avatarF. Leonora Solomon

Summary

The author shares a personal account of their repeated visits to Paris, detailing their memorable food experiences, the welcoming atmosphere of their regular hotel and nearby establishments, and the joy of discovering new flavors while feeling at home in the city.

Abstract

The narrative "My Parisian Gateway" recounts the author's multiple enchanting trips to Paris, a city they had longed to visit and were delighted to find exceeded their expectations. Staying at a familiar hotel, they indulged in the local crepe culture, enjoyed a variety of French cuisine, and formed a bond with the staff at a nearby bar reminiscent of a scene from "Casablanca." The author's love for food is evident as they describe the generous portions and unique flavors of Parisian dishes, and their fondness for unpasteurized cheese and novel potato chip flavors. The warmth and recognition received from locals made Paris feel like a second home, where the author could explore with the comfort of returning to familiar faces and places.

Opinions

  • The author was initially apprehensive about Paris living up to their high expectations but was pleasantly surprised by the city's charm.
  • They express a particular fondness for the crepes in Paris, noting the abundance of options and the generous fillings compared to those in New York.
  • The author values the experience of speaking French, even with their modest command of the language, and regrets the loss of language skills due to lack of practice.
  • They found the dining hours in Paris to be unusually late and had to adjust their routine accordingly.
  • The author appreciated the hospitality of the Parisian staff at their hotel and the bar, feeling welcomed and even missed during their absence.
  • They enjoyed the challenge and delight of trying unpasteurized cheese, despite communication barriers at the fromagerie.
  • The author is amused by the cultural differences in food portions, particularly the generous serving of mashed potatoes.
  • They have a penchant for collecting uniquely flavored potato chips from different countries, including the Poulet Roti Lay's from Paris.
  • The author cherishes the sense of belonging and comfort they experienced in Paris, which they attribute to the familiarity of their hotel and the local establishments.

My Parisian Gateway

After having gone there so many times when I returned to Paris one of the men asked me where had I been?

Photo of my favorite bar in Paris by me

I’ve been to Paris multiple times, each time was magic which I am thankful for. It was a place I had wanted to go to for such a long time I was afraid I would be underwhelmed.

I was not.

I stayed at the same hotel on a very varied food block. It was the gateway to my initial foodie experience in the city.

I must have been in the crepe district of Paris because a block or two over from my hotel, I could pick, choose or refuse where I was going to have a crepe. My first meal was an overpriced ham and cheese crepe with apricot juice which was ubiquitous and I was obsessed with it!

Down the block from my hotel were dueling creperies, I picked one and with my modest French – the best I was capable of at the time although a lot of it is gone now because I have no one to talk to in the language. I ordered a ham and Swiss crepe. There was so much ham and cheese. In New York where I live, I got crepes that did not even have a suggestion of this much. I actually went there once for brunch and there was so much ham and cheese I was not sure I could finish it! But I paced myself and sipped my apricot juice.

There was a restaurant down the block that opened for dinner at 7! That was so late to me, and I had to kill time. The hotel I was staying at had a lounge and tea so I would spend time there as a solo traveler reading magazines and exchanging conversations with other guests.

Dinner took forever to go to but was more than worth it! Everything I ate there was always delicious. I asked for everything in French – I have to say they were a bit abrupt with me in several instances. Especially when I asked for cheese for my pasta. The waiter looked aghast – but gave me my fromage!

Speaking of fromage, there was a fromagerie across the street. My modest French made it hard for me to communicate there, but the kind shop owner and I understood each other somehow. I had such decadent unpasteurized cheese. I took it back to my hotel lobby as a snack before 7 o’clock dinner! It was divine.

Wanting to branch out but not go far from my hotel, someone recommended a restaurant that served meat and mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes like I never had them before the serving size was a small saucepan full which I was told I would not be able to finish and I was not but it was soooo good! Cheesy, gooey, and potatoey.

Most nights ended at the bar a few doors from my hotel that made me feel like I was a set extra for Casablanca. All of the men that worked there wore suits with white jackets. They were delightfully formal and so kind to me. After having gone there so many times when I returned to Paris one of the men asked me where had I had been? I was so touched, I answered New York. We all laughed and they gave me hors d’oeuvres on the house all night. I felt like I was home.

That was the thing. It was my home in Paris. I stayed at the same hotel and everyone there knew me. I felt so comfortable that I would do whatever activities I had planned for the day and return to the hotel to leisurely decide what I would have for dinner then have a nightcap at the Casablanca bar.

Serendipity hit when I went to the supermarché, and got bags of potato chips. They had Poulet Roti Lay’s. A secret about me – I save room in my luggage for the differently flavored chips I find in other countries. I love novelty, but I also love comfort. Paris gave me all of that and expanded my tongue while I stayed close to “home.”

Read another story of me inspired by food here:

Food
Travel
Paris
Globetrotter
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