L'as Du Fallafel Review

This is for a series of posts related to a Paris 2014 trip including: 

 L’Arpège, Maison va Privat, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon: St. Germain, British Airways, First Hotel Paris, Maison Berthillon, La Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel, Brasserie de la Girandole, Royal Cambronne, Relais de l'Entrecote: Montparnasse, L'as Du Fallafel, Le Ronsard, and Rue Montorgueil Market.

Advertised as some of the best falafel in the world, L'as Du Fallafel is oft-lauded. So amidst of a bevy of multi-course meals in Paris, we were excited to try a "lighter" lunch comprised of their special pita sandwich and their falafel.

Located in a quaint cobble-stone area fives minutes from the Saint-Paul Metro, it's hard to miss. Just go to where the long line is queued up. 

Pro-tip: While the line for to-go orders of falafel are typically long, the wait for a table inside the restaurant is much shorter. In fact, we were seated right away. There's a reason for this though - getting your orders to go net you a price point that's typically a euro lower. 

Inside though, there's plenty of seating and plenty of patrons enjoying the falafel on offer.

They've got two spices on offer - a hot red chili, intense with garlic flavor.

There was also as a lighter green chili blend if you're not looking for that intense garlic taste. 

Pita 
 

Several soft, pliant, fresh-made pitas were on offer, easily enjoyed with some of the hummus we ordered as well as the aforementioned spices.

Israeli Plate [9.50 Euros = $12.19]
Hummus, tehina, falafel 

Do try their Israeli plate, which showcases several of the crisp falafel, hummus, and a red pepper paste. The creamy hummus was redolent with sesame-tehini flavor, with actual sesame seeds studded throughout. The red pepper paste had great flavor, with small onions minced throughout.

But the true star? Obviously those crispy nuggets of falafel - incredibly soft and moist inside. It's not overpowered with seasoning - just right. Delicious.

Special Falafel Sandwich [8 Euros = $10.27]
Hummus, Turkish salad, eggplant 

But on to their prize plate - the special falafel sandwich. A soft, fluffy pita housed creamy eggplant, lent some nice texture and flavor. There was also some of that great falafel. It's all covered with a creamy tahini sauce and crunchy Turkish salad, with cabbage, cucumber, and tomatoes for some acidity. I could have eaten two to three of these alone.

Lamb Schawarma [10.50 Euros = $13.48] 

I went with the lamb schawarma though - and I'm glad I did. The tender lamb was in incredible - not at all gamey and not overly grassy. Even the GF enjoyed a bite, which was surprising. This had a creamy cabbage slaw that helped to lend some freshness to the heft of the moist lamb.

Having now enjoyed the falafel and the lamb schawarma at L'as du Fallafel, I know why this place is praised by so many. It's now a must stop for me anytime I'm in Paris and highly recommend you check it out! 

L'as du Fallafel
32-34 Rue des Rosiers
Paris, France 75004

Royal Cambronne Review

This is for a series of posts related to a Paris 2014 trip including: 

 L’Arpège, Maison va Privat, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon: St. Germain, British Airways, First Hotel Paris, Maison Berthillon, La Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel, Brasserie de la Girandole, Royal Cambronne, Relais de l'Entrecote: Montparnasse, L'as Du Fallafel, Le Ronsard, and Rue Montorgueil Market.

After a long day enjoying Paris, the GF and I decided to head back to the hotel and have dinner at one of the establishments by First Hotel Paris. We opted to stop by Royal Cambronne, looking forward to the wine and cafe fare.

It was a perfect night so we decided to dine al fresco under an awning to enjoy the sights, smells, and sounds of Paris.

Graves Bordeaux, 50 cl [13.50 Euros = $17.33]
 

We went with bordeaux, which wasn't too dry, with nice fruit and light spice notes. Not bad for under $20 USD for a carafe!

Gratinee a l'Oignon [7.50 Euros = $9.63]
French onion soup
  

The GF decided to start off with ... you guessed it, French onion soup. It was surprisingly lighter than any I've had in America, where it's typically richer, with a salty stock. I appreciated the depth of flavor despite the lightness of the soup. This was all covered by a crusty baguette and plenty of gruyere to coat it all. Nice.

Escargots a la Bourguignone par 6 [8.80 Euros = $11.29]
6 snails in Burgundy sauce 
  

For my starter, I decided to go a completely different route, albeit an expected one for me. Although I've had escargot before, I've never had the pleasure of enjoying them in Paris so was looking forward to it! The texture of the escargot was particularly nice, similar to claims and redolent with intense garlic, parsley, and butter.

