Breakfast In America Restaurant Paris Review

Greg
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Breakfast In America Restaurant Paris Review

For Megan’s birthday we decided to indulge in some thick, heavy, American style breakfast. We hopped on our scooter and headed across town to the café and restaurant packed district of “Le Marais”. It was here where we had herd good things about a restaurant called “Breakfast in America”.

Breakfast in America is located very close to the famous Paris Street of Rue du Rivoli and is only a stone throw away from Metro Saint Paul. The restaurants official address is 4 Rue Malher and is very easy access via public transport.

You can also find another Breakfast in America restaurant located towards Jardin du Luxembourg in the 5th arrondissement which we have not visited yet.

The Theme of the restaurant is based around a 1970 milk bar or dinner. I thought that the décor and feel of the restaurant was fairly genuine but could have used a bit more retro memorabilia. Due to its recent popularity this particular Breakfast In America has recently expanded into two separate restaurants side by side.

breakfast in america paris review
Happy Birthday Megan xxx

When we visited the restaurant it was absolutely packed to the brim, however this could have been due to the fact that we attended the restaurant at lunch time when many of the French working force were taking their lunch break.

We would have preferred to sit in a booth however due to a lack of seating we were ushered to a high bench table which is shared with other customers. I understand that when you eat at cafes and restaurants in Paris you often sit very close to other customers with very little personal space between your neighboring customers, however I thought it was breakfast in America not breakfast in France.

Breakfast In America Restaurant Paris

The food was honestly great and exactly what we were hoping for when we chose it for Megan’s birthday breakfast. Megan and I decided to order two very different meals and share them as there was too many options which we wanted to try on the menu. It was a good thing we chose to do this, because by the time we left we were unable to finish both plates.

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For starters we ordered a coke and vanilla milk shake . The milk shake was very tasty, loads of cream on top and just the right thickness to drink.

For our first meal meal we ordered a bacon cheeseburger without tomato and a side of fries. One of Megan’s favourite foods is French fries and she thought they were very good. The main thing is that they were hot, had a nice crunch to them and were not to oily or salty. The bacon cheeseburger not only tasted great it was also cooked correctly. When we asked for well-done meat we got well done meat, all too often when we ask for something well done in Paris it is delivered to the table still bloody.

Last but not least the three layered banana pancakes drizzled in maple syrup. After eating our fair share of crepes in Paris it was a good change to indulge in an amazing stack of pancakes. They were probably the best pancakes I can ever remember eating. They were soft, fluffy, juicy and loads of banana flavour. I would recommend trying them if you choose to eat at the Breakfast in America Paris.

breakfast in america address

So, for our Breakfast in America restaurant review we thought that the food was great, the customer service and atmosphere was not amazing however it was not terrible either which is why I only gave it 4/5 Stars.

What I enjoyed the most is knowing that my lovely wife enjoyed her birthday breakfast. Stay tuned for Megan’s Belated Birthday Sunday brunch review at the famous Kong Restaurant.

 

Comedy Review – How To Become Parisian In One Hour?

Greg
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0
Comedy Review – How To Become Parisian In One Hour?

Last Sunday night Megan and I went to watch a stand-up comedy act called “How to become Parisian in one hour”. Placed at the end of this post I have shared a video which displays five minutes of this one hour show.

How to become a Parisian in one hour has been featured in such publications as the New York Times and has extremely good reviews on Viator, Tripadvisor, Yelp, Google and more.

become a parisian show

Megan and I thought it was a great way to spend a Sunday night in Paris. We enjoyed it a lot however I would suggest that you should at least spend a few days in Paris prior to watching the show in order to appreciate the humour to its fullest.

The show focuses on such topics as the painful customer service industry in Paris, general life as a Parisian and a number of French stereo types which you notice when you have spent a little time in the country. After the show If you wish to take a picture with the comedian Oliver Giraud he poses with willing participants outside the exit doors.

perisian comedy stand up

The show performed at Theater Des Nouveautes, it seats approximately 300 people and the night we attended it was almost at full capacity. I really liked the look of the old theatre and its architecture however it had its disadvantages. I am approximately 6ft 3inches tall and my knees were pressed firmly up against the chair in front of me, however it was bearable for a one hour show. The theatre has a bar which you can only access if you arrive an hour early. The reason for this is because after a few minutes the hallway where you must wait to enter the show becomes too crowded to reach the bar. Also you cannot take any drinks into the theatre, all drinks must be finished in the bar area.

paris comedy theatercomedy wait time

So that’s about all the negativity I can rant about for this show. My recommendations are to put up with the crowed and dodgy seats as the show was worth it especially for the price.

