What would Paris and France be without its many colourful bistros and terrace cafés? They give uniqueness to the city and are major elements of French life, romance and pleasure. It is the experience of uniqueness and character of each city that is under threat. The bistros and sidewalk cafés of France are threatened by the standardization of the world. Today, the city centers of the big metropoliseis tend to be very similar. Everywhere, the same signs, logos, fast-food chains and take-away shops with identical decoration and comparable atmospheres. But cafés are unique places that identify a destination. Paris and France are still slightly spared by…
Author: paris-bistro
In front of the Montparnasse Tower, a Bouillon Chartier replaced the old 1900 Montparnasse restaurant. It is not a creation but a renaissance of the address, 116 years after its first inauguration by Edouard Chartier. On his benches, Modigliani must have certainly drink absinthes… It is a miracle that this restaurant is so well preserved. It belongs to the category of Bouillons. They are not bistros but popular Parisian restaurants originally intended for employees and renowned for their very good value for money. The first was created in 1860 by Alexandre Duval, where only broths were served. Thus, those nostalgic…
Vladimir Putin has just authorized an amendment to the liquor law which reserves the exclusive use of the term “champagne” to Russian producers. French Champagne producers will be able to keep the word Champagne in Latin but therefore have to change the labels to Cyrillic for the appellation “bubbly wines” when importing to Russia. The Russian president is following in the footsteps of Stalin, because it was indeed, under “the Father of Nations”, as Stalin was nicknamed, that the Soviet champagne Sovetskoye champanskoye was launched. The sparkling wine technique produced in the former USSR was developed in 1928, created from aligoté…
One thing is certain, the Covid will have demonstrated something that seemed so natural that we did not talk about it: the attachment of Parisians to the terraces of theirs cafes and bistros.Because since May 19, first phase of a progressive reopening, Parisians have flocked to the terraces. At the moment, the cafes are limite to no more than 50% of their customers in their terraces. To compensate for the loss of revenue, thethe municipality has authorized cafes and restaurants to expand and install ephemeral terraces, on parking spaces instead of cars. So the streets are filled with terraces that…
The attempt by the Government to provide universal equality with retirement age and pension entitlements has led to wide spread havoc brought about by transport disruption. The strike of train and metro drivers has deadlocked Paris and its region since December 5th. The government’s plan to set up a universal retirement system for all French people is a declaration of downright war from the metro and train drivers. Presently they reach retirement at the age of 52 whereas others at 63. 1995 marked the last major strike in Paris which was launched for the very same reason. But, it had…
In front of the Gare de l’Est where the TGV whisks you off to Strasbourg or Munich, there is a restaurant called Batifol. It is a manifesto of what we all consider to be the essence of a Parisian bistro. Its name is taken from the French word “batifoler” meaning ‘to frolic’. A further source of the name is that of the famous bistro dating back to the avantgarde period of the mid 20’s frequented by the Dadaists, where nonsense and incongruity reigned. The Batifol 2019 is built around this nostalgia for a golden age of Parisian bistros, both in…
The geography of Burgundy looks like a vertical rectangular. At the North, the famous wines of Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune together with their prestigious appellations. At the South, a more popular image, with easier drinking wines. Gilles Breuil, a southerner, proud of his region has named both his restaurant enterprises, “Bourgogne Sud”. His goal is to deliver a more simple, affordable and convivial message and style of eating although from this highly rich gourmet region of France. He has the know-how. A long experience in the brasseries of Paris as well as the knowledge of where…
Place du Châtelet, the heart of Paris, stands an historic café bearing the name of the greatest tragedienne of the French theater. Sarah Bernhardt was an actress adored during the time of great cultural exuberance known as the Belle Epoque bridging the 19 & 20th centuries. A theatre decorated in the style of the fin de siècle was dedicated to her and it is within its confines that the beautiful café also bearing her name is located. A place most elegant and chic, but equally popular. The Sarah Bernhardt cafe is a feast for the eyes as it evokes the…
From the south of the Loire to the Pyrenees, the south west of France is geographic aera with imprecises borders. From Clermont-Ferrand to Birarritz via Carcassonne and Bordeaux, is the rugby country. Yet, it is also a state of mind, marked by a culture of conviviality and sharing. This attribute is found most visibly in its gastronomy, so in Paris the Chez Papa restaurants allow you to savour the cuisine and experience this state of mind. Unusually for Paris bistros, meals are served throughout the day and the waitstaff are exceptionally friendly and helpful. Because Papa, ‘Dad’, is a famous…
Located in the heart of Beaujolais, often called “the most sensual vineyard” because of its pretty mountains that evoke the curves of female body, the domain of Manoir du Carra extends over more than 37 hectares of parcels. From Saint Etienne la Varenne to Bois d’Oingt … Domaine Manoir du Carra is a family estate which is run today by Frédéric and Damien, members of the fifth generation of the Sambardier family. From 4 hectares in 1962, the surface of the estate has now grown to over 37 hectares from the best limestone clay plots from south Beaujolais to the…