Paris Journal 2014 – Barbara Joy Cooley Home: barbarajoycooley.com
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The Air France pilots’ strike continues, despite the fact that Air France has now agreed to abandon its plans with the low-cost carrier Transavia. That was the major sticking point, so I’m a little mystified about why the strike continues. I think that it is because, for “strategic reasons,” Air France feels that it must have some ability to pursue its “low-cost” airline activity. The union most likely simply sees that activity as union-busting. Negotiations are ongoing this morning, as I write this. On the two days this week that I checked (Tuesday and today), our flight (number 90) was cancelled. Today, 40 percent of the Air France flights out of Paris’ Charles De Gaulle airport are being cancelled, and 75 percent of the flights out of Toulouse are being cancelled. So, maybe our summer in Paris ends on Sunday, and maybe it doesn’t. Tom wanted to go back to La Bastide d’Opio last night, so I reserved a table. It was raining hard, and the wind was blowing, when it was time for us to cross the Place Saint Sulpice to the maze of little streets to the north. Walking into the cozy little old resto, where it was warm and dry, felt so good. We dutifully deposited our wet umbrellas at the coat rack inside the front door and were shown to our little table for two. We started by sharing a comfort food, the ravioles de Royan – a sort of super-gourmet version of macaroni and cheese. The creamy sauce and cheesy filling were infused with herbs, and the dish was served piping hot in a little oval cast iron pan. It was the perfect way to start dinner on a cool, windy, wet evening. Tom ordered the brochette of beef filet, which was amusingly served hanging from a hook above the plate of salad and potatoes. The beef was very tasty and not too chewy, and the entire course was generous. I ordered my standby favorite, filet of sea bass with ratatouille-like veggies and puréed potatoes. The dessert we shared was a golden plum tart. Delicious.
With the LaFourchette.com discount, the total for the dinner makes it one of the best values we’ve experienced this summer in Paris. While I’m grateful to LaFourchette not only for all the good values, but also for the inspiration and ideas for new places for us to try, I’m disappointed to learn now that they do not extend the discounts to single diners. I was unaware of this because clearly one can make a reservation for one on the LaFourchette site. What I didn’t know until Sue (a loyal reader of this journal) pointed it out yesterday is that when you reserve for just one, the discount offers disappear! I experimented with the site this morning to verify that. I wish the LaFourchette people would eliminate this discrimination. As one of their “gastronomes” with way over 100 reviews submitted, I think I just might write to them about this inequity. The highlight of the day for me was being admitted to the Muriels Club on Facebook. Thank you, dear “Queen Muriel” Roniece! It’s going to be fun belonging to this international group of smart, friendly women who have a strong streak of capriciousness. That was the highlight, and the low point was learning that Paris has a “pollution event” happening right now due to high levels of particulate matter in the air. Welcome to the rentrée – the increased vehicular traffic is to blame. All summer long, there were no such “pollution events,” and the air was noticeably clear. Now that it is Autumn, that’s changed. C’est la vie. We have to take the bad with the good. I still love Paris.
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Thursday, September 25, 2014
Tom beholds the beef brochette at La Bastide d’Opio.
Hot cheese and herb ravioli.
Filet of sea bass with veggies.
Colorful, hand-woven Azerbaijani socks that reminded me of
my friend Merry who’s known for wearing colorful socks (to protect her
sensitive skin from noseeum
bites). |
