2008 June | Vegetarian Experiences in Paris

Monthly Archive for June, 2008

Restaurant Antalya – Turkish fast food

Published

on June 29, 2008

. 2 Comments

We all have our comfort foods. At the core, we crave the meals our parents cooked for us as children. Well, that’s a bit of a stretch for me, my mother tended to massacre meals more than serve them. But I digress. As adults, we also tend to settle on those familiar joints where we know we can get a good meal at a good price and it’s comforting to be a regular.

Restaurant Antalya is that place for me. I work long days and travel across the city to get to work and back. I often don’t feel like cooking when I arrive at Chez Ted. I also don’t want to get a big sit down meal and the thought of another cheese sandwich or panini can make a grown man cry.

Luckily, I discovered Antalya and their vegetarian plate. For only 6.50 Euros, you get tomato couscous, roasted eggplant with veggies, fries, and a salad. It’s a lot of food, it tastes good, it’s fast, and the people are really friendly and welcoming. I also get to watch the latest Turkish soap operas while waiting for the food.

Vegan options?

I wouldn’t suggest this to vegans, the eggplant dish has cheese. I also can’t guarantee that everything there is truly vegetarian. I’ve been afraid to ask if the fries are made in vegetable oil and what goes into the couscous. I can say that after 23 years of being a veggie, I can usually taste the animal fat. I have not found any reason to avoid coming to this favorite little joint on the way home from a long day at work.

Antalya is located in the 12th arrindissement. It’s not the most convenient place for tourists. However it’s not too far from Park de Bercy or Bois de Vincennes. It’s a local restaurant that draws a friendly local crowd.

For a fancier Turkish meal, turn around and go a block in the other direction for Angora. Their version of this meal is about double the price and has a lovely starter plate.

Restaurant Antalya: 284, rue Charenton (12°); 01 43 44 40 32; Metro: dugommier; Turkish Fast Food

Overall: 5/5
Location: 3/5
Value: 5/5
Taste: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Vegetarian Friendly: 3/5
Vegan Friendly: 1/5
M.E.F. Friendly: 5/5

Comfort Foods We Crave — And Why [via Zemanta]
Prepare Cheap and Healthy Food With Minimal Resources [Cooking] [via Zemanta]

Le Bec Fin – Couscous and Tangines

Published

Ted

on June 28, 2008

in 10th Arrindissement, Ethnic, Mediteranean and restaurant

. 3 Comments

Behind the former city wall arches at Strausbourg and St-Denis sits a vibrant Arab and Indian community. You’ll find a wide assortment of places to eat from the simple street vendors to elegant restaurants. Le Bec Fin is a traditional couscous restaurant with a beautiful interior, fresh food and reasonable prices.

The first thing you’ll notice at Le Bec Fin is the tile work. It’s fantastic and you’ll think you’ve been transported to Algiers. The restaurant is a beautiful place to visit. The service is friendly and the waiter spoke perfect English.

Le Bec Fin specializes in couscous and tangines. I chose the vegetarian tangine. I’ve always wanted to see what this form of cooking produced. At first, I thought the plate served was a bit small, but it was a perfect amount when the fluffy couscous arrived at the table. The food is very fresh and carefully prepared.

My friend had the Algerian wine, but thought a traditional french wine would have been sufficient (and cheaper).

Le Bec Fin is very close to the Strausborg arch. Just look for the restaurant with the gleaming tile interior. It’s a nice place for dinner.

Le Bec Fin: 15, rue de Faubourg (10°); 01 42 06 62 82; Metro: Strasbourg-St. Denis; Algerian restaurant

Overall: 4/5
Location: 4/5
Taste: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Vegetarian Friendly: 4/5
Vegan Friendly: 3/5
M.E.F. Friendly: 5/5

Bollywood Lounge – Hip Indian Food

Published

Ted

on June 28, 2008

in 5th Arrindissement, Ethnic and Indian

. 1 Comment

The Bollywood Lounge sits in the popular, tourist-friendly left bank near Notre Dame. It’s colorful interior will draw your attention. It plays on the seduction of Bollywood and promises a sophisticated, hip interpretation of Indian food.

I have not eaten here yet. However, their menu (.pdf) is available online. Unfortunately, it only gives vegetarian food lip service and instead focuses on Chicken, Lamb, and Seafood. It’s probably due to the high rent neighborhood and the higher fees these dishes can capture.

Bollywood Lounge does offer a vegetarian Thali, but it only consists of dal, raita, rice, samosa, and eggplant caviar for 14 euros. You can also order off the vegetarian side dishes menu. While this restaurant looks promising, I’m going to continue my search for good Indian food in Paris elsewhere.

