Advice: La Fourchette

This weekend was the best weekend of 2012- starting with a crêpe dinner and ending with a crispy chicken in a park next door.

However, I realized, talking to several close friends, many people don't even know what "La Fourchette" is, especially not tourists or newcomers to Paris.

La Fourchette (http://www.lafourchette.com) is a website that basically offers the function to reserve a table online, look at their menu/pricing and the best part- get a huge discount on a normally overpriced meal.  From either the website or the iPhone application, reserving a table is super simple and the service is really quite unique.  I've used the service about 5 times now in Paris.. and they were pretty fantastic restaurants.

This weekend I used it twice, once on Friday evening at a crêperie, basically a 15€ menu with aperitif, salty crêpe, sweet crêpe and the typically French 'cidre'.

Afterwards, Saturday night was the best deal- we decided to eat at a much fancier restaurant, just to have a little break from the cheap stuff, and so I was in charge of hunting around la Fourchette.

What I stumbled across was "La Millésimes" near the Montparnasse tower, an amazingly chic restaurant bustling with foreign and local individuals.

Normal menu averaged about 30€, we got the full entrée-plat-dessert deal for only 24€ and was the meal amazing.  Starting with a delicately wrapped goat cheese with garden salad,

My polenta and fish..

a polenta base with sautéed rougets filets,

and ending with the best lava cake I've ever eaten in my life... topped with a pistachio ice cream fait maison.


La Fourchette not only facilitates booking restaurants, it allows you to cancel, review the restaurant, search by type of food, read previous reviews, look at photos- an amazing service that didn't, unfortunately, exist in Lyon.  Paris has hundreds if not thousands of restaurants that are signed up for La Fourchette, and unlike Groupon, the patrons and servers respect the clients from La Fourchette.  I've never had a side look or a hesitation when I've booked through them, always treated with patience and care.

If you plan to move to Paris, already live in Paris, want to visit Paris- try La Fourchette to book your dinners and I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

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Real Tapas in Paris

Last weekend we were craving tapas, the sort that we remembered in Barcelona.. one day we were on vacation down south and went to a very local Tapas Joint in a small quarter of the city.  One bottle of cava rosa, fried chorizo, fresh seafood, bocadillos smeared with a garlic and tomato spread, stuffed to the hilt with fresh Pork charcuterie.. That's what we were looking for.

We figured since Paris is so international there would have to be a tapas bar of quality in the area, and we were not wrong.

It happened on a sunny day, strolling around the 8th arrondissment and we spotted the tiny joint, covered by a plastic sheet, not too fancy but idealistic.  El Cerventes was our going to spot and we called to make a reservation, already the home-style type, there is no fixed line.  Cell phone direct, he said, "No way. We are booked up." Ah.

So to avoid the same problem we called on Wednesday to book for Saturday, and same thing, booked, at least 2 weeks in advance.. but come to the 2nd service and we'll find you a spot.

We arrived in the Paris rain, waiting just outside their plastic covered entrance.  10 minutes.

The best was walking in, the place could only seat maybe 30 people at most, and we were tucked away in the corner and began snapping off orders.

Chorizos Fritos
Pulpa Salada
Tortilla Patatas
Queso
Pan


Our two other friends ordered a main dish, a salmon and a large steak.  Large is an understatement, it was massive.  The salmon that perfect under cooked texture, moist and incredibly flavorful.

We ate and ate, it was amazing.  The flavors were authentic, so spicy and yet well balanced. The queso manchego was exactly how I remember, that slight picanto taste, washed down with a sangria.

The best was the prices, four people ate at a price of only 56€ total.. and when I say ate, we were full and practically rolling back home.

So, if you want some authenticity and a little Espagnol escape, try:

El Cervantes
46 Rue Daubenton 75005
http://fr.nomao.com/2104005.html

But remember, call 2 weeks in advance... AND they do not accept cards, so pull out cash or get your check book ready.

Viva l'Espagna!

Monday Week's Menu

A few weeks back I wrote about the concept of planning meals ahead... I wanted to share my 'Sunday Plan' with ya'll as an example... and make it a habit to post on Mondays what I plan to make/eat during the week.

Every Sunday I sit down with a piece of paper, internet, my cookbooks and my mind.. I determine what we're gonna eat for the week.. mostly dinners.

I usually eat a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, a snack at lunch and dinner is the big meal.

Here's this weeks, I attached recipes if I found one.. as a note I often deviate from a recipe and make it my own.. however it helps to get an idea of how to make something.. oh and you might notice... I'm a HUGE fan of Food Network and it breaks my heart it doesn't exist in France:

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Monday October 4
Skillet Rosemary Chicken
+Eggplant & Zucchini sautée


Tuesday October 5
Pork & Fennel Ragout


Wednesday October 6
Marinated Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Grilled Veal Chops


Thursday October 7
Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
+Buttery Croutons & Romano Melty Cheese Topping


Friday October 8
Chopped Salad Niçoise


Saturday October 9
Eat @ Chez Parents  (every two weeks or so we go visit his parents in Genas)

---

Then I create a grocery list and where I will buy the product... I often buy everything that's meat related from Marché-U down the street from me because the prices aren't too high for meats.

