Paris, A city where food is still food

Paris, a city that refuses to be taken over by GMO, technology rudeness and self-obsessed blinders. A city where people actually have conversations with other people, where a piece of trash that was somehow misplaced on the sidewalk instead of one of the many garbage bags is picked up not ignored, where treadmills and stationary bikes have yet to replace old fashioned walking outdoors and where food is still food. Paris, I love you.

 

My first 24 hours in Paris was filled with awe of this world that I dreamed of but feared was gone forever. The moment I stepped off the plane, I could smell the difference. The air was strangely fresher, cleaner and more refreshing than I knew air could be. It was cold and drizzling outside but the chill didn't reach my bones, it opened up my mind. Walking the cobblestone sidewalks through the markets, my eyes were wide as I took in the beautiful colors of the largest, most delicious looking fruits, vegetable and seafood I had ever seen. Pikes Place Market in Seattle was put to shame by this 4 or 5 block street market. On the other side of the sidewalk, butchers had their doors open as large rotisseries spun golden brown chickens outside their entrances. 

Heavenly salad and Rose wine

As it began to rain, we slipped into our first French restaurant, Les Fondus deLa RacLette where we sipped "expresso's" and watched passerby's carrying their long baguettes, taking a large bite as they did so as not to miss out on it's freshness. After our coffees, we ordered our first meal in Paris. I didn't know lettuce could taste so good. The sweet, fresh leaves could have only come directly from a nearby garden, grown solely with love and respect. The bacon and ham that topped these beautiful greens were cooked to perfection, delectable and juicy with every bite. The brie-like goat cheese, melted atop crostinis, gave just the slightest hint of it's age amid it's creamy body. Savoring this heavenly meal along with a small carafe of rose wine, I decided this place must be heaven.

Our next 3 days were filled with site seeing, not of tourist traps but rather the lifestyle and culture that is Paris. The things we learned were as follows:

Traditional Onion soup, Bread with pork pate and Beaujolais

• Sit outside to eat and drink no matter how cold it is
• Stairs are EVERYWHERE, so pack light.
• Wine is sipped slowly out of small glasses
• Coffee is not ordered to-go. It is enjoyed in a cafe while watching people walk by, escaping the rain or chatting with friends.
• Waitstaff does not dote on you. If you want the check, ask for it
• Don't talk or text on your cell phone while in the company of others
• Water is expensive, drink wine

Raspberry pistachio tart

• Bring your own bag, and make sure it's not plastic
• Throw trash in the garbage bag, not on the ground
• Look both ways before crossing the street because no one will stop for you
• Too much makeup and people will think you work at the Moulin Rouge
• Eat croissants for breakfast, pastries for a mid-day snack and bread with every meal

Pairs, a city where the freshest, cleanest water is served in glass bottles, free of chemicals and plastic. A city where cheeses and meats are served on wooden boards to preserve the flavor and bread is purchased that day from the bakery down the street, sliced in front of your eyes and served in a metal basket. A place where electronics have not replaced manners, where food allergies and hangovers cease to exist and where food is still food. Paris, I love you. 

 Here's to Life, Love, Health, Happiness and Paris! Santé!