Salade Saturday

 A gigantic head of batavia lettuce dominates a Montmartre produce shop that gets its seasonal fruit, vegetables, juices, honeys, and cheeses from local farms.

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The American tourist sat down and eagerly ordered the Hamburger Maison et Salade, the only thing she recognized on the menu. "Well done, please!" When the burger arrived, underdone, instead of a vibrant, heaping pile of crisp greens tossed in a light vinaigrette as expected, the only green in sight was a slightly wilted single lettuce leaf peeking out from inside the bun. As she had clearly read "salade" she stopped the waiter to demand where her salad was, only for him to shrug and walk away. And just like that, dreams of a lush side salad faded faster than Julia Child's smile when her soufflé refused to rise. In France, depending on the context, if "salade verte" or even "petite salade" is not explicitly stated, and just salade appears on the menu with a burger or sandwich, brace yourself for that one lone leaf instead of a proper side. - BPJ

 

Floral Friday

 

Waiting to be joined by a special friend at Café La Palette.

Thursday thrill

Imagine stepping out onto this small balcony and seeing this.

 

Perfect weather Wednesday

Beautiful weather means dining al fresco.

Above: an Italian treasure hidden in a leafy courtyard

 Pinot Grigio

Village Saint Paul

7 rue Charlemagne 75004

(open in August)

 

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The period of Roman occupation of Paris (then called Lutetia) lasted about 500 years and left much behind including roads, baths, a forum, an amphitheater and some of the best Italian restaurants, markets and shops outside of Italy.

September newsletter:

Best Italian, Paris

 

 

Travel Tuesday

 

Looking back: spending time with loved ones off the French Atlantic coast.

 

Above: up early to the smell of fresh coffee and croissants

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Brittany islands

3 hours (or less) from Paris

 

Meander Monday

 

The Latin Quarter, a favorite quartier to just wander.

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 I've seen it more than once. A starry-eyed tourist steps into Paris’s Quartier Latin, imagining there will be rumba in the streets. She’s packed a bright sundress and practiced a few merengue moves, hoping she'll come across a vibrant fiesta or at least a few Havana-style clubs. But instead of sambas and paso dobles she finds quiet cobblestone alleys filled with bookshops and cafés with students arguing about the latest PSG match over overpriced espresso.

In Paris, the Latin Quarter refers to that historic district on the left bank of the Seine, centered around the Sorbonne University in the 5th and 6th arrondissements. Its name, far from implying a Latino culture, originates from the Middle Ages when Latin was the lingua franca of academia.

In the 12th century Paris became a major intellectual hub with the founding of the University of Paris, later the Sorbonne. Students and scholars, drawn from across Europe, communicated in Latin, the universal language of learning. The area around the university filled with schools, monasteries, and student lodgings and became known as the "Quartier Latin”: Latin was spoken in lectures, debates, and daily life. By the 13th century, the district was hosting figures like Thomas Aquinas and over time, the Latin Quarter retained its academic and bohemian character.

By the 19th and 20th centuries, it evolved into a hub for artists, writers, and intellectuals, with cafés and bookshops like Shakespeare and Company drawing luminaries such as Hemingway and Sartre. Its narrow, medieval streets like Rue de la Huchette and landmarks like the Panthéon, Sorbonne University and great domed l'Institut de France cemented its reputation as a cultural and intellectual heart of Paris. - BPJ

Seine Sunday

A spot on the Seine.

 

Paris Plages 2025

 

Ends Sunday August 31