Paris: Day 3
It's market day in Paris. Gather your basket and foraging hats, we're off!
Boulevard Raspail Market
My friend Peta (who was staying with us for this week of our trip) has spent some time in Paris, finding favourite corners and hidden gems, so she couldn't wait to take us to her favourite market - the beautiful Boulevard Raspail's organic Sunday market. We walked to the corner of Rue du Cherche-Midi and Rue de Rennes from our apartment first thing, working up a big appetite, and there we were...amongst the locals filling their baskets with heavenly produce. I'd like to imagine them returning home with their loot and creating a fabulous, seasonal Sunday meal for their families.
First we browsed the stores, marvelling at the colours and textures and sheer wholesome beauty of it all...
And then somehow we gathered our gastronomic desires and preferences and decided what we would purchase for a pleasant picnic. It was a difficult task, let me assure you.We also fell for the scent of bubbling batter and treated ourselves to crêpes, which we ate while walking to our picnic spot.
Ben and I shared a cheese and egg crêpeand a butter and sugar crêpe. These were two of the most delicious crêpes I've eaten in Paris. In France. In life.
J'adore crêpes.
We parked in Jardin du Luxembourg and spread out our feast. We absolutely bought too much food so decided to split up our goodies across two meals (later that day, dessert was eaten for lunch back in our apartment).
Quiche. Best. Assured. Best.
Roast chicken with potatoes.
Pissaladière. One with tuna, the other with caramelised onions. Love.
Almond Brioche. Surely this beauty cannot be legal, surely not. Far too delicious.
Fruit Bun.
Berry Tart. So tart, so divine.
Fruit and Nut Bread. Chunky perfection.
Blueberries and strawberries. Summer berry bliss.
We spent the remainder of the day walking, wandering, wishing we could stay longer. Ben and I visited my favourite Musée Rodin and dreamt of moving into the beautiful house. Yes, I'd be quite happy living there.
Chez Marianne
That evening we had dinner plans with friends from home. In 2009 we met our friend, Belinda, at a fabulous, lively restaurant in the Marais - good times were had. In 2012, we all happened to be back in Paris at the same time! So naturally we had to met for another meal at Chez Marianne. Thankfully, it very much lived up to our expectations.
We selected a variety of plates and all shared. That's the way you do it at Chez Marianne. We ordered bottles of the house red, complete with the classy portait - excellent.
The eats! Gorgeous slabs of fetta, perfectly pungent dips, deliriously delicious faelafel as well as pastrami, tabbouleh, marinated vegetables, lamb pastry parcels and their lovely, warm pita bread.
If you're wanting something entirely different and entirely delicious in Paris, I absolutely recommend Chez Marianne. The food is completely scrumptious and the atmosphere infectious. Fun times are guaranteed.
A walk to the Seine to see the light show from afar was a fittingly beautiful way to end day 3 in Paris.