In 2009 Olivier Giraud pursued his dream of becoming a comedian. He started his own company (French Arrogance Productions) and began trying to find a venue for his one man show. Theaters and other industry gurus told him that a show in Paris performed completely in English would never work.

Oliver finally found a Theatre that would accepts his act and the rest is history. The act was only meant to be performed for one year and come to completion in 2010. It is now regarded as one of the best shows in France.

From January 16th to June 14th 2015 – the show is performed on Monday’s, Friday’s, Saturday’s and Sunday’s.
From July 1st to August 29th 2015 – the show is performed from Wednesday to Friday.

Where – Theater Des Nouveautes, Paris

become a parisian show

Archie Sitting Pretty Trick At The Sacré Coeur

Greg
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2
Archie Sitting Pretty Trick At The Sacré Coeur

After the success and positive feedback we received from Archie’s Last Video (Pirouette at the Moulin Rouge) we have decided to continue showing off his tricks. This trick was one of the hardest for him to learn as it took a while to increase his balancing ability. In this particular video we are standing on the northern side of Montmartre with the Sacre Coeur Basilica as our backdrop.

With the completion of his second video Archie is looking forward to seeing more of Paris in his next video in the series. He has at least 6 more pretty cool tricks to show off such as Bang Play Dead, Balancing things on his head and more. During this time we will also be teaching him more new tricks so stay tunes to see what’s next.

To show you support with this video series or our Paris Journey website please share this post and follow us on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

Le Poutch Cafe Review: Brunch In The 10th District

Greg
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Le Poutch Cafe Review: Brunch In The 10th District

This week’s café review is situated on the west side of the Canal St. Martin in an area of what is quickly becoming a hot spot for café hopping hipsters. The café is reasonably new and from what we experienced it was buzzing with happy customers.

Le Poutch is located at 13 rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010 and is in the same location as the former café called Tuckshop. The interior renovations don’t seem to have changed very much even though the menu’s have. I am unsure whether it is under new ownership or if it simply had a name change.

We arrived at Le Poutch Café at 12:30pm Sunday to find only two spare tables from a total of about ten tables. We got a little lucky because five minutes after we arrived customers began lining up outside the café waiting for a table. We were also unaware that on Sunday’s they do not offer a lunch menu. They specifically offer a brunch menu along with their full range of drinks.

le poutch cafe review

The three female staff were working hard to keep up with the constant demand and each of them seemed to speak decent English. The staff member who served us seemed to be American or Canadian, she was pleasant and quite helpful which is not always guaranteed in Paris.

cafe le poutch

Megan is loves her chai latte’s and has been struggling to find something decent outside of Starbucks. Megan really enjoyed her apple muffin from Le Poutch and she also stated that it was the “best chai latte that she has found so far in Paris, even better than Starbucks”.

le poutch food

I ordered the 17euro Brunch special which came with a hot drink, fresh juice, large cookie and a main meal. My main meal consisted of a Broccoli and butternut frittata with a side of crispy baked sweet potatoes and lettuce. I thought it was quite nice and the only thing I couldn’t eat was the lettuce as it was covered in balsamic vinegar which I don’t like. The English breakfast tea was as good as it could be, however the freshly squeezed orange juice tasted very fresh. Dunking a chocolate chip cookie into a hot English breakfast tea topped of the meal and by the time I finish I was very satisfied.

le poutch cafe food

For our café Le Poutch review we would put this on our list of recommended café’s in the 10eme Arrondissement. If we are in the area again we will be sure to try their lunch menu. For our experience I will give them 4.5/5 stars. The reasons I would not give them 5 stars is the lack of main meal choices. Although the meal was nice I’m sure there are some that would not enjoy it and prefer another option.

inside cafe le poutch

le poutch cafe menuThis is a copy picture of the Brunch food menu only, there is also a drink. Note that on they serve brunch on a Sunday and have on other days of the week there is a lunch menu which we are unable to provide.

Address: 13 rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010
Phone: 09 53 70 90 83

 

Where To Get The Best Crepes In Paris

Greg
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3
Where To Get The Best Crepes In Paris

Megan and I have tried our fair share of crepes since living in Paris and we think we have found where get the best crepes in Paris. At one point we were having 3 to 4 crepes per week from this particular crepe store because they were so good.

