American Comfort Food in Paris

Craving for good ol' American food in a country of escargots and foie gras? I assure you that your greasy fantasies are very normal, even in  the land of fine gastronomy, but be careful, they increase especially if left unfulfilled! Hence, you've got 2 quick solutions: cook it yourself or pray your online search engine finds that resto tout de suite(immediately)!!

FIND THAT RESTAURANT

Now if you're lazy to play the homemaker, then find that American food joint in Paris! C'est possible, it's possible! Is there such a place?

I am glad to answer, "YES" indeed! Thank you google for making me stumble upon Breakfast in America which should satisfy any IHOP-lover's heartiest brunch craving in a snap(yes, very quick service once you FINALLY get seated).

It looks like a diner, smells and sounds like one, making you wonder, am I still in Paris? There are only a few tables which are laid out like a long counter giving you many chances to elbow rub your neighbors. The long wait (outside)to get you seated and its cramped size are all forgivable once you are given your buttermilk pancakes and oh-so-sweet individual maple syrup(I missed you Aunt Jemima) containers.


I was satisfied with my fluffy pancakes but regarding the burgers and other must-orders, I think I am due for another visit. Click here for their menu.

Breakfast in America Branches:
17, rue des Ecoles
75005 Paris, France
Métro: Cardinal LeMoine or Jussieu
Tel: 01 43 54 50 28

4, rue Malher
75004 Paris, France
Metro: St Paul
Tel: 01 42 72 40 21

Brunch is totally picking up here especially in neighborhood brasseries or cafes during weekends. Some last as late as 2 pm offering a menu of tea/coffee/juice, fruits, pastries, sausages, crepes and omelettes. Although do not expect the french to have fully adapted to American proportions. Prices range from 12-25 euros but if you prefer a more luxe spread of morning nibbles, there are the trusted ones in hotels like at Crillon for 68 euros. Check out this website for Paris/France brunch options.

Here are some American-esque fastfood chain of restos to check out in Paris:

Frog-Irish pub, brewery, english speaking servers
Léon's - Brussel's version of Friday's specializing in mussels and fries! 
Hippopotamus-French version of  Outback Steakhouse


DO-IT-YOURSELF. DIY.

Monoprix, a grocery chain in France, should have the basic ingredients to cook or bake your way to your stomach's satisfaction. As for me, I have been missing pies like the traditonal applie pie, apple crumble and New York-style CHEESECAKE! Below is a tweaked recipe for cheesecake cravers, also known as gateaux fromage blanc, adjusted according to french products.

I basically combined these 2 recipes from a french blogger and an american food critic living in Paris. 

French Style Cheesecake in 9 steps!

Crust:
1 box of butter crackers, sables/galette (6 large crackers)

Cheesecake:
1 kg  fromage blanc*
150g sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 vanilla stalk
zest of one lemon
3 eggs

*Fromage blanc, also known as quark, is a low-fat curd cheese usually made with semi or skimmed milk. Some of the French eat it as their yogurt or use is it as a spread instead of butter.

                                                 fromage blanc substituting cream cheese

1. For the crust, crush the crackers until you have a bread crumb-like texture.


2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and adjust the rack to the lower part of the oven.


3. Press the crumbs into a flat layer in the bottom of your pan. Try using the bottom of a glass to do this.

4. Bake the crust for 7 minutes until golden brown. Set the pan aside on a cooling rack while you prepare the batter. Reduce the heat of the oven to 350 degrees.

5. For the cheesecake, mix the fromage blanc and sugar until there are no lumps.

6. Add the vanilla and lemon zest. Mix in the eggs.

7. Pour the batter over the crust in the pan. Place the pan into a larger container, like a roasting casserole, and pour warm water until it reaches about one-third of the way up of the pan. This technique is called bain marie (water bath) which is primarily used for cooking with gentle heat, custard-like desserts or melting chocolates without burning.


8. Bake the cheesecake in the water bath for 45 minutes, and do expect a jiggly, semi-solid mass. Make sure to not overbake.

                       how it looks after being chilled in the ref. notice the vanila seeds? :-)

9. Cool the cake on a wire rack until room temperature(approx. 30-45 min), then refrigerate for half a day.

                             I added kiwis, very rich in vitamin C, and it was perfect together!


Useful Tips:

• Most brasseries serve hamburgers, cheeseburgers and fries. Also known as steak haché but without the burger buns, make sure you don't get mixed up and order steak tartare which is a french specialty of raw ground beef.

DIY Tuna Cheese Melt with apple mâche salad
• Call me deluded, but do try the burgers at Mcdonald's. They taste better and seem to be even bigger. Try Royal Bacon which is a bacon cheeseburger or their CBO(Chicken, Bacon, Onions) with les deluxe potatoes(seasoned wedge potatoes) + ciboulette (spring onion) dipping sauce. Plus, you can order beer here!
• Soft , chewy cookies are hard to find here. The french like them as crisp as biscuits so do not expect an easy grab at the supermarket or bakeries.
• American fastfood chains available in Paris: Subway, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Ben & Jerry's.

