Category: Food

Things to eat

Food, Paris

Salon de Thé de la Mosquée de Paris

Marimonda

Hi, it’s me Marimonda!

La Mosquée de Paris
Marimonda World

Today, I’d like to introduce you an unique cafe in the heart of Paris, the Salon de thé de la mosquée de Paris. Located in front of the Jardin des Plantes, this white building with green roof is catching eyes. It’s a mosque where you can pray or do religious activities but also you can enjoy some tea and hammam (turkish bath and sauna) here. This time I only went to Salon de thé to get to know this place. After visiting the tea salon, I can’t wait to experience hammam as soon as possible!!

Atmosphere

  • Tea Salon
    Marimonda World
  • Tea Salon
    Marimonda World

When you enter the main door on the picture above, you would see a picturesque garden. There are plenty of outdoor seats, but it’s smoking section. Thus, my friends and I decided to get an indoor table. Inside of the tea salon was more colorful and splendid. On the walls, there are some pictures of people wearing traditional clothing. A cat wandering around the cafe makes this place more exotic. Thus, don’t be surprised if you feel something furry. The cat seemed a bit shy, but cat is a cat. It did whatever it wanted. Visited this table and the other table, looking at people or lying on the floor, it had a real free soul. But don’t get me wrong, the cat didn’t jumping around the table nor act wild.

Menu and Service

  • Dessert Plate
    Marimonda World
  • Tea Time
    Marimonda World

Some food are available but it seemed quite expensive(i.g. couscous for 17), while the tea and the oriental patisseries are offered reasonable price(2 each). We tried mint tea and sweets with an espresso. OMG, it was one of the best teas I’ve ever tried in my life. The server brought us a plate which is full of the desert. Two euros sounded cheap but the portion of the tea was very small. The pastries were also good, they really went well with the tea. My favorite was the top on the left (below the sunglasses). It has many layers like millefeuille but very crispy. In the end, I had to order one more of it. More pastries are available at the patisserie corner where you pay when you buy. But if you choose your snacks from the plate, you pay before you leave the cafe at your table.

Service was also very nice. Staffs were warmly welcome and served tea and food. It took some time to bring us the tea, though. They were super nice to us offered us a plate, so we didn’t have to line up to get the dessert and showed us a video of hammam telling us about it. Maybe one of my friends spoke a basic Arabic to them, that’s why they were more friendly to my table.

Overall, it was a satisfying visit. I will definitely come back to have a tea soon. Plus, I’d like to try hammam next time.

Hope you liked my review of the Tea Salon in the Paris’ Mosque. See you again 🙂

Practical Info.

Address : 39 Rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, Paris

Hours : 10:00 a.m. – midnight

website

Food, Paris

Plus 82

Marimonda

Hi, it’s me Marimonda!

Today, I’d like to introduce you to a Korean dessert cafe in Paris <Plus 82>. It’s really hot these days, thus I thought it would be nice if you can try some cold pause during the day.

  • Plus 82
    Marimonda World

Atmosphere

There are many Korean restaurants and dessert cafes in Paris, but I found this is more authentic and contemporary one than other stores. The interior of the store seems a bit fusion because Korean-style props and modern simple style props were harmonized in this cafe. The chairs were pretty but somewhat uncomfortable to stay for some time to talk with friends and to relax.

Menu and Price

Bingsu, a typical summer dessert in Korea will give you a cool pause and refresh you. Originally, it is made of crushed ice with some sweets on top such as pat(sweet red bean paste), ddeok(rice cake) and jelly with some drips of condensed milk. Instead of the sweet red bean paste, these days more options are available such as fruits, coffee, green tea powder, etc. Normally, it’s considered as a snack that you share with your friend or family. It’s not common to have the whole bowl by oneself.

  • 팥빙수 Pat Bingsu
    Marimonda World

Here, you can also try from the basic bingsu (padd bingsu) to fruit ones. You can also find other beverages such as coffee, juice, or tea. I went there three times, but the best one was the basic one.

Consist of many layers of ingredients, Bingsu will give you a icy breeze in your mouth. You can pour more or less the condensed milk depending on your taste.

  • Green Tea Cookie
    Marimonda World

Green Tea (matcha) cookie is also served with some condensed milk which made the cookie too sweet. It’s recommendable only if you drink black coffee such as americano.

You may feel it’s expensive that paying  €7~8 per menu after the meal. As I mentioned above, however, it’s very common to share the dessert with your friends in Korea. If you share it with your friend, it won’t be that high price. Though, I found the snacks like the green tea cookie( around €2) above or other bakeries are pretty expensive. Teas and coffees cost around €4~5, which is similar price in other cafes in Paris.

