Vegetarian Experiences in Paris » Ted

Upcoming farmers’ market in the 12th arr.

Ted — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:53:51 +0000

I’ve mentioned my love for Paris markets many times. While the weekly farmers’ markets are always worth visiting; I especially enjoy the special markets for produce and items from around the country.

There’s a Marché des Producteurs de Pays scheduled for May 22 and 23 in the 12th arr. It’s conveniently located between metros Daumesnil and Dugommier.

Keep an eye out for socks and blankets from angora sheep, dandelion wine, sheep’s milk soap, regional cheese and cookies, and buy a hunk of bread from the 3 feet wide circles.

Restaurant update: La Victoire Suprême du Cœur has changed

Ted — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:53:43 +0000

I just noticed that La Victoire Suprême du Cœur has changed owners. This news came courtesy of the blog Vegan Paris. The restaurant has changed names and now features non-vegetarian items. Fortunately, they still have the same kitchen staff, so there should still be some good options for vegetarian diners.

Report From Vegan Paris

But sadly, it seems that the restaurant couldn’t go on without us and just a couple of months after we left they have transformed into the Foie Gras-friendly “Le Passage Obligé”
There is one bright side: the new restaurant is run by the same “équipe,” who were always fairly well informed about what ‘vegan’ means, and the menu is clearly labelled with several vegetarian and vegan options. Also, they have vegan desserts.
Paris loses a Vegan restaurant: La Victoire Suprême du Cœur becomes Le Passage Obligé

La Victoire was a high-end vegetarian restaurant in the Marais district. I’d been there a few times and enjoyed the variety of dishes.

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Thanksgiving for Vegans and Vegetarians in L.A. (laist.com)
The new VegEZ app for iPhone Saves Dinner (prweb.com)
Chez Grand-Mère – Le Chablis in Paris (parisvegetarian.com)

Marché des Producteurs de Pays, 21 et 22 NOVEMBRE 2009

Ted — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:15:46 +0000

I love the Marché des Producteurs de Pays in Paris. This is your opportunity to buy products directly from the farmers, artisans, and craftsmen from around the French countryside.

I especially like the angora socks, aligot, candles, and specialty baked goods. You’ll also find great deals on holiday presents, such as local wine, cheeses, and hand-crafted goods.

The next market will be November 21 and 22 in the 12th arr. on Boulevard de Reuilly. This is a good sized market and you should find plenty of goodies to eat and enjoy.

A pesto pasta with Alsatian Riesling (themanfrommoselriver.wordpress.com)

BIOart – Organic gourmet along the Seine

Ted — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:06:57 +0000

Organic is a dirty word in Paris. Not that they are against organic produce as we know it. No, “organic” brings to mind roadkill and other rotting objects. Instead, the French use the term Biologique. BIOart is a restaurant that specializes in using only biologique ingredients in their cuisine.

I must admit I’ve passed this restaurant many, many times while heading home. It’s a bit cold on the outside, but supposedly very nice and comforting on the inside; where it really matters.

This was the first certified organic restaurant in France. The food is also locally produced and dishes are seasonal. You’ll find a wide variety of dishes for vegetarians and vegans. It’s a bit pricey, so save this for one of those special dinners on your vacation.

Travel and Leisure magazine featured BIOart in an eco-travel article:

A new addition to the city’s booming 13th Arrondissement, BioArt **** (dinner for two $100) serves an all-organic menu—risotto topped with shaved truffles; a terrine of diver scallops—in a design-forward space overlooking the Seine.
Eco-Friendly Guide to Paris, London and Stockholm

I have not visited this restaurant yet, so I cannot give a review.

BIOart: 1, quie Francoise-Mauriac (13°); Metro: Bibliotech Francoise Mitterand; 01 45 85 66 88/dd>

Exki – fast, ecological, and tasty meals around Paris

Ted — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:27:42 +0000

Exki is one of the many new healthy fast-food restaurants that have opened in Paris recently. There are several locations in the city to get a quick salad, juice, and meal for lunch.