Leave a comment if you want THS to write about her other easy bake:

Apple Pecan Crumble

Enjoying Romantic Paris....with the kids!

It is evident that Paris is for the beautiful, the luxe fashionista, the intellectual, the art connoisseur, the food and wine lover, the architecture enthusiast and the party-goer. But the million dollar question is if this city can also extend its welcome to an audience that is demanding, moody and hyper-- KIDS!!? 

Answer: Bien-sûr!! But of course!

                           Louvre's courtyard (window view from the museum)

La belle France loves them, kids! All the time I notice how the streets are filled with happy-looking children strolling with their parents particularly on Wednesdays, the official day granted for working mothers to spend time with their kiddoes either at home or in the office. When I was working, I remember how it pleased me during lunch break to see 4-year olds eating in the cafeteria beside their mothers or in the hallways, to cross a line of toddlers holding hands as they would walk towards the office playroom. Now that's what I call real benefits for families raising their kids  in France!

                               New Yorkers at the bazaar of Hotel de Ville


Although now, let's consider families on vacation in Paris. For parents who are wondering how to keep their kids satisfied and entertained without destroying their time in the city, do not fret! Below are some spots or activities that you could consider inserting in your itinerary.

                      almost itching to get out of her stroller at the Louvre

• If you notice that they are feeling stifled in their strollers after being in their best museum behavior for hours in the Louvre, get their blood circulation going and have them run freely in one of the many parks or gardens of Paris!  

                                      at the Pavillion of Place des Vosges


 I personally love the Luxembourg Gardens, with features like the center-piece fountain facing the Senate Palace, the Italian style Medici fountain and the garden's botanical diversity from orchids to stylized trees. It is definitely a kid-magnet park as it has an installed carousel and junior playground. Many times I have also come across performers sing and play music at their mini stage. 

       the  fountain of Jardin du Luxembourg encircled by happy sitters

              exterior of the Luxembourg Gardens and the Senate Palace

     a cocoon feel at the Fontaine Médicis with its cave and statue nymphs

                                             its manicured trees

And if the kids need their sugar fix, right by the entrance of Luxembourg (next to RER station, Luxembourg) there is an ice cream vendor.

                                         its gates of steel closing us out

             

• Take them to Bois de Vincennes where you have fun-filled activities like canoeing  on Lac Daumesnil ( I tried this with my husband it was an enjoyable workout!) , bird watching with the help of several poster boards illustrating the species found in the area, pony-riding through the oval path, merry-go-round-ing in the gardens and biking on fun paths. 

    for 2 persons/boat is 10,80 and 11,80 for 3-4 persons for an hour


Take note that boat and pony rentals(2,50 euros for one round) are offered all year round on Wednesdays and weekends (except for winter).

my jogging path around the lake      

                       I missed my nieces and nephews when I took this photo

                                           feeling at home in parc de Vincennes

• Regarding museums, I would suggest the Pompidou, Paris' museum of modern and contemporary art. Your children will be instantly drawn to its eye-catching tube facade and playful, trippy showcases at the exhibit halls. 

                                           the museum's industrial architecture

                                                        the modern facade


The Pompidou is perfect for children as it hosts educational workshops and events  related to music, visual arts, drawing and basic art appreciation.  Click on this link to check out the kids' activities which vary each month. You will also be able to buy your child's atelier tickets online.

            colorful art pieces at a place/mini fountain beside the museum

          CHILDREN WORKSHOP TICKETS
Wednesday Courses - 3 sessions (1 child): full rate €30 / concessions €24
Workshops for 6-10 years old (1 child + 1 adult): full price €10 / concessions €8
Family workshops: full price €10 / concessions €8
All tickets give access to the Children's gallery and the museum right after the visit.
Impromptu workshops: free / no reservation

           

And  for an enjoyable meal after some hours in the museum, head to the rooftop where you will find an outdoor/indoor stylish restaurant, George, with a magnificent view of the city!

            

                                   George's creamy rissotto lobster

                                                        truffle ravioli



This roof-top view of Paris is second best after what you see from Sacre Coeur in Montmarte. For table reservations, call  +33 (0)1 44 78 47 99.

       

                               heading up to the roof-top restaurant via escalator 

                                                 George on a sunny day 

• Another educational activity would be a visit to the Museum of Natural History which I   would love to check out soon.
  

•  For nontraditional modes of transport , consider L'Open Tour with its open top deck buses for an outdoor ride to see Paris' important monuments and sites. Also, Batobus will get get the children excited as they get to hop-on and hop-off the boats along the Seine river from one important site to another. You can check my previous entry to get more details on L'Open Tour and Batobus. 

In terms of practicality, the most kid-friendly way to get around would be the bus. First, the bus lowers for easy lifting of strollers and more important is its reserved space for the parents and their kids in the strollers. 