Before our entrees, we received some soft, pita-like bread as well. FYI - France definitely has the best dijon mustard, which was perfect with the bread. The only thing better than their mustard? Their butter.

Entrecote [22.50 Euros = $28.88]
Ribeye, fries 
  

The GF decided to go with the steak frites and ribeye was on offer here. Keep in mind, in Paris, order your steaks a temperature above what you're used to in the States. The GF requested medium-well, and received her steak medium, which was a bit chewy for her. And while it seemed under-seasoned at first, it was better when paired with the accompanying bernaise. The fries were crisp and the salad had a light balsamic dressing.

Confit de Canard [14.90 Euros = $19.12]
Duck confit, tagliatelle pasta
 

I decided to go with duck confit, was perfectly cooked. Crisp skin lent its way to plenty of well-seasoned, tender duck. Instead of fries, I decided to try their tagliatelle pasta, which was nicely al dente and came with a Parmesan butter sauce. Not exactly a classic pairing on my end, but delicious nonetheless.

Royal Cambronne offered a nice, relaxing meal to end a great day in Paris. The GF didn't enjoy her steak as much as I enjoyed my duck, but both our apps and the wine was definitely on point.

Better yet? The atmosphere. It was a gorgeous Parisian night, with a live band playing Michael Jackson. Everyone was in a good mood, patrons and staff alike. At one point in the meal, a couple got up and started dancing, , with everyone clapping to the beat.

Only in Paris.

Royal Cambronne 
2 Place Cambronne
Paris, France 75015
http://royalcambronne.pagesperso-orange.fr/

Brasserie de la Girandole Review

This is for a series of posts related to a Paris 2014 trip including: 

 L’Arpège, Maison va Privat, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon: St. Germain, British Airways, First Hotel Paris, Maison Berthillon, La Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel, Brasserie de la Girandole, Royal Cambronne, Relais de l'Entrecote: Montparnasse, L'as Du Fallafel, Le Ronsard, and Rue Montorgueil Market.

In Paris, one of my favorite places to visit is the Garden at Versailles. Sure, the palace itself is grandiose and historic, but the ability to walk through the gorgeously manicured lawns, have a picnic by the water, and row a boat across the canal is paralleled. 

And if you're feeling a bit peckish, you have a few options throughout the palace and gardens. But my go-to place is in the middle of the garden - a cafe almost hidden within a maze of greenery. 

Brasserie de la Girandole is a cafe in the best sense of the word - relaxed and informal, with the ability to execute standard dishes properly.

So we grabbed a table under some shade and received some fresh slices of baguette to start. 

Poulet Roti dans son Jus [13 Euros = $16.68]
Roasted chicken in his "juice," french fries, green salad

The GF opted for the chicken, which featured a leg and a thigh. Fresh, juicy, and moist - this had good flavor. The accompanying fries were crisp and creamy, with some greens and ripe tomatoes on the side.

Faux Filet [14.50 Euros = $18.61]
Sirloin steak, peppercorn sauce, french fries, green salad 

I ordered my steak medium-rare, knowing that compared to U.S. expectations, it would come out closer to rare. The peppercorn sauce was luscious and complemented the tender steak really well.

The accompanying fries were perfect on my plate as well - some of the best steak fries I've ever had.

After lunch, I knew to pop on over towards the back of the restaurant to grab some sweet snacks for the GF and I while we walked through the gardens. 

Glaces Vanilles [4 Euros = $5.13]
 

The soft-serve vanilla ice cream was creamy and light, perfect for the summer day. The sweet waffle cone provided some texture towards the end as well. 

Glaces Chocolat [4 Euros = $5.13]

I opted for some chocolate ice cream, which was dark and rich.

So if you're at Versailles and are enjoying the gardens, do pop on over to Brasserie de la Girandole if you're looking for a light lunch or some sweet treats. You'll be glad you did - especially if you decide to row your significant other on the canal. 

Maison va Privat Review

This is for a series of posts related to a Paris 2014 trip including: 

 L’Arpège, Maison va Privat, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon: St. Germain, British Airways, First Hotel Paris, Maison Berthillon, La Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel, Brasserie de la Girandole, Royal Cambronne, Relais de l'Entrecote: Montparnasse, L'as Du Fallafel, Le Ronsard, and Rue Montorgueil Market.