The video below illustrates our favorite crepier (Mr Smiley) creating two perfect crepes which tasted as good as they looked. The video has been sped up for obvious reasons however take note of how much care, precision and cheese that Mr Smiley puts into each step of the process.

I should also point out that I think Mr Smiley makes the best crepes in Paris and only works during the day. The night shift person who also works at this particular crepe shop does make a decent crepe however Mr Smiley’s are better.

If you are wondering why we call him “Mr Smiley”, it is because every time we see him he is always smiling, friendly and happily greets every customer. As we have discovered this can be a rare thing when dealing within the customer service industry of Paris.

Tip: If you are looking to buy a street crepe in Paris and you see a pile of crepes which are already cooked then chances are the crêpier is simply going to reheat them. For obvious reasons they are never as good.

Tip: If you are buying a chocolate crepe then make sure that they are using Nutella chocolate. 90% of the time they will use Nutella, however sometimes dark liquid chocolate is used which is very rich and also not as good.

Tip: We have also purchased crepes at restaurants and even a dinner cruise on the Seine River for desert but some reason the fresh street crepes are always better.

The best crepes in Paris are located at the creperie on the corner of Rue Lepic and Boulevard de Clichy, 10meters east of the Moulin Rouge.

Best Crepes in Paris
Megan’s choice of crepe is always sugar and cinnamon and I will usually choose either a banana and Nutella or cheese and ham. The price of a sugar and cinnamon crepe is 2,50Euro and the price of a cheese and ham crepe is 4,50Euro. So not only do they taste amazing but they are also reasonably priced as well.

 

 

Day Trip From Paris To Provins

Greg
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2
Day Trip From Paris To Provins

Recently Megan and I returned from a Paris to Provins day trip. As you will see in the pictures, Provins is a small town just outside of Paris caught in a time warp of the medieval era. The city is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site which helps protect the town’s long line of trade fairs dating back to 800ac.

Getting To Provins From Paris

Tour to provins from paris We caught the metro to the station Gare de l’est and changed to an SNCF Train at 9:46am. There is a direct train between Paris and Provins in both directions every hour until about 10pm. A one way ticket costs 11.50euro and the duration of the trip is approximately 1hour and 30minutes.

The train ride from Paris to Provins was one of the more enjoyable and comfortable trips we have experienced. Prior to departing we bought some pastries and hot drinks which helped us pass the time eating our breakfast while admiring the country side. The train ride was very smooth, quiet and each chair had loads of leg room with a fold up table.

Check train times from Paris to Provins – www.transilien.com

Things to do in Provins

When we arrived in Provins we used our phones GPS and walked to the tourist information centre located at Chemin de Villecran, 77160 Provins. It was a 25minute casual walk stopping for snap shots and admiring the scenery. When we arrived at the tourist information centre we were very pleased to discover that the staff were friendly, helpful and all spoke English. We purchased our tour tickets, found where a good place for lunch was, planned our trip and started following the map we were given.

provins fortified wall

Ramparts and Fortified Gates

Our first stop was the Ramparts and the fortified gates which is viewable from the tourist information centre. This medieval fortification surrounds half of the town and is still standing after almost 800 years. It probably only took us 20 minutes to walk around the wall taking pictures and eventually entering the town through the Saint Jean’s Gate. We also climbed to the top of the wall at Saint Jean’s Gate which was only two flights of stair and admired the view.

provins ramparts

The Main Street of Town

Walking through the town was quietly pleasant and very empty probably due to the time of year we visited. Apparently if we were to visit in summer the town would be buzzing with tourists, so we were kind of happy to have it all to ourselves. The only downfall is that we were not able to experience the falconry and medieval shows as well as a medieval dinner banquet which are seasonal attractions and would have been a good to experience.

provins town center

Restaurants in Provins

After walking the main street of town we came to the area where there were a number of restaurants and bars. We kicked up our feet and took our time eating lunch at a fairly trendy local pub. We enjoyed a simple chicken and chips, croquet madam and desert. It was nothing fancy but the food was cooked well. There are also a few upmarket restaurants in the area where you would pay upwards of 30euro per dish if it better suits your liking.