                                                      Bateau Parisien restaurant                         

• An idea I would propose for a different family dining experience, is the lunch cruise along the Seine river. Yes, call it cliche but it is seriously a worthy event! I did it with my parents and we were very pleased (and tipsy) with the service of Bateau Parisien . 

posing against the boat's glass canopy--very camera friendly

taking a pause from his meal for a shot

The cruise runs from 12:45 to 2:30 and within that period expect a great view of the Notre Dame, Tour Eiffel etc.. that is, from the river's perspective; and the quality of the food and wine is surprisingly good considering its 'touristic' value. Depending on where your table is located, cost per person is either 53,  63  or 73 euros.

If restaurants seem too stressful for you and the toddlers, there is always the grocery/ hypermarche--found in almost every other street-- like Monoprix. It has enough to satiate your appetites and simultaneously gives you a chance to re-load with some bare necessities like diapers, milk etc... There are fresh sandwiches, pastas, salads and pastries that are inexpensive and a solution to emergency feeding of your children.

•  For good ol' ice cream to reward your kids with, you must take them to either of these 2 places. Berthillon boasts of healthy ice cream without preservatives/stabilizers and is extra enjoyable while watching some performers show-off their talent on the bridge of Île Saint-Louis.

                                       musicians performing on the bridges of Paris

Another yummy place is Italy's finest gelateria, GROM  which uses all bio products!My   husband--a non ice cream fan--and I couldn't  stop eating it everyday in Florence thinking we had to relish every opportunity! And all of a sudden, bang, we discover 2 branches here in Paris!  Must-try parfums: vanilla, pistachio, strawberry sorbet, melon sorbet

       

         Boulevard Beaumarchais, 111 - 75003  (12pm-7pm)

         Rue de Seine, 81 - 75006 tel: 01 404 69 260 (12pm-12am)

                                  GROM's vanilla cream and strawberry sorbet

I actually got inspired to write this entry for a good friend who asked for some help concerning her dining itinerary in Paris. Important factor of course, was the presence of her 3-year old son and 18th-month old daughter (obviously I got side-tracked with the insertion of activities).

To end, I , as a non-parent, wish that these basic suggestions will be useful to parents who will one day,  also venture to the city of Light with their hyper, moody, and lovable monsters.

           the miracle worker, frites, solving all kiddie dining tantrums

Useful Tips:

• If your kid tells you that nature has called, go to the nearest brasserie, order a drink then head straight to the toilets usually located one floor below ground level. Take note that they rarely have areas for diaper-changing. No need to wonder about the ever-so abundant toilet paper and liquid soap for cleaning.
• There are also capsule-like single public toilets on main avenues which automatically clean up the entire surface with a water shower after the door is shut.
  

Smile and Say "Cheese!"

I arrived in Paris 2 years ago not knowing what to expect. All that was certain was that I left a  stable life back home: loving family, childhood friends, awesome career, my dog Popo and all the trifle things which completed a typical, happy and comfortable environment for an independent woman in her late 20's. So why did I leave the picture-perfect home? Simple. I was in love with a French man. Call it cliché, a fairytale romance or whatever but I couldn't believe that I was about to live a dream which I thought would only remain as one in my head.

My first few days as a 'resident' of Paris were a blur since I was recovering from jetlag and sad "goodbyes" at the airport but my husband-to-be fortunately knew me well and whipped out something which would instantly comfort me--food! I distinctly recall the first cheese platter he prepared at home and the sweet thoughts that swept my head seeing that I was finally living in cheese-and-wineland. It was nothing fancy, I remember, but the display of fresh cheese (fromage) like goat(chevre) , ewe--mature female sheep--(brebis), hard &  soft ones paired with pickles (cornichons) and of course red wine(vin rouge) made me smile..BIG!

I tell you, back where I am from, the cheese I grew up with, in other words readily available and afforable, were the industrial ones like Kraft Cheddar or Magnolia Quik Melt and the highly priced imported ones from Europe were normally sold in gourmet stores. It is no hidden fact that the French love their cheese but to be living in a culture where the real cheeses are just as affordable and necessary as it is buying a big 1.5L bottle of water is every foodie's dream! Every supermarket(hypermarché) like Monoprix  will carry a perfect array of cheeses and particularly more charming are the numerous cheese stalls in the Sunday fresh markets (ooh wait for that post).

                                                   types of fromage de chevre

                                                                 Ashed chevre

And thanks to the many cheese platters I have feasted on during cocktail (hour) or apéro, a common word uttered by the French  every 6pm, I soon developed a better palate to know which ones I prefer the most:

 Etorki a Basque--southwestern France--cheese made from pure brebis  which I like to pair with fig or apricot jam(confiture) and Comté a strong-flavored  cow's milk cheese great to sprinkle over warm soups--heavenly combination of the nutty-tasting melted cheese + soup. I can go on endlessly concerning the godliness of cheese in France and its extreme co-dependence with its French consumers and vice-versa but I will save that for another entry.

                        fig jam and brebis cheese platter at restaurant in Corsica
                                                                                       

So that was my first happy awakening  in Paris. The city has enough fromage to pair with my different moods as I learn to adapt to the French way of life, living it to the fullest and the cheesiest, of course. hee-hee.