Cafe-Sitting - the great Parisian Sport

Cafe sitting, is the great Parisian sport. 

The rule: anyone can play.

But there's a little technique to cafe-sitting.  

1. choose a cafe that speaks to you

2. remain faithful to it, cafe fidelity is important

3. dont rush your choice; criteria should include interesting intersection and people watching, sunny side of the street, comfy seats, noise level and the waiters if they are aloof on the first day they will be on the 3rd, move on.

5. honing this technique to an art form: Nursing your cafe expresso to last for at minimum one hour (done more easily if you're involved in an animated conversation)

et voila time to play!

 

Coffee Culture in Paris

Found!!... good coffee in Paris! Alleluia!

Our Friend Rachel Guernier from French Moments whispered the name 'Coutume' in my ear for 'good coffee' in Paris! This was just before I jetted of to Paris in December and needless to say, being a caffeine nut, I needed a coffee pretty soon after I landed. SO off I went in search of this 'Coutume' (meaning Costume) - and I wasnt holding my breath! Paris, notoriously know for having less than average coffee, had disappointed me on one too many occasion - so I wasnt expecting to actually find decent coffee, that I did!

All Paris needed it seems, was an Australian to step in to start a very belated education in GOOD coffee.  Rachel wrote an article in FrenchEntree Magazine on her great find. Read it here.  And below...check out the hip industrial 'Australian feel' cafe that is Coutume. Think Paris cafe turns coffee laboratory. Popular with tourists and locals! Located in the 7th, 47 Rue de Babylone. 

YUM!

 

lets play the Paris Game...

...it goes "if i were in paris right now where would I be?" ... 

I'd be a total Owen Wilson in the movie  'midnight in paris' and frequenting any of hemingway's cafe haunts, trying to feel intellectual and parisian HAHAHA! One very cosy cafe i loved for its atmosphere was Les Pres aux Clerc, on rue bonapartre a stunning historic area in the St Germain des Pres, perfect people watching, quintessentially old world paris!

See more of Hemingway's cafes on Parisien Salon: 

http://www.parisiensalon.com/2011/08/hemingways-paris-sue-dumke/

Paris for Lunch

Bonjour Petite Friends. It's 2.30pm and I havent had lunch yet. Looks like im going to work straight through AGAIN; picking away at an emergency (don't have time to step away from le bureau) stash off tuna and crackers at my desk! If I were in Paris, I would eat at:


Le Comptoir (5th) 
For: the most delicious and innovative menu and quintessential Parisian bistro atmosphere where waiters do not speaks english - or franglish!
$$$
website

Les Philosophes (3rd)
For: the trendy people watching in this hip neoghbourhood, coolness factor
$$ 

La Sancerre (7th or 18th)
For: an old fashion wine bar/ cosy family run and super friendly atmosphere with delicious home style cooking. and for the gourmet food store.
$$ 

Laduree (3rd and 5th)
For: because you just have to! Its iconic, full of tourists and expensive! But its yum!
 $$$ 
website

Cafe constant (7th)
For: a surprise! About as casual as a Parisian cafe can get, its a dreary dank atmosphere that suddenly bursts to life, full of people with cafe food that is restaurant quality!
$$

 

Chez Prune (10th)
For: for the arty bobo atmosphere, hearty food at decent prices right on the saint martin canal one of the most tranquil and picturesque spots in Paris.
$ 

Le Deux Moulins (the amelie cafe 18th)
For: to crack a creme brulee with the back of your spoon! 1 <3 u amelie!!! 
$$ 

Frenchie (2nd)
For: being able to gloat about the fact that you actually 'go in'!! Famous little French eatery 
$$$

Les Ombres: (6th)
For: look at the photo...
$$$
Website

Chez Hanna: (3rd)
For: the best felafel, in a bustling fun environment mingling with locals
$

 
Ok the time spend blogging this post I think I could have gone out to get a real lunch! *crunch...makes the sound of my cracker mmmmmmm 

Bonne journee

3 of the best

Ok someone stop be before I develop rsi in my fingers...im on a crazy roll with the social networking today guys! I cant seem to stop facebook-ing, twitter-ing, post-ing... i must be excited about the Brisbane French Festival on Saturday! that fueled with a landslide of flat whites and i think im about to take off with excitement and energy for all things Paris!!

Im starting my '3 of the Best' Posts with something easy - 3 of the best Cult Cafes! Ok so im being a wee bit lazy! Everyone knows these! Well atleast they should but just in case they dont here they are! Add to your to do Paris list now.. at the very least try one and do what the Parisians do best - indulge in people watching for a good hour in the St Germain area:

1. Cafe de Flore - rated as one of the ten best places to eat in Paris,  its tables still snuggly wrap around the corner and they serve traditional favourites. Tip: order one of the excellent French wines or simply sit back over a coffee or 2 or 3 and watch the street traffic.
www.cafedeflore.fr
 
172, blvd st-Germain - 75006 Paris
01 45 48 55 26
Open: Daily 7am - 1.30am

2. LE DEUX MAGOTS - another of the 3 famos cafes. This is a legendary hangout for sophisticated residents who claim it in the off season and a tourist favourite in summer. You can order salads, pastries, ice cream and one of the daily specials.
www.lesdeuxmagots.fr
6 place St-Germain-des-Pres - 75006 Paris
01 45 48 55 25

3. BRASSERIE LIPP - (Johnny Depps haunt - thats enough reason pour moi :) and the  final of the 3 famous cafes in  st Germain Brasserie Lipp is a favourite haunt for the intelligent minds with it’s clientele that includes Hollywood stars, artists and has an interesting melange of French cuisine.
www.ila-chateau.com/lipp
151Bld. St Germain - 75006 Paris
Open everyday