About

updated April 2007

It's now been a year that I've been doing this blog, so I thought that an about page was in due order.

I'm an American living in Paris with my dog who used to live in Paris with my dog, currently plotting my return (expected sometime in 2008). I decided to start blogging when I realized that while there is a wealth of information about Paris on all the frequented areas, attractions, restaurants, and bars, I couldn't find anything on that boutique around the corner, or that tiny bistro down the block. I hope that my experience, and most importantly, my photos of the menus, can help you guys make better choices about your dining experiences in Paris.

Another reason I started doing this is because of the absolutely horrible meals I had the first time I was ever in Paris. My boyfriend served as tour guide, but he is not from Paris and had never lived here before, so it was like the blind leading the blind except for the language thing. Pretty much every meal we had was a rip-off and at a place where I would never dream of going now that I have been living here. Yep, we ate at one of those restaurants right behind St-Michel - the ultimate tourist trap. Overpriced chains at Grands-Boulevards? Check. I think we might have even eaten at McDonald's one time because we were so frustrated with the restaurant lottery! That week was a blend of all the amazing sights, and all the singularly catastrophic (and expensive) meals we had just because we hadn't researched. We foolishly thought that any restaurant in Paris must be good, and that the high prices were normal for a bustling metropolitan. We were so so wrong! I don't know what the ratio of good:bad restaurants is, but I do know that deals are to be found and that there are many hidden treasures. Now, I have my red Michelin guide, my Guide du Routard, and most importantly, google. So I hope to share all my good experiences, warn you away from the bad ones, and show you a little bit of Paris in the process.

An attempt to categorize the dining establishments mentioned on my blog by arrondissement (now includes Strasbourg and Belgium categories as well):

FRANCE

Paris
1er
Angelina's
Chez Stella
Flam's

2ème
Le Gallopin
Mellifère
La Souris Verte
Zen Zoo

3ème
Le Bar' Bouille
Le Pamphlet

4ème
L'As du Fallafel
La Tartine

5ème
Le Buisson Ardent
Louis Vins
Le Pré Verre

6ème
La Crêpe Rit du Clown
Crêperie Saint-Germain

7ème
L'ami Jean
Chez Germaine
La Grande Epicerie
Au Pied de Fouet

8ème
Senderens

9ème
Le Brébant

10ème
La 25ème Image
Le Cambodge
Le Chapelier Fou
Chez Maurice Le Bourgogne
Le Fils du Soleil
Le Petit Chateau d'Eau
Le Plomb du Cantal
La Strasbourgeoise
Le Verre Volé

11ème
Chez Imogène
La Pharmacie

12ème
A la Biche au Bois
Jean-Pierre Frelet

14ème
Artists'Pub
Monsieur Lapin
Wadja

17ème
Chez Léon

20ème
Les Allobroges

Strasbourg
l'Ami Schutz
Auberge de l'Ill
Au Crocodile
L'atelier d'Grand Pere
Le Buerehiesel
Le Croissant Doré
l'Epicerie

BELGIUM

Antwerp
Belgaufra and Fritkot Max
Dock's Cafe

Brussels
Bistrot du Mail
Le Chou de Bruxelles
Galler Chocolat-The
Restaurant JB
Chez Marie
Le Pavilion

Comments, suggestions, requests, disagreements, corrections, conflicting experiences, links, hints, etc. are very much appreciated.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, the picture is of the appropriately-named Rue du Vieux Colombier in the 6th.

tags: French characters, AV, Ah, France, randomness, grub, USA, reads, shopping, sights, surf's up, wheels