des Mars
Right: Allison with her favorite cheese
Photo by Allison Planck; Minolta x-700
Photo by Aziz Maaham; Minolta x-700
An alternative to going out for a big meal, is to pick up all the food you need for a picnic. Picnicking is an art form in Paris and involves a lot of easy food and intimate conversations among friends. Baguette sandwiches are an extremely popular and cheap lunch option and are a great addition to any picnic. These usually consist of a meat and a cheese on a small baguette. Trying new cheeses will also broaden your understanding of food culture in Paris; there are great Fromagerie's over in the Saint-Germain area of Paris that are perfect for picking up picnic supplies. Now all you need to do is pack your bag, get a blanket, and find a pleasant spot to set up camp!
Left: Morrocan food at Marche des Enfants Rouges
Photo by Allison Planck; iPhone 5c
Right: One enterance into Marche des Enfants Roughes
Photo taken from Google Maps
The open public markets are a large part of French culture and are a great place to grab some lunch while shopping. The Marché Des Enfants is a beautiful and atmospheric environment that features flowers, produce, and specialty item vendors. There are also several areas within the market to eat lunch at - also including small cafés and areas for more casual dining. We tried the Moroccan food, which I had never had before, and it was absolutely amazing. This is a great area to meander through and grab some lunch at when you're in the Marais!