provins restaurants
We ate at the little red pub on the left

The Underground Galleries

While at the tourist information centre we purchased some tickets to participate in the tour of the “Underground Galleries”. Unfortunately the only way to see the “Underground Galleries” is with a tour guide. The only tour available is in French so it was a little hard to connect with the story of the attraction as we only understood bits and pieces. The structure itself however was very fascinating and we were glad to be able to view it. The tour lasted 45minutes and consisted of about 20 people in some tight dark spaces, so if you are claustrophobic it’s probably not a good choice.
Some attractions such as the Underground Galleries only operate during specific times so I recommend you check out the details at this website (Provins Tourism) and plan you day accordingly.

provins underground galleries

Caesar’s Tower

After the tour we head back up the hill to Caesar’s Tower. Built in the 9th century the tower was used as a look out and a prison. It features some really nice views of the city and country side however by the time we climbed it the visibility was not as good as it could have been due to a light sprinkling of rain. The climb to the top involved archways which required me to walk sideway in order to fit, many of the stairs were very slippery and quite steep. So for a very larger a person with poor balance I would not recommend climbing the tower. The attraction lasts about 30 to 40minutes.

Caesar’s Tower provins

After visiting Caesars Tower we began our slow walk back to the station to catch the 4:46pm train back to Paris. We really enjoyed Provins and it ranks high on the list of our top ten day trips from Paris. The whole day felt very relaxed with no rush to be anywhere and nothing to do but to enjoy the sights. As we visited in February there were a few seasonal attractions which we missed out on, so we only spent about 7hours in Provins.

For more information head to the Provins Tourism Website or alternatively here is a list of thing to see:

Tour to provins from paris

Walk or climb the Ramparts and Fortified Gates
Lunch in the main street
Tour of the Underground Galleries
Climb Caesar’s Tower
Stroll the medieval streets taking photos
Visit the Tithe Barn
Visit the museum of Provins and surroundings
Visit one of the many historical churches
Watch one of 4 medieval shows (seasonal availabilities)
Have dinner at a medieval banquet (seasonal availabilities)
Visit during a scheduled medieval festival

Driving The Dangerous Arc De Triomphe Roundabout In Paris

Greg
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5
Driving The Dangerous Arc De Triomphe Roundabout In Paris

Many tourists or first time Paris driver fear the Arc de Triomph Roundabout. In fact even insurance companies tread with caution. When you first choose an insurance package for a car in Paris there is an option for coverage on the Arc de Triomphe Roundabout and the choice for no coverage while driving on the Arc de Triomphe roundabout.

As you will notice in the video there are a few tricks or rules for manoeuvring the roundabout correctly. Unlike traditional roundabouts found in most places around the world, here in France you must give way to the cars which are entering the roundabout.

You may also notice that in my first lap I stick to the inside as this is where the least amount of traffic is. If you do choose to go all the way to the inside and are driving a car you may find it a little difficult to reach your exit and push your way back out. It was a little easier for me because I was riding a scooter. The actual name for the Ard de Triomphe Roundabout is called “The Étoile”.

Tips for Diving on The Étoile

  1. Always give way to your right and people entering the round about
  2. Know what your insurance covers prior to driving in Paris
  3. If you wish to avoid the roundabout all together take the last right before the intersection on to rue de Presbourg and rue de Tilsitt. This will circle around the outside of the roundabout however it is a lot slower.
  4. You need to be a little bit pushy in order to merge off the roundabout.
  5. Don’t make any sudden decisions, you need to stay calm and be fluid with the traffic around you.
    Continually check your blind spots as there are often erratic drivers in Paris and many scooters slicing between narrow gaps.
  6. Don’t be alarmed by the sound of a horn or two, Parisians use their horns alot and many times it is not just a sign of road rage but a form of communication.

The first time I went on the Arch de Triomphe roundabout I was absolutely terrified as was Megan. However I discovered that it was actually quite fun on a scooter. From a scooter drivers perspective it feels like very free place to drive due the lack of any visible lanes. If you stick the rules and don’t panic I see no reason why you couldn’t go around as many times as you want.

Check out the video below which I created with my GoPro.

Driving Our Scooter Around Arc De Triomphe

Aged 50 Homeless French Bodybuilder in Paris

Greg
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0
Aged 50 Homeless French Bodybuilder in Paris

Disclosure: The video in this post is not my creation. It is a Julien Goudichaud Production and has been translated to English subtitles by another party on Youtube.

This story is about a French homeless man living on the streets of Paris with an unusually hobby for a man in his situation. Instead of dedicating his time to drugs and alcohol which have been some of his addictions in the past, he has dedicated his time on the streets preparing for bodybuilding competitions.

