Vegetarian Experiences in Paris » Le Marais

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

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)

Piccolo Teatro in the Marais is now closed

Ted — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 18:47:54 +0000

The Piccolo Teatro was a small, romantic restaurant in the Marais district. After reading reviews on the internet, I was anxious to try it. Unfortunately, this restaurant’s web site (the web site is also gone) states they are closed and in fact the place is for sale.

Gordon Ramsay Steps In

This restaurant was featured on Gordon Ramsey‘s television show. He tried to give the owner a new chance to succeed. Alas, this wasn’t successful. I’ve posted this information to let people know the status, there are plenty of outdated mentions on other sites.

Piccolo Teatro: 6, rue des Ecouffes (4°); 01 42 72 17 79; Metro: St-Paul; Closed Restaurant

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