Hope this review help you to choose a cafe in Paris. See you soon 🙂

Practical Info.

Address : 11bis Rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris

Hours : 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (Mon-Sat)

Food, Paris

Al Caratello

Marimonda

Hi, it’s me Marimonda! Today I’d like to introduce you my favorite Italian restaurant in Paris!

Located in the Audran street, this place is always full of people and pleasant atmosphere. I’m so excited to share this place. I found this restaurant when I arrived at Paris in 2017. At that moment, I stayed in an airbnb in 18th arrondissement (because it’s usually cheaper than other areas), so I had opportunities to try out some restaurants nearby. This is the best one so far in every sense (price, atmosphere, and the most important thing – taste)

It seems like the owner(or the workers) of the restaurant are Italians, because you can hear Italians when they talk to each other. In the Audran street, you may see three restaurants named caratello: Al Caratello, Pizza Caratello, and Piccolo Caratello. Looking at the names, I guess they are all family-run restaurant like Berthillon.

Atmosphere

The restaurant is quite small with full of people. The light is soft so your food looks more delicious. Servers are very friendly and most of them speak French, Italian, and English. Hearing all the different languages, it’s like a small melting pot in Montmartre. Unlike other restaurants in Paris, they don’t have terrace seats. During the summer they leave the door and the window so you can have your meal with a little breeze.

Menu and Price

  • Piatto di Mare
    Marimonda World
  • Linguine Nero di Seppia
    Marimonda World
  • Strawberry and Cream
    Marimonda World

The main reason I like this place is the food is delicious with reasonable price. The ingredients are very fresh and very well-cooked. Pastas and risottos are always well-cooked, they’re always perfect to eat. Thinking of the food, now I have a watery mouth.. yum yum.. Piatto di Mare is an appetizer to share. You can choose big or small depending on the number of people. A mixture of fresh seafood and soup with a refreshing touch of lemon and tomato, I think this is worth to try. If you like squeed, I recommend you linguine nero di seppia(middle). They have basic pastas such as pomodoro, seafood, carbonara or amatriciana, but this squid-ink pasta is not easy to find.

Most pastas cost €12-13, if you choose something special ingredients like truffles a dish can be about €15-18. I think that’s quite good price compared other restaurants in Paris. They also have good house wines that you can accompany with your food. I would say you can enjoy a good Italian meal including drinks for about €20 (one dish + one drink).

This is the restaurant where I go whenever I’m craving Italian food. It’s a bit far away from the center of the city, but if you’re going to Montmartre area, it’s worth to try. All of my friends who I went there with are also very satisfied. One of my friends visited Paris two years in a row and even asked me to go this restaurant again.

Pause

Since Montmartre is a tourist spot, most of the restaurants offer the service continu(open without after lunch break). However, this restaurant is very strict with its after lunch break. One time I arrived at 6:50 p.m. but I had to wait until 7 p.m. to get the menu. Also usually the restaurant fills up very quickly, it’s better to book a table in advance.

Hope this review help you to choose a restaurant in Paris. See you again 🙂

Practical Info.

Address : 5 Rue Audran, 75018 Paris

Hours : 7:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. (Mon-Tue) / 12:00 p.m. -2:30 p.m. , 7:00p.m. – 11:30p.m. (Wed-Sun)

Reservation is recommended

website

Food, Paris

Mi Ranchito Paisa

Marimonda

Hi, it’s me Marimonda!

Today, I’d like to introduce you an authentic Colombian paisa restaurant in Paris. I’ve been to couple of colombian restaurants in Paris, but this is one of my best Colombian restaurants including ones inside Colombia.

Atmosphere

  • Mi Ranchito Paisa
    Marimonda World
  • Mi Ranchito Paisa
    Marimonda World

The restaurant seems like a finca. Colored with vivid red color, you would feel as if you were in a country house for a holiday. It’s somewhat dark but the atmosphere is very bright and happy with music. Servers are generally friendly. There are many tables (more than 10), but at the meal time the place is filled up quite fast. It’s better to reserve your table to make sure. The food is served a bit slow since they cook the food after the order. It takes about 20 mins(or even more) to get your dish.

  • Empanadas
    Marimonda World
  • Bandeja Paisa
    Marimonda World

Empanadas

Empanadas are like fried dumplings. They are filled with beef, chicken, or pork with some mashed potatoes and cheese. You can choose the flavor you want, or try out all three flavors.