It is a great story of duress and there are a number of lessons that can be taken away from this film. Not only is he homeless but he is 50 years old, has a bad liver and is an AIDS patient. With the little money he earns begging on the street it is spent on his specific training diet.

homeless paris bodybuilder

For me this short film re-enforces the old saying “where there is a will there is away”. Jacques has found a way to follow his passion while living in some extreme conditions. It really makes you feel guilty about all the times that excuses were made just to avoid a workout.

At the moment Julien Goudichaud Is in the process of making a longer documentary about the homeless bodybuilder, while Jacques continues to try and fulfill his dream of training in the USA.

Jacques son has set up a Facebook page HERE where you can follow his progress.

Frenchie To Go Café Review

Greg
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0
Frenchie To Go Café Review

Recently Megan and I heard good things about a Cafe run by Gregory Marchand in the 2nd arrondissement. Gregory Marchand was given the nickname “Frenchie” while in the Kitchen of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen in London stuck.

The restaurant is located in a narrow cobble stone street of rue du Nil in the second district. Before the influx of Gregory Marchand the street used to be inhabited by the textile industry. Gregory’s presence in the street has added a more stylish and hip feeling. Not only has he infused the street with the Frenchie to Go Café but you will also find the Frenchie Wine Bar and The Frenchie Restaurant.

For this Post we will only review the Frenchie to Go Café as we have not ventured to the other two yet.

frenchie cafe paris

We originally planned to go to visit Frenchie to Go on my birthday however as I was sick all day I felt that my taste buds would not do the food justice and I was not sure how much I could actually consume. So a few days later we went for a belated birthday.

I really liked the narrow cobble stone street it was located on. Straight away it creates an emotional reaction of a stereotypical French feel such as Montmartre or Rue Mouffetard but without all the hustle and bustle.

True to its name you may need to take your food to go, however we were lucky and landed one of the few seats inside the Café. The atmosphere is pleasant with small yet authentic feel and a view of everything that is going on in the kitchen.

As we sat at a raised bench table with bar stools our food was brought to our table within minutes. The staff member serving us spoke excellent English and was very polite, which is not something we have come to expect from café staff in Paris.

Megan ordered an organic apple juice and a bacon and egg muffin. I ordered a hot dog with mustard and relish with a homemade ginger beer.

Megan really enjoyed her meal, the egg was cooked well but was undercooked just enough to burst open when the muffin was squeezed. The bacon was not too crunchy but the only downside is that it came with bbq and tomato sauce. For most this is not a problem but Megan is not one for sauces however it says a lot that she still really enjoyed it. Maybe we misread the menu however if you don’t wish to have sauce just make sure you tell them.

frenchie to go food review

I enjoyed my hot dog however don’t expect a traditional American hotdog as this is France. It is the closest I have come so far to an American hot dog however due to a few main factors. I loved that the bread was soft but lightly toasted, the bottom of the bun was filled with onion and it came with a side of homemade relish. The only difference was really the sausage and maybe lack of cheese. The sausage was made in house and was filled with their own recipe of spice and smoke pork.

The only criticism I have about the meal was the home made ginger beer. I love ginger beer and being homemade I expected it to be strong but this was crazy strong. Unfortunately I could only drink half of it as it was more like a spicy beer instead of a ginger beer. It literally made me nearly cough every time I took a sip.

frenchie to go review

I would definitely recommend it to people that are in the area or wanting some takeaway food which is a little different with a touch of style. I have been told that I should have tried the pulled pork sandwich and they apparently make a good coffee as well.

Frenchie To Go Menu 2015

frenchie to go menu

frenchie to go menu 2

The Haunting Sounds Of Paris Air Raid Sirens

Greg
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1
The Haunting Sounds Of Paris Air Raid Sirens

A few years ago when Megan and I first moved to Paris we were startled by the drowning sounds of Air Raid Sirens. These sirens absolutely freaked us out, so we turned on the TV and started searching on the internet for current events.

We couldn’t find out anything at the time as there was really not much written about it back then. After a few minutes of looking we stumbled upon a little article which alerted us that there was nothing to worry about.

On the first Wednesday of every month the Paris Air Raid sirens are tested at 12oclock and again at 12:10PM. Each time they sound for approximately 40 seconds and for unsuspecting Paris newbies like us they have the ability to cause a sense of panic, if only for a moment.

The sounds of the sirens are haunting and it makes you think about the people who had to live in these kinds of conditions on a daily basis. Here is a video which records the sound we hear on the first Wednesday of every month.

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