Bollywood Lounge: 57, rue Galande (5°); 01 43 26 25 26; Metro: Maubert Mutuality, Cluny la Sarbonne, St-Michel Notre Dame; Indian Restaurant

Overall: 3.5/5
Location: 5/5
Value: 3/5
Vegetarian Friendly: 3/5
Vegan Friendly: 3/5
M.E.F. Friendly: 4/5

Pierre Hermé – Patisserie to the Stars

Published

Ted

on June 28, 2008

in 6th Arrindissement, Fruit, Gifts, Patisserie, books and popular

. 1 Comment

There’s nothing particularly vegetarian about this patisserie. In fact, the place is known for its bizarre macaroon combinations that have included foie gras as a filling. However, Pierre Hermé is an amazing place to indulge in, regardless of your vegetarian/vegan/macrobiotic/organic leanings.

Legend has it: Hermé worked for Gaston Lenôtre, the world famous pastry chef. They are known as the masters of macaroons and this historic patisserie has been serving the aristocracy for decades. However, Hermé felt the urge to move on and opened his first place just down the street on Rue Bonaparte.

Where Lenôtre is about classic French taste (etoile patterns, delicate macaroons, pastels…), Pierre Hermé is bold, experimental, funky, surprising, and above all delicious.

It’s enough to get the true French Queen, Catherine Deneuve, to wait in line for morning pastries. At least that is the story I’ve heard and desperately want to believe. I love the idea of standing in line for an almond croissant with such a legend, chatting about the latest macaroon, working with Luis Bunuel, and the muggy weather.

I was surprised by the reasonable prices. The almond croissant was the same price as the flat, spongy thing seen in more common patisseries around the city. The macaroons were beyond description. I tested the passion fruit and chocolate creation. I also bought his signature chocolate balls. Unfortunately, I didn’t eat them fast enough and they grew mold. That’s what you get when you expect your food to be filled with preservatives and someone hands you a touch of purity. Oh well, I’ll just have to make another trip.

There’s a bunch of photos on Flickr from people that enjoy the goodies at Pierre Herme. They’ll give you an idea of the passion these morsels create. If you are looking for a delicious dessert, a quick pick me up, or a great gift to bring back home: visit Pierre Hermé.

Pierre Hermé: 72, rue Bonaparte (6°); 01 43 54 47 77; Metro: St-Germian de Prés; Patisserie

Overall: 5/5
Location: 5/5
Value: 4.5/5
Taste: 5/5
Service: 4/5
Vegetarian Friendly: 4/5
Vegan Friendly: 3/5

Protests force foie gras off restaurant menu [via Zemanta]
NoMI’s New Pastry Chef Coup [via Zemanta]

Wanna Juice – Fruit Smoothies in Paris

Published

Ted

on June 24, 2008

in 1st Arrindissemont, Fruit, Vegan Friendly, cafe, organic, popular, soup and vegetarian-friendly

. 0 Comments

Paris is a hot, sticky, muggy city during the summer months. You’ll need to find an occasional cold treat to cool your body. luckily, there are several Wanna Juice bars to quench your thirst.

Wanna Juice bars are small restaurants similar to Jamba Juice in the States. You will see a menu board of blended juices, a fridge with yoghurts, snacks, and salads. Soups are also available for lunch.

Wanna Juice has a fairly reasonable lunch menu with soup or salad, bread, and small smoothie for around 8 euros. Purchasing a smoothie by itself may give you some sticker shock. I had the Fast Breakfast smoothie this afternoon for 8.20 Euros, which is a little over $12. The smoothie was great, it had berries, fresh orange juice, yogurt, muesli, and honey. The tasty concoction made me forget about the price. My friend had an orange/strawberry smoothie. He’s a big fan of the Orange Dream Machine smoothie at Jamba Juice. I liked Wanna’s better; it didn’t taste like baby aspirin.

There are 4 locations for Wanna Juice. Each is located near popular tourist destinations. You’ll find it to be a fresh alternative in the sticky heat of a Paris summer. Ask for the frequent buyer card; buy ten and get one free. That may take a bit of the sting off of your currency conversion analysis.

The Mouffetard and Montorgueil locations are also surrounded by great vegetarian bistros, markets, and tasty boulangeries. Both areas are great places to visit for a taste of Paris life. Mouffetard is also home to some hostels and is close to the Universities.

Overall: 3.5/5
Location: 5/5
Taste: 4/5
Value: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Vegetarian Friendly: 5/5
Vegan Friendly: 5/5
M.E.F. Friendly: 5/5