Exki has a strong commitment to organic food. Here’s a snippet from their web site:

Nous sélectionnons pour vous les meilleurs ingrédients saisonniers.

Nous refusons l’usage de tout additif.

Certains de nos produits sont labellisés BIO. Par exemple le pain, confectionné et cuit artisanalement sur pierre, sans aucun “améliorant” artificiel. Pour garantir sa fraîcheur, nous terminons sa cuisson, chaque matin, dans nos restaurants.

Sont également BIO : le lait, le yaourt, les jets de légumes, des tartelettes, des biscuits, des confitures,…
Exki philosophie

I have not visited this restaurant yet, so I cannot give a review.

Exki: 9, boulevard des Italiens (2°); 118, avenue de France (13°); 82, boulevard du Montparnasse (14°); 01 42 61 06 52

Kosher Pizza invades Falafel Alley

Ted — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:28:22 +0000

What is a pizza joint doing on a street dedicated to falafel? It’s bringing back a bit of Paris history and that is a good thing for us. The street has been a bit sad for years as the old Kosher Pizza restaurant sat empty and boarded up. Perhaps rue de Rosiers is returning to its history of kosher food instead of the latest batch of clothing stores.

Kosher food does not allow dairy and meat to be served or cooked together. That means this is a vegetarian pizza restaurant by default. You can even have it sans cheese for your vegan fix.

The lack of meat is not the only thing different about the Kosher Pizza Restaurant. The walls are covered with Orthodox Jewish posters and scripts instead of Venetian sunsets, the standard images of Michelangelo’s David have also been replaced with rabbi photos; which reminds me a bit of the Rabbi trading cards available from Archie McPhee in Seattle.

The Pizza

The pizza has a ridiculously thin crust. It is more like a cracker than the dough you’d see in a thick crusted pizza. Perhaps this is a nod to matzo.

The pizza options are mostly variations of onion, leek, egg, olives, and eggplant. It’s a bit surprising to see pizza names, like nicoise, and not see the traditional meat ingredient listed.

I was a bit worried when I sat down and watched a young couple eat three pizzas. I was unfortunately brought up with the concept of quantity over quality at pizza joints. Forget the California bite sized pizzas, bring on the buy 1 get 3 free delivery specials.

However, I was pleasantly surprised at how filling the provincial pizza was. It’s a cracker thin crust with sauce, a sprinkling of cheese, and topped with ratatouille. The cheese is so minimal that I’m sure vegans would love this pizza without the cheese. The toppings blended nicely with the sauce.

Kosher Pizza is obviously closed on sabbath and Jewish holidays. It’s a bit more expensive than its falafel neighbors, but you’ll appreciate the unique experience.

Kosher Pizza: 17 rue des Rosiers (4°); Metro: St. Paul; 01 48 87 56 88; Wheelchair Friendly: Wow! This is very accessible. There are no steps to enter and the bathroom is easily reached from the dining area. Even the tables are wheelchair friendly.

Overall: 4/5
Value: 3/5
Location: 5/5
Taste: 4/5
Vegetarian Options: 5/5
Vegan Options: 5/5

Where is the best ratatouille in Paris?

Ted — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:05:19 +0000

I had an amazing omelet with ratatouille in Brugge recently. It was in a small bar outside the tourist area. It was filled with the restaurant’s extended family members.

The omelet was fluffy and filled with the perfect batch of ratatouille. This got me to start wondering: where is the best ratatouille in Paris? It’s not the type of dish a restaurant builds their reputation on. It’s typically the lowly side dish that accompanies the meat and eggs. But good ratatouille is a meal in itself.

I had a great “provencial pizza” at Kosher Pizza that was essentially a thin crust pizza covered with ratatouille.

Where is your favorite place? How about outside Paris?

Chez Grand-Mère – Le Chablis in Paris

Ted — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:19 +0000

There’s a small restaurant around the corner from my office in Paris. It’s affectionately called “Chez Grand-Mère” as it is owned by the grand mother of a colleague. But there’s more than just a tangential relationship; as the warm reception makes everyone feel like her favorite grand child.

