Night ride

It was one of those nights when anything could happen.

 

Above: Place de Furstemberg at midnight

 

 ***

 

Art Exhibitions Paris / August

 

***

 

Update:

Above photo selected for exhibition / competition

 

September newsletter

 

Window Wednesday

 All over Paris restaurants, cafés and shops close during the month of August and leave a message of when they will return, although each year the grandes vacances (annual summer vacation) seem to be getting shorter.

To tip or not to tip Tuesday

Ignorance of a culture can get expensive.

 

You’re in Paris. You've researched your trip yet are still confused about tipping etiquette. There were as many opinions on what to do/what not to do as cobblestones on a Montmartre 

 side street.

 

First of all, in France, there are no specific services where tipping is legally required. If you encounter a situation where a tip is demanded, it’s not standard practice and you are not obligated to comply.

For cafés, restaurants and anything to do with food service, and this is the area where most of the confusion lies, it doesn’t operate like in the U.S. where workers rely on tips to make ends meet. Being a server is a profession, and servers are in for the long haul. They’re not students or actors waiting to be discovered, as one older American lady found out during lunch at a Left Bank bistrot. Clasping her hands she said to the waiter, “My, you are handsome! You must be an actor!” to which he sternly replied, “Non! I am a waiter!” clicking his heels.

Paying your bill and walking out without leaving anything extra won’t raise an eyebrow. Tipping in restaurants and cafés or anywhere to do with food/drink isn’t mandatory. In France, servers earn a proper salary, complete with benefits - paid vacation (5 weeks!), all healthcare. It’s hard to fire them and if the establishment changes hands, they can stay on. They return from their August congés well-rested and cheerful, having been able to afford travel to exotic locales - India, North Africa, Cuba, San Francisco.

A 15% service charge is already built into the price of every item at cafés, bars, and restaurants (the famous “service compris”). It might be visible on the menu and/or bill or it might not. It won’t be tacked onto your bill separately.

 

Service compris was in that €400 Michelin tab as well as tiny espresso taken standing at a counter. At café bars, leaving a few “pièces jaunes”  - small yellow coins - is common. It’s called a "pourboire” meaning “to drink,” so at the day's end the server will be able to buy a glass of something.

 

Having said that, some touristy restaurants are now presenting the bill (l'addition) with a “tip line” and digital screens with pre-set tip percentages - 15%, 18%, 20% or 25% along with "custom amount" or "no tip" options U.S.-style - which is counting on customer ignorance. Choosing not to tip won’t earn you The Evil Eye.

 

One tactic at mostly trendy fashion-forward restaurants is when the waitress, hand-picked for her allure, glides straight to the payer (often a man), and breathily purrs, “Did you enjoy zee service?” playing on lingering doubts. If you did, you can simply reply, “Yes!” And if you don’t want to leave anything, you don’t have to.

 

However if you liked the service and found it exceptional, it’s a nice gesture to leave a little something. Many locals don’t; or they round up their bill to the nearest euro. If you still can't shake those feelings of guilt, some leave €5 if they're two, €10 if they're four, and at high-end spots like Michelin-starred restaurants €50, although a modest €2 to €20-tip is fine. As for the tip, cash is preferred. Mais bien sûr, if you feel the service deserves more - especially if you’ve been high-maintenance - don’t hesitate to leave a bit extra.

 

Remember, "good service" means that once you've received your order, your waiter will pretty much leave you alone, not wanting to interrupt your meal. And I like that.- BPJ

 

*** 

 

Adapted from:

Paris and The French: A Unique Culture - Barbara Pasquet James

 

Mocha Monday

Face-à-face yet miles apart.

Malongo Atelier Barista

50 rue Saint-André des Arts 75006

Sit-down Sunday

 Waiting patiently at a lively Montmartre café.

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.

 ***

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.