Bandeja Paisa (Paisa Platter)

  • Cazuelita Paisa
    Marimonda World

Bandeja Paisa is for someone who wants to try a Colombian paisa’s signature dish. Frijoles (red bean paste soup), chorizo(sausage) , chicharón(fried bacon), egg, rice, minced beef, avocado are served in a big plate. It’s full of nutrition, esp. protein. It will fill you up for the whole day.

Cazuelita Paisa

This is my personal favorite. It’s like bandeja paisa but a smaller version and easier to eat. Instead of whole a quarter of avocado and bacon, all the ingredients are chopped and served in a bowl. An arepa (fried ground maize dough) and rice is accompanied to balance the meal.

  • Tumba Catre
    Marimonda World

Tumba Catre

This is a typical seafood soup in Colombia. It has a rich flavor, thus if you don’t like fishy taste, it’s not a good idea to try. In this dark yellowish soup, you can taste the harmony of squid, mussels, shrimps, clams, and fish. Coco-rice and patacones (tostones, double-fried plantain slices) are accompanied to balance the meal.

  • Super Picada
    Marimonda World

Super Picada

Super picada is like a platter for two people. You can try empanadas, beef steak, ribs, chorizos,yuca(cassava), potatoes, patacones, and fried bananas with guacamoles and spicy sauce. This is a combination for all kinds of colombian fries. Most of them are fried food, thus it can be too greasy to finish with two people. I ordered this when I went there with my friends (we were four) as a snacks to accompany with beers.

  • Descubriendo
    Marimonda World

Descubriendo

It’s like super picada but for one person. It has more traditional colombian food such as chicharon and marinated beef.

Overall, all the menus were delicious for me(maybe I lived in Colombia, thus I am used to that flavors). The portion of the food is very big. Since most of the dish has fried food, it’s more filling than it looks. Most of the dishes are paisa food based on Antioquia region.

Prices

Prices are not that cheap to be honest, rather expensive. If you have ever been to Colombia, you would feel it’s very expensive. Considering the restaurant is close to the center of the city and it’s an exotic restaurant, the price seems reasonable. I’ve been to an Ethiopian restaurant in Paris, and the price was similar to here. It costs €17-25 per dish, including drinks it would be about €20-30 per person. I wish they offer a smaller portion with cheaper price for light eaters like me.

Hope you enjoyed the review of Mi Ranchito Paisa with Marimonda 🙂 See you soon.

Practical Info.

Address : 35 rue de montholon 75009, Paris

Hours : 12:00-15:00 / 19:00-24:00 (Mon.-Fri.) / 12:00 – 24:00 (Weekend)

Reservation is only available by phone, 01 48 78 45 94

website

Food, Paris

Berthillon

Marimonda

Hi, it’s me Marimonda! In my last post on San Gimignano, I introduced you the World Champion Gelato Shop, Gelateria Dondoli. Today, I’d like to introduce one of the best gelato place in St. Louis island in Paris, Berthillon.

Brief History

Named after the founder Raymond Berthillon, the store opened its door in 1954. in Saint Louis Island in Paris. Berthillon offers more than 70 flavors of ice cream and sorbet and it has been loved for more than 60 years. There is always a line at Berthillon, but the line moves fast. You would see people eating ice cream on the street, in front of the shop, etc.

Salon de thé

If you have enough time, it’s good to go to the salon de thé next to the gelateria. You can enjoy not only ice cream but also some desserts accompanied with ice cream. The café is beautifully decorated and peaceful to chill out. Considering that it’s a dessert place, prices are a bit high around €10~15 per menu. But the price of coffee is similar to other places.

  • Berthillon
    Marimonda World
  • Berthillon
    Marimonda World
  • Berthillon
    Marimonda World

A must ice cream in Paris

This is a must place for ice cream lovers.First of all, it’s delicious. Imagine yourself having an ice cream and walking around the streets, looking at the Seine. Any ice cream will be delicious. If your visit to Paris is a painting, the ice cream will be the last touch, that will complete your trip. Leaving behind the busy touristic places near Notre-Dame, a bite of ice cream in the center of Paris will give you an unforgettable delightful moment. Try out unusual flavors that you can’t get easily or your favorite ones. Paris will be remembered in that flavor in your mind.

In Paris, you can see many gelateria such as Amorino or Grom. All of them are delicious but most of them are from Italy. Italian ice cream is yummy, but it would be more meaningful if you can try Paris-based ice cream. I recommend poire (pear), pêche (peach), yuzu for sorbet, and pistache(pistachios) and caramel au beurre salé( salted butter caramel) for ice cream. They’re just amazing!

Hope you enjoyed the review of Berthillon with Marmonda 🙂 See you soon!