Vegetables are bought from the marché on Tuesday.

Other necessities, like baking paper or sponges, I can feel not guilty and buy from Lidl.

Bread, ALWAYS, at a boulangerie.

Happy eating!

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Advice: In Season Vegetables

I recently went to the library in the 2ème and checked out a beautiful book (in French) about all these vegetables.. and so I listed and translated everything that's in season, since, well, it's October now!

There's a new marché also I was told by Bri, along le 'Quai Claude Bernard'... near Lyon 2 in front of la rhône... It's apparently a marché open from 3-6pm!  An evening marché for those of us who can't get up at 6am.

So here goes la liste!

Carrots (carottes)
Celery (celerie)
Chestnuts (châtaine)
Cauliflower (chou-fleurs)
Brocoli (brocoli)
Cabbages...
    green, new (vert nouveau)
    milan
Brussel Sprouts (chou de Bruxelles)
Squash (corge)
Shallots (échalote)
Spinach (épinard)
Fenouil (same)
Navet
Yellow Onions (oignons jaunes)
Parsnip (panais)
Green Pepper (poivron vert)
Leeks (poireaux)
Potatoes
    Belle de Fontenay (sautéeing)
    Charlotte (sautéeing, purée)
    Red potatoes
    Grenaille
Tomatoes
Rutabega
Betterave

Allrecipes.com offers some awesome veggie recipes.. so I'd recommend giving them a look.  Vegetables are cheap and healthy... and hey, take advantage- because in the United States the food is always terribly expensive.. here's it's cheap cheap!

Good luck!

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What-what: Run Down on Picard

Picard Surgelée is a frozen foods store that is very popular in France.  The food is cut up in a factory, fabricated, created and then flash frozen and placed in packaging.  The entire store is a frozen food aisle with product that is highly quality controlled and tastes amazing… kinda like Ikea brand meatballs.  There are several types of food products that are offered at Picard shops, and I’d like to share with you my new found treasure, sorry if it sounds like a commercial… but I really love this place:

Frozen Onions

    Frozen foods to cut prep time:  There is nothing wrong with buying a frozen bag of onions or mushrooms.  It cuts about 10 minutes of preparation for dinner, offers the ability to use a measuring cup to scoop out the product to very particular sizes- and the veggies are already cleaned, shaped and ready to be used.  They offer everything from a mix of garden veggies to frozen chopped garlic.

Frozen foods for Aperitif: In France we love to invite friends over to get them drunk and feed them fancy little snacks.  Picard offers lots of little “amuse-geule” for apero.  From mini sandwiches to small quiches to small desserts, they come in boxes of 40 for around €8.00, which seriously is easier than trying to pour egg into tiny quiche crusts… and they taste AWESOME.


Complete made meals: Screw frozen pizza… imagine having a  “layered 3 cheese lasagna” or a “country ratatouille” for €4.00 to €6.00 that tastes amazing!  I know for me sometimes cooking is a feat, but this is a simple toss in the pan type thing that is ready in about 15 minutes and takes no thought… and it’s really good.


Frozen Meat: I’ve noticed meat in France is the one thing that is very expensive.  Turkey sautée meat runs about €12.00/kilo, or like $6.00 a pound.  I can’t afford that, and I don’t always want to eat the fatty pork and chicken legs to cut costs.  Picard offers frozen turkey by the kilo for half that price, €6.00.  I got a whole kilo of ground beef for €6.00 as well.


Desserts: Any kind of ice cream as well as amazing cakes, chocolate items and others to really make your night.  I’m thinkin’ a French Noir film.  I’m thinkin’ a black forest cake.  I’m thinking…. Oo.. gotta go.
   
All-in-all go there once. Try it.  You won’t be disappointed.

French Food: Budget, Benefit and Eat Well

Eating is expensive, even in a country where the produce/organic products are 50% less expensive than in United States.  I have some little things I do in order to keep my costs below €75 a week for two people, aka around €35 euro a week for myself.  This is about €300 a month or $380.

It may still seem expensive if you are budgeting (like us students) but according to the 2009 USDA cost of food analysis, the "thrifty plan" for budgeting for a family of two in our age group is $360.00. Meaning we fall into the thrifty plan.  They state that the food plan they refer to is available on their website.  What I find strange is in their food plan though is the misbalance between the products.  There's a high level of dairy and grain products to be purchased, and a lower level of fruits/vegetables.

I find this to be opposite here, we eat a ton of vegetables and fruits, less meats and of course our daily baguette.

The way that I keep my budget so low is by these simple steps:

1. Plan the meals a week in advance, figure out the recipes I'll use, the products I'll need.
2. Purchase the food in one go, sticking to the list of things that we need.  I purchase lean pork instead of veal, in season vegetables instead of out of season, frozen if it ends up being cheaper.  It's like a "day of shopping" and I keep track of all my receipts, ensuring I am below my maximum.
3. Prepare the necessities in cooking, which means I chop and cut and wash all my fresh produce after I buy it, place it in different containers (kinda like prep in a restaurant) and stick to my recipes.
4. I don't buy junk food.

