Quick and Easy Recipes by Ella

Looking for French food?

The best eating experience I had in Paris happened in Le Balzac Restaurant, placed near Arc de Triomphe, on 29, avenue de Friedland, 75008. The “escalope de saumon” you will find there is beyond description. And not just for salmon’s persons. Looking at the table opposite mine, I’ve noticed a couple who shared the same dish I had, after the man almost finished the stake with potatoes he ordered. He cleaned with bread his partner’s plate with “escalope de saumon”. And, believe me, all the portions are big.

Not to be missed is Hippopotamus Restaurant grill, on 80, Ave. General Leclerc, 75014. Try the “foie gras” with “tartare tomate”.

If you are in the mood for oysters, make sure you find Huitres et Saumons de Passy Restaurant, on 17, rue de l’Annonciation, 75016. If you want your oysters cooked, you have to call two days before to order, at the telephone number: 01 42 88 19 64.

At almost each corner of the street you can find the big sandwiches with smoked salmon. Cheep and good.

From the Patisserie, it is interesting to try all kind of fruitcakes, the famous French Cheese cake. However, I never managed to find a place to prepare that tasty banana bread recipe my mother used to bake for us when we were children.

The Spanish restaurants are authentic. If you like this kind of food, go and eat.

To be avoided:

• Le Carolus Bar a Biere, 130ter, Bd de Clichy, 75018. The “formula Carolus” is not the formula you wish for yourselves. If the fly in the drink is your thing, ask for “Kir Sauvignon”. All this, in a day you are willing to wait for half an hour for your order to be taken and other half to be served.
• In an Italian restaurant I ordered lasagna and, for 20 Euro, I got a frozen one, reheated, you can buy at the supermarket with 4 Euro. May not be the same story everywhere.
• Food from the menu without translation. You will probably get sausages instead. It is easier to boil than to cook.
• The French pizza served in Brasseries.

Are you an average income person? Do you feel like buying clothes in the famous Paris? If your answers are yes, at both questions, I will share with you my experience in the beautiful capital of France.

Few days before the end of the trip, I bought a ticket for a show at the theatre. It was a spontaneous act and I was unprepared for it, meaning the clothes I had in my luggage were good for walks in rainy winter days: mountain boots, sweaters…

My first stop was La Fayette Gallery, were even the sport ware clothes are so expensive that I decided to visit the shop like a museum. Time well spent. Wonderful cupola, nice view from the terrace at the top.
After that, I tried on some garments at the shops in the area. Still expensive.

The best idea that came into my mind was to find a small shop on a narrow street, nearby, with prices I could afford. And I found it, on 40, rue St Anne – 75002. The shop’s name is Camille SARL, 75 Paris.

Do not go there!

You may find (depending on their schedule) an apparently honest middle-aged lady, who doesn’t know English but is willing to try to understand a poor French if you show up as a customer. Her ability of understanding is directly related to the amount of money she can steal from you.

During the time I tried the outfits, she seemed to understand well enough my not so good French. The problems appeared when it came to the payment. She told me an amount of money I found to be way too much for the clothes I bought: 453 Euro. I expressed my confusion and asked the lady to please give me the price tags she ripped off from the garments, to see them. She said that is not possible, those should stay at the shop. Just to see them, I insisted. The woman took and put them in a notebook.

Very soon, I started to feel sick, to have speeding head, the calcium went down, and the hands started to tremble. I think (my French is not good) that she explained to me that something is wrong with the cashier machine and she is not able to give me a receipt. I said “OK, than give my in your hand writing (I was showing with the right hand, in case she didn’t understand) the price of each garment.” She had a problem with this as well. She kept saying that is “bon Marché” (a good deal) and that when I will return to my country I will be proud to show off with clothes from Paris. Nonsense. “That is not something to be proud of” I replayed. It seemed like she didn’t bother at all.

I paid 153.90 Euro with the credit card and the rest with cash. Leaving the shop, I entered in the first pharmacy to buy Calcium with magnesium.

Returning to my country, I noticed that the blouse had a float and it was knotted.

If you didn’t take my advice and you find the shop, send my regards to the crook.

These are a few things you can visit in Paris when you are on a low budget:

• Don’t miss the beautiful cathedrals and churches Paris offers with such generosity. You will find out how to reach there by looking on the map of Paris.
• Lots of time you may be interested to spend in ‘Cite des sciences & l’industrie’, on 30, avenue Corentin-Cariou, 75019, metro – Porte de la Villette. If you find the ladies room, please let me know. It was impossible for me to see it. I had to use the men’s room.
• Free entrance at Musee Carnavalet, on 23, rue de Sévigné, 75003, metro – Saint-Paul. You will be amazed. That’s also the impression an American roommate, who took my advice, had.
• Good to see: Cimetiere du Montmartre, at the North, Cimetière du Montparnasse, at the south, Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise, at the East.
• If you want to go for a walk, do go at Jardin du Luxembourg, Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde.
• Not so expensive to leave Paris by train and spend some time in Fontainebleau. SNCF gare de Lyon, station Avon-Fontainebleu. Apart of visiting the Museum, you will have the chance to see for yourselves the forest made famous by the impressionists.
• A full day you can have by going to Versailles and Trianon. Metro station: Pont de Sevres+ bus no. 171 up to Place d’Armes station. After seeing all those, on your way back, stop at Pont de Sevres and visit The Musee national de Ceramique de Sevres.

Still having time?
Well, something is wrong with you.