Jean Millet - Paris

Firing on All Cylinders
We rarely cross from the right to left bank for eats. Not because we don't think there isn't good stuff over there, we're just kinda lazy. We made an exception to go check out Jean Millet, a patisserie in the 7th. Puffin saw it once while riding a Velib and made a mental note. We jumped the 69 bus for the short ride over. As soon as I walked in I had good vibes. Everything looked good. I ordered a Mont Blanc (chestnut cream cake) which was sweetly smooth and came with a section of chocolate picket fence stuck in its cranium.

Kunitoraya - Paris

Getting Our Udon On
I've been to Japan just once but I fondly remember the various noodles I had there. Udon are great - they're as thick as a shoelace and when you suck em up fast you can spray nearby diners. Luckily I got myself a dainty noodle eater who sups without agression. I'm happy to report I escaped broth-free.

Street Meat - Prague

Now, That's a Dog!
Pingles had to hold it with two hands. We shared one, loaded it up with onions and mustard and some ketchup for her half. This Klobasy, like a Czech version of kielbasa, was charred nicely and had a good, spicy kick to it. The first bite was perfect - a crunchy casing that finally gave way to a juicy burst of meat.

Apostila Caffe - Prague

All I Wanted Was a Coffee and a Chair....
We walked all around Prague, hrs and hrs and hrs. At a certain point I simply wanted to sit down and have a coffee and relax. But you know how that goes - Puffin asks for the menu and looks over at me. "They've got a traditional Czech fruit pie with forest fruits and sorbet!!" Come on, I don't even know what a forest fruit is! I was glad she ordered it when it arrived. It was more like a cake, with apples and nuts. It was neighbored by a puddle of hot fruit compote and raspberry sherbet. Very nice combo.

Trdelnik Stall - Prague

Wooden Stake and a Fire...
We're on a short vacation in Prague and as always, our eyes are peeled for street food. As luck would have it for me, one of the first stalls we encountered was making a pastry called Trdelnik. It quite literally is dough on a wooden stake, roasted on an open flame and then sugared and spiced. It tasted like a snickerdoodle. Not too bad, not overwhelmingly good.

Lebotti - Paris

Italian in the Marché des Enfants Rouges
The idea of sitting outside for lunch on a cold Paris day wasn't exactly appealing. It helped that we were inside a covered market, but not a whole lot (read more on the market, here.) Luckily, Lebotti, the market's Italian traiteur, grouped a bunch of tables near some heat lamps and cocooned them in plastic. It was a tight arrangement - hip to hip and elbow to elbow but everyone seemed to be happy to be warm. Pingles ordered the lasagna and it wasn't bad at all. It was light on the sauce and heavier on the meat - my personal preference.

Mariage Freres - Paris

Poker Face? No Way....
As Pingles and I waited in a long line at the venerable Parisian tea house I had a bad feeling. I've been to far too many places that, after building a rep, coast lazily on it. The international tourist mix of those on line with us didn't offer much hope. I expected to be disappointed - these "must go" places tend to be the opposite. To my surprise, it was Pingles who seemed to have a greater let down. The first clue was how hot it was once we were seated. I decided not to order tea as a result - and this is a tea house! Pingles dealt with the heat by ordering a selection of sorbets with her pot of tea. After a few bites, she went into arm-folded mode. I tried all three and I honestly cannot tell you what they were supposed to be. Pumpkin seed dirt? Sidewalk gum heel? Embarrasingly bad. The tea was good but the mood was set and it wasn't going to recover.

Tartes Kluger - Paris

Just One Choice: Savory or Sweet

Of if you're smart like us, get one of each and share. Pingles asked for the ham, bacon and parmesan tarte, which came with a side of salad.

La Bague de Kenza - Paris

Tea and Cookies, Anyone?
Not just regular old tea and cookies but the North African sort for a change of pace. One foot inside La Bague de Kenza this is what you see - a tidal wave of unfamiliar sweets and cookies (unfamiliar to me at least.)

Banh Mi - Paris

New Banh Mi Shop Opens in Lil Wenzhou
I love banh mi, Puffin - I cannot seem to get enough of it. It's cheap, quick, fresh, spicy and delicious. This new shop is genius - it's simply named after the sandwich! It opened this week, within 50 feet of my front door in Lil Wenzhou. That's what I call the small area near Arts & Metier which is chock full of Chinese restaurants and shops, many opened by immigrants from Wenzhou, China.

Huré - Paris

The Rich Get Richer...
Some blocks in Paris barely have anywhere to eat, others have a place sprinkled here and there. Then there is rue Rambuteau - specifically, the two blocks between rue Beaubourg and rue des Archives. It's ridiculous: 3 green grocers, 3-4 brasseries, two Chinese restaurants, a Greek traiteur, two butchers, a creperie, an Italian restaurant, a fish monger, and the patisseries Pain de Sucre, Pralus, Berko Bakery as well as an outlet of LeGay Choc and probably 3-4 more things I'm forgetting. Now, out of nowhere, a brand new patisserie called Huré.