Located on the same block as First Hotel Paris, the GF and I were looking forward to enjoying Parisian breakfasts on most days. There's not much better than having a croissant or baguette in hand, walking down the streets of Paris. 

Early in the morning, Maison va Privat was often busy with regulars. We were usually the only tourists in sight - a good sign!

The quality of their pastries were clearly on display, with a variety of options on offer.

Baguette 
 

On the way to Versailles, the GF and I decided to pick up a few goodies to munch on. The baguette was naturally great - fresh and crusty. As an American though, I couldn't help but long for a pat of butter or some jam. Womp womp.

Cranberry Financier 

On the other hand, there was plenty of sweet, rich, butter to be had in the cranberry financier. A gluttonous treat, the tartness of the cranberries helped to provide a countervailing element to each bite.

Eclair au Chocolat 

On another morning, we opted for a chocolate eclair. This had an interestingly chewy texture, with a chocolate cream within that was incredibly rich.

Orange Croissant 
 

If you're looking for some brightness, opt for one of the orange croissants, which were buttery, yet tart and sweet. 

Pain au Chocolat 
 

And of course, do get as many pain au chocolat's as you can. Essentially a buttery croissant, studded with nuggets of chocolate, this was definitely our favorite confection! 

So if you're staying in Paris, and certainly at First Hotel Paris, do find yourself a local patisserie such as Maison va Privat to stalk! 

Maison va Privat

7 Place Cambronne
Paris, France 75015

First Hotel Paris Review

This is for a series of posts related to a Paris 2014 trip including: 

 L’Arpège, Maison va Privat, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon: St. Germain, British Airways, First Hotel Paris, Maison Berthillon, La Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel, Brasserie de la Girandole, Royal Cambronne, Relais de l'Entrecote: Montparnasse, L'as Du Fallafel, Le Ronsard, and Rue Montorgueil Market.

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, let's continue with the Paris posts! I've been to Paris three times now and have experienced both the ups and downs of the hotels in the city of lights. The pricing can be an issue for sure, but It's important to get it right because that may make or break your stay.

So for the first trip with the GF, we spent hours on Expedia and the like, sifting through photos, and reading the reviews to verify that the photos were actually representative of the hotel. Ultimately, we settled on First Hotel Paris. And after staying there for a week, I definitely plan to make it my Parisian hotel of choice from here on out.

European standards are different from American ones. And if you're looking for a boutique American hotel, First Hotel Paris definitely fits the bill. The lobby is clean, bright, and well-designed.

Approximately $300/Night USD 

The rooms are some of the best I've encountered outside of 5-star $500+/night suites. Clean and with everything in working order, I was pleasantly surprised by the accommodations. It's to be expected that the size of the room is smaller than those you find in U.S. But we found that we had plenty of room, especially since we weren't at the hotel for most of the trip.

Better yet, First Hotel Paris accommodated us with a room that had a slight view of la Tour Eiffel through the trees outside our window. There are even better options with a full-on view with a balcony if you're looking to indulge with some extra Euros. And despite being situated by Le Metro Cambronne (a bonus actually since we were traveling everywhere), there was no outside noise that permeated through the windows. Perfect.

L'Occitane products were on offer here, continuing the boutique experience at this hotel. The bathroom was extremely clean and modern. Again - plenty of room and surprisingly so. 

The shower had great water pressure and plenty of warm water. 

There were plenty of towels and there was even a drying rack that actually dried your wet towels if needed. 

It took us a day to notice, but eventually we saw that the room light was actually a top hat. Boutique much? Totally made the GF's day.

Plenty of closet space to put up some of our formal wear, though I would've appreciated some drawers. The hangers were also bolted to the closet so it made for awkward hanging. And if you're concerned about heating or air conditioning, have no fear. Central air was in perfect working condition and since we were there towards the end of summer, we definitely had the A/C blasting away.

There's a mini-bar of course, but around First Hotel Paris, there are plenty of super-marches, cafes, and bakeries to satiate any cravings.

So if you're in Paris and want to be a 10-minute walk away from the Eiffel Tower, be sure to check out First Hotel Paris. It's right by the Metro and is quiet at night without being creepy. Be sure to try nearby Maison va Privat for your morning pastries and baguettes. And do check out some of the local cafes to sip le vin and watch patrons dance and sing the night away.

First Hotel Paris
2 Boulevard Garibaldi
75015 Paris, France
www.firsthotelparis.com