Therefore I keep myself low on the budget, and by doing the same you don't have to live off of pasta and rice.  A tomato onion salad is by far just as cheap as a plate of pasta, and way healthier.

Plus, the way we eat has made us lose kilos, not gain.. so.. consider it.

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French Food Prices versus United States..

Yesterday was an adventure all alone..  Usually Bri escorts me around Lyon, normally because of the last time I wandered off alone (meaning: I was heading towards Guillotière and this punk around my age started coming into my personal space and talking to me, hitting on me, EVEN THOUGH I had my earphones on) it really scared the shit out of me.

But, I was in the position where I really needed to run some errands, and he really needed to work on his mèmoire, besides, he can't hold my hand all the time.

So. Off I went, big girl panties on, Velo'v card securely packed in my backpack, earbuds in ears, hard American rock rattling my brain and off I headed.


First stop was BNP Paribas because they are reciprical with my home bank, thus no charges, no fees to pull out cash.



I p0wned that machine.  *beep beep beep*, money came out,

I shoved it into my wallet and off I sped to the boulangerie down the street.


Sometimes I am truly amazed by the bread prices in France.  I scored a baguette (for Mme Lebegue downstairs) and a banette (a crispy baguette-y bread with what I like to think of as "seuss toe" ends) for only 1.70 €.


Even in dollars, that's like... $2.14, so like a buck a baguette.

It's because everyone eats bread, every day, and because of that the bread is baked fresh, every day, so because of that and the lack of preservatives, it goes bad, every day, thus people end up buying a fresh new baguette, every day.

French weight loss is more than the "french paradox", we walk everywhere to get the meal on our plate; so we really earn our dinner.

Moving on.

Another joy of mine is the "Bail Distribution" across the street which is a "producer's market". 

The small local company buys all this beautiful produce from farms in the surrounding area.

After they sell it in their little shop.  Unfortunately, there are only two of these, and even more, they are really outside of the inner city.  We had luck in this small apartment, it's across the street.

An example of some amazing prices would be the following photo, I'll tell you how much just what's in the picture cost from the market...

Alright, so above we have some produce that's recognizable- green pepper, about 1/2 pound of mushrooms, tomatoes, beautiful ripe peaches, eggplant, piment and some pears... I also got two lovely bunches of fresh herbs, basil and cilantro.

In Oregon, these products would break down like this (using Safeway's prices):

1 Green Pepper - $1.00 (each)
1/2 pound Mushrooms - $2.49
1 pound peaches - $1.99
1 pound tomatoes - $2.18
1 eggplant - $1.52
1 pound pears - $1.59
1 bunch basil - $2.00
1 bunch cilantro - $1.89
1 head garlic - $.90
2 onions - $1.50
GRAND TOTAL OF:  $17.06

Now let's compare to my producer's market, direct from the receipt:

1 Green Pepper - €0.49
1/2 pound Mushrooms - €0.89
1 pound peaches - €1.21
1 pound tomatoes - €0.90
1 eggplant - €0.57
1 pound pears - €0.88
1 bunch basil - €0.60
1 bunch cilantro - €0.60
1 head garlic - €0.61
2 onions - €0.31
GRAND TOTAL OF:  €7.06 and in dollars --> $8.97

Wow.  Well, just to exaggerate the difference, let's look at that visually:

Knowing that, you can see in the U.S., in Oregon, I was paying almost double for the same produce- except here it's naturally organic and grown locally.

Worse is for example, eggs, milk and simple things like that.

Let's look at a baguette from St. Honoré in Portland, they sell their "baguettes" for $2.25 each baguette, which is around €1.78 here... our baguettes, GOOD quality are only about €0.70 to €0.90 centimes, or about $1.00.  Again that's a 50% mark up.

Eggs are a biggin' for me because I hate low quality caged eggs.  I mean when you crack them open and the yolk is so bright it's almost glowing.  A good quality organic egg is a deep yellow, and tastes amazing. The photo on the left is from the internet. Note the left is store bought, bright yellow = bad condition, the right, deep yellow = good conditions

You can by 6 vegetarian fed, free range eggs for about $1.32.  Safeway's mark, "O: Organics" sells a box of 12 for $4.39, which is $2.19 for 6; again almost 50% more.

Milk is especially interesting to me.  Here in France, all of our milk is pasteurized and packaged to be able to be outside of the fridge.  In the U.S. it has to constantly be refridgerated, and actually, the taste sucks.

Our milk looks like this --->

Comes in 1 liter containers, sells for about €1.08 per liter, which is like 1/4 of a gallon... so about $5.00 a gallon. It seems expensive, but in reality the milk can last longer and doesn't expire as quickly, and it organic and produced locally.


One gallon of Horizon Organic milk runs for about $6.39... are you seeing the difference here?

Worse, foods like cheetoes and terribly over processed frozen foods sell for around $1.05...

How is that possible that a green pepper is the same price as a budget gourmet??

All-in-All, it's something I'm going to sit on for awhile.

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