Practical Info.

Address : 31 Rue St.-Louis-en-l’Ile, 75004 Paris, France

Hours : 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Summer holidays 29th July – 3rd September

Food, Paris

Au Général La Fayette

Marimonda

Hi, it’s me Marimonda!

Today, I’d like to introduce you a café-resto where offers one of the best crème brûlées in Paris.

Crème Brûlée

French desserts are so popular in the world, and crème brûlée (caramelized custard cream) would be one of the best loved desserts. Based on rich custard cream, the harmony of the soft cream and the hard caramelized sugar topping is always a pleasure during the day.

Sitting down on the terrace, having a spoon of the sweet with a sip of coffee would make your afternoon break perfect. Some places offer the custard cream without heating on the surface, but you’re supposed to hit the sugar layer to crack as if you’re knocking on it with a spoon and taste it.

Service and price

The servers were very friendly. Located in the center of Pais (about 10 mins away from the department store Galaries Lafayette), I do find the restaurant offer food with tourist price esp. alcohol drinks. We were four, and we ordered two crème brûlées and one allongé, one café noisette, and two apérols. The price of the coffee was similar to other places, but the apérol was € 10 per glass (other cocktails, too). Considering the fact that we shared one crème brûlée for two people, €40 is pricey for me for a snack. But we had a good time chatting and relaxing, running away from the heatwave for a while.

  • Au Général La Fayette
    Marimonda World
  • Crème Brûlée
    Marimonda World
  • Au Général La Fayette
    Marimonda World

Coffees or cocktails were nothing special but If you’re a créme brulée lover, I do recommend this place. It’s worth to try.

Hope you enjoyed this review. Happy travel with Marimonda 🙂 See you soon!

Practical Info.

Address : 52 Rue la Fayette, 75009 Paris

Hours : 7 a.m. – 2 a.m.

Food, Paris

Bouillon Chartier

Marimonda

Hi, it’s me Marimonda!

Today, I’d like to introduce you Bouillon Chartier, a traditional french restaurant located in 9th arrondissement. Dates back to 1896, the restaurant was opened its door for the first time. More than one century it has maintained its Bell-époque style, and it was classified as a historic monument in 1989. The place is always busy with parisiens and visitors from all around the world.

Atmosphere

We arrived around 8:00 p.m., and it took us about 20 mins to get in the restaurant. There’s no outdoor seats unlike other french restaurant. At this a big hall restaurant, don’t be surprised to share your table with strangers at peak time. This crowded place but not too noisy, it has somewhat party-like atmosphere. People chattering, eating food, and drinking wine and the servers in a black vest made me feel as if I were in a party hall in one of Pierre August Renoir’s paintings. I would pick here where you should go if you want to feel french style restaurant in 1950s Paris. Most of french restaurants (esp. those are known to tourists) are refined and somewhat exclusive, but this place is like a restaurant where you can find at the corner of your town.

Menu

  • Grilled pig’s trotter with fries
  • Grilled chicken with fries
  • Beef flank with shallot sauce

Grilled pig’s trotter was a challenge for me and it wasn’t successful. The way they cook was different what I’d thought. I was expecting chewy texture of meat with crispy skin. However, it(both inside and outside) was a bit mushy to me, so I felt the meat was greaser than it is. It wasn’t bad, but it was a bit far away from my expectation. Plus, it was a bit hassle to separate all the small pieces of bones from the trotter. I tasted some chicken and beef, too. Chicken was not special, but you never fail with chicken. It was well cooked and the portion of the food was also good for me, but it can be small for a man. Beef flank had a rich flavor and it was very tender. You can ask the server to change your fries to mashed potatoes or other side. Desserts were also not very special but yummy. In general, all the food I’ve tried here were not fancy or delicate like in 3-star restaurants, but they were like home comfort food that fill mind and soul.

Budget

The restaurant offers typical french food at unbeatable price. You can enjoy a full french course meal(starter-main-dessert) for with €15~30 including drinks. We ordered six escargots to share, four main dishes, a bottle of wine, one coca-cola and one creme brulée and one chocolate mousse, one espresso for four people. It cost about €65. I would agree that it’s unbeatable price not in Paris, but in the whole France.

Though I wasn’t 100% satisfied with food, I do appreciate the ambiance of the restaurant. The price is also good and I loved the moment at the restaurant, thus I would go back to try other food.

Hope you enjoy the visit to Bouillon Chartier with Marimonda! See you soon 🙂

Practical Info.

Address : 7 rue du Faubourg Montmartre | 75009 Paris

Hours : 11:30 a.m. – midnight

Website