Even though I moved away from Paris a few months ago and returned this week, my Parisian grandmother didn’t miss a step. When it came time to order she remembered I was a vegetarian and suggested a wonderful spinach/cheese tart for an appetizer and mixed omelette with fries. Frankly, I was ready to change the fries to spinach as a customer was given their plate with a pile of great looking greens.

~~Chez Grand-Mère~~ Le Chablis has a small menu written on chalk boards hanging on the walls. You can expect at least one lacto/ovo vegetarian option. I especially enjoy their terrine with chevre and sun dried tomatoes.

They are open for lunch and you can expect to pay 12-16 euros for a two or three course meal. That includes a healthy dose of grandmotherly love.

Le Chablis: 12 rue Guillaime Tell (17°); Metro: Porte de Champerret, Pereire; 01 43 80 02 83; Wheelchair Friendly: Entrance and restaurant are a bit tight but it is manageable. No steps for entrance. I don’t know about the restroom

Overall: 3.5/5
Value: 4/5
Location: 3/5
Taste: 4/5
Vegetarian Options: 3/5
Vegan Options: 2/5

Learn to Love: Spinach (fitsugar.com)
chablis & the art of eating (burgundy-report.com)

Aligot in Paris – Aveyron festival October 9-11, 2009

Ted — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:02:58 +0000

Don’t miss the Aligot festival this weekend in the 12th arr. near Park de Bercy. To be fair, it’s not just aligot but also a celebration of the Aveyron region of France. The Marché des Pays de l’Aveyron festival takes place October 9-11, right in front of my favorite cafe, the Parisian Sweet Bar.

Aligot is a stringy white cheese that is laboriously stirred with potatoes to create a heavenly, yet very filling dish. It’s a rich mashed potato dish that makes even the sturdiest potluck bowls of Alabama pale in contrast. After all, the region is known for its hardy, rustic cuisine.

This is also a great time to sample and purchase confiture, honey, and other local products. I always keep an eye out for socks and other items made from the Angora goats. These regional festivals are perfect for tourists in Paris that are looking for a quick shopping/eating excursion. Wine lovers can find wonderful bottles that are impossible to find back home. They are free to join and you can expect ample samples and smiles.

Just try to look past the fois gras, sausages, and other meaty products.

Want a little penis with your panini?

Ted — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:08:17 +0000

LeGay Choc is a fun boulangerie in the Marais district. It’s probably best known for its window filled with penis shaped bread and chocolate. But this place is more than phallic treats, it also has a nice selection of vegetarian goodies.

LeGay Choc also features a nice selection of tartines, sandwiches, and quiches. I was in there a few weeks ago getting some croissants for breakfast and was surprised by the selection. I’d say they were filled with good taste, but lets just say the food tasted good

There are lots of vegetarian options in the Marais. Keep LeGay Choc in mind when looking for a simple, fun lunch idea. It’s also the best place to get a sourdough zizi for the next dinner party.

LeGay Choc: 17 rue des Archives (4°); 45 rue Ste Croix de la Bretonnerie (4°); 33 rue Rambuteau (4°); Metro: Rambuteau, St. Paul; 01 48 87 56 88; Wheelchair Friendly: Entrance and bakery are tight and can be crowded.

Overall: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Location: 4/5
Taste: 4/5
Vegetarian Options: 3.5/5
Vegan Options: 2.5/5

Picasso Museum in Paris closes for renovations (cbc.ca)

Vegetarian Experiences in Paris » Ted

Upcoming farmers’ market in the 12th arr.

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Restaurant update: La Victoire Suprême du Cœur has changed

Report From Vegan Paris

Marché des Producteurs de Pays, 21 et 22 NOVEMBRE 2009

BIOart – Organic gourmet along the Seine

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Exki – fast, ecological, and tasty meals around Paris

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Kosher Pizza invades Falafel Alley

The Pizza

Where is the best ratatouille in Paris?

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Chez Grand-Mère – Le Chablis in Paris

Aligot in Paris – Aveyron festival October 9-11, 2009

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Want a little penis with your panini?