Lynn has kindly wrote Lunch with Lynn today.
L’Heure Gourmande could mean the Hour of the Foodie, or heavenly quiet in the middle of a dizzying mass of cars and buses; dogs and skateboards…and people dashing everywhere. This exquisite restaurant is a little piece of paradise, nestled secretly in the Passage Dauphine, not far from Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Odéon. When you enter the cobble stone passageway, time stops and you start to breathe again. It is the perfect idyll for those who have been busily out in the world.
Richard and I were ever so grateful to be inside the bubble and out of the temporary wintry blasts of March, a difficult moment for those who yearn for spring. Carbs were all I wanted, the weather tricking my body into thinking it was once again hibernating-bear-appetite season. Richard’s appetite has no seasons, so of course we went for mashed potatoes and meat (make that fish for Richard). I had the parmentier de canard, perfect duck laid among the perfect mash, so hot I had to delicately poke holes in the top to cool it off. Richard had the brandade de morue with garlic potatoes, much the same as mine but with cod lying lovely in between the comfort food, along with a small, pretty cup of diced tomatoes, both dishes with a good sized helping of tasty salade verte. I adored mine; Richard just wanted more of his.
Of course, we could have chosen from a grand number of quiches or from delicious sounding salade composée, which were no doubt all copious and healthy, but it was the carbs that called. Beware of French restaurants on cold, windy, wet days.
Dessert called, too. More carbs. Forget the diet. Richard couldn’t, so I, helpless and alone, ordered the assortment of cakes, not knowing what to expect (sometimes they’re the size of a fingernail), but comforted in the knowledge that Richard would share with me no matter what the size. Oh, Lordy! There were literally three large slices of three different bread loaf cakes: ginger bread, fruit cake, and pound cake (known as quatre-quarts in France). And a little pitcher of mystery coulis (fruit sauce), perhaps apricot and orange, to spread on the cakes just in case the carb count was still not what it should be. Honestly, Alice would have enjoyed the Mad Hatter’s tea party much more had she been left alone to gobble up such treats. Not to mention the lemon cake that the server told us was in the oven and we could not possibly have a piece of even if it were done, because if she cut into it when it was still warm it would fall.
There is no doubt that what you eat at L’Heure Gourmande is fait maison, made from scratch in the kitchen. Go early and stay late…and try everything your carb counter will allow, or throw the carb counter out. L’Heure Gourmande is a wonderful place to relax in and forget about tomorrow.
L’Heure Gourmande
22 Passage Dauphine, 75006
Tel. +33 (0)1 46 34 00 40
Open 11:30AM – 7:00PM
Closed Wednesdays
Click here for Lynn's website
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 195 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more